The Climbing Academy in Bristol are importing "ice holds' - plastic training holds that you can swing your axe into and actually get a stick very much like real ice. It's bizarre but it works. Here's a vid of feeble ice climber Tim Emmett getting in some much needed training.
For more info see here: http://www.tcaclimbingshop.com/Default.aspx?LoadContent=StoreIceHolds&StoreID=9
