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Snowmaking Articles

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  • November 2024

    Making Snow The Cross-Country Way

    Low-snow winters have convinced some operators to embrace small snowmaking systems.  When it comes to natural snow, the climate these days isn’t always forthcoming. It was especially stingy last winter in the Midwest, where states like Minnesota and Wisconsin saw almost no snow. This kind of di Low-snow winters have convinced some operators to embrace small snowmaking systems.

  • July 2024

    The Future of All-Weather Snowmaking

    The market is growing for all-weather “snowmaking boxes” as the technology continues to become more refined. When Ski Ward in central Massachusetts fired up its Latitude 90 all-weather snowmaking machine in earnest for the first time in October 2023, it was like Christmas in July. White flakes The market is growing for all-weather “snowmaking boxes” as the technology continues to become...

  • May 2024

    Snowmaking's Secret Sauce

    Prioritize your people to perfec the snowmaking process and product. Imagine this: You’re a snowmaker on a snowmaking gun run. It’s 2 a.m., and the wind is howling with snow swirling about. Visibility is 10 feet, and every step fights you. Sled guns are poking through the snow like miniature v Prioritize your people to perfec the snowmaking process and product.

  • November 2023

    New HQs for Mountain Ops

    Mountain operations have expanded greatly over the decades, and so must the notion of “maintenance shops.” Maintenance shops are one of those capital expense items that are often difficult to fund. The guest doesn’t see them, and they can put a large dent in an area’s budget, knocking the Mountain operations have expanded greatly over the decades, and so must the notion of “maintenance...

  • November 2023

    Construction Site : November 2023

    It was a big summer for capital improvements at North American ski areas.   CRANMORE, NH   When Cranmore tore down its main base lodge in April 2022, it planned to complete the first floor of a new mixed-use building in time for the 2022-23 ski season. Covid supply chain and labor challenges It was a big summer for capital improvements at North American ski areas.

  • September 2023

    Construction Site :: September 2023

    Lift and facility upgrades for the 2023-24 season aim to enhance the guest experience.   BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN, ID The summer of 2023 has seen the largest capital investment ever at Brundage, with construction underway on a new detachable quad lift and a 17,000-square-foot skier services building Lift and facility upgrades for the 2023-24 season aim to enhance the guest experience.

  • The LIF-TRACK vehicle lift in the middle of the cat bays is accessed on the snow side of the building. The five-ton overhead crane (top center) serves all three snow-side bays.
    July 2023

    Building for Efficiency

    After Grand Targhee's old maintenance shop collapsed, the resort planned for and built a new shop with all the fixins to help its crew do their jobs right. The basic elements of an efficient maintenance shop have remained constant over the decades, though some shops still lack one or more of these After Grand Targhee's old maintenance shop collapsed, the resort planned for and built a new shop...

  • Woods Valley Ski Area, N.Y., installed this 9.5-million-gallon on-mountain storage reservoir 370 vertical feet above its existing pumphouse and water supply. Filled during the off season, the pond stores 60 percent of the ski area’s average seasonal water usage.
    March 2023

    Water in Reserve

    As the need for high-volume snowmaking rises, water reservoirs can be a smart, efficient investment. With narrowing snowmaking windows and increasingly efficient snow gun productivity, water pumping capacities have been rising at a significant rate. However, water sources have generally remained t As the need for high-volume snowmaking rises, water reservoirs can be a smart, efficient investment.

  • November 2022

    Smooth Operations

    How to get the most out of today's impressive mountain ops management software. Mountain operations teams have traditionally functioned and stayed organized largely by routine, using paper checklists and clipboards, and relying on institutional knowledge. Introducing a new software platform that p How to get the most out of today's impressive mountain ops management software.

  • November 2022

    New Products :: November 2022

    Equipment, tools, and tech for ski area operators. SMI SNOW MAKERS: L120 The L120 is the newest and largest all-weather snowmaking machine from SMI Snow Makers. It has four, 30-metric-ton flake-ice evaporators that can run independently or at the same time, all housed in an 8’ x 40’ footpri Equipment, tools, and tech for ski area operators.

  • A robust snowmaking system covers Snowshoe’s inverted base area at the top of the mountain.
    May 2022

    The Best-laid (Snowmaking) Plans

    Your snowmaking strategy and master plan should drive the bottom line. Here’s how.  I remember sliding down Cupp Run at Snowshoe Mountain, W.Va.—not on skis, but on my back, desperately attempting to arrest my fall on the resort’s steepest run. I was making snow for the second time in my li Your snowmaking strategy and master plan should drive the bottom line. Here’s how.

  • GW Tatro Construction installs FBE-coated steel pipe to transport water from the Mad River to Sugarbush Resort, Vt.
    May 2021

    Piping Up

    A look at the backbone of every snowmaking system's infrastructure.   Since the major snowmaking installations of the 1970s and ’80s, snowmaking pipe has undergone a substantial transformation in terms of materials, sizing, and installation techniques. The major types of pipes on the market— A look at the backbone of every snowmaking system's infrastructure.

  • China Peak has more than tripled its snowmaking capacity over the last two years.
    March 2021

    Trial by Fire

    Wildfire was just one of the challenges China Peak overcame in expanding its snowmaking system.   Drought, forest fire, pestilence (Covid), and explosions. China Peak Mountain Resort experienced a mini- apocalypse in 2020. But this Central California ski area is back stronger than ever, than Wildfire was just one of the challenges China Peak overcame in expanding its snowmaking system.

  • January 2021

    Snowmaking Hydrants

    Exploring the current marketplace of this all-important part of snowmaking infrastructure.   In their earliest incarnations back in the 1960s, hydrants used for snowmaking were originally designed for agricultural use. However, these hydrants weren’t equipped to handle the higher pressures Exploring the current marketplace of this all-important part of snowmaking infrastructure.

  • July 2020

    Construction Site :: July 2020

    Lift, lodge, and snowmaking projects are underway across the continent.   ARAPAHOE BASIN, CO Arapahoe Basin is installing two new Leitner-Poma fixed-grip lifts, a double to replace the iconic Pallivacini chair and a quad to replace a small beginner learning lift, the Molly Hogan. Construction Lift, lodge, and snowmaking projects are underway across the continent.

  • Ratnik mid-e Baby Snow Giants on towers.
    May 2020

    Quid Pro Snow

    Advances in snowmaking technology have boosted snowmaking efficiency by up to 75 percent and reshaped the industry. An industry veteran gives context to the state of the art. Snow, natural and manmade, is a many-splendored thing. The Inuit of Labrador above the Arctic Circle have 10 basic words th Advances in snowmaking technology have boosted snowmaking efficiency by up to 75 percent and...

  • At Waterville Valley, mid-energy Ratnik Baby Snow Giant X-2s work particularly well in fighting the wind.
    March 2020

    Snow News is Good News

    Resorts are adopting new snowmaking technology and ensuring a better experience for guests—and achieving a rapid ROI.   The squeeze is on when it comes to making snow. And as snowmaking technology has made giant leaps forward in the past few years, that concept applies on two fronts: the e Resorts are adopting new snowmaking technology and ensuring a better experience for guests—and...

  • March 2020

    Ice That's Nice

    The making of a World Cup race course.   For the last four years, the snowmaking crew at Killington, Vt., has begun a process in October that most snowmakers try to avoid: Laying out a deep blanket of the wettest, densest snow imaginable, aiming for a surface as close to glass-hard ice as po The making of a World Cup race course.

  • November 2019

    How Deep is Your Snow?

    Snow depth management systems enable more effective and efficient grooming and, increasingly, snowmaking.   One of the wonderful ironies of modern grooming is that, in order to achieve snow-depth precision within an inch or two beneath a groomer’s blade, you must zoom all the way into Earth’ Snow depth management systems enable more effective and efficient grooming and, increasingly,...

  • At Steamboat, a combo of morale-boosting perks, respectful management, good training, and commemorative hoodies leads to 90 percent retention, and 100 percent pride.
    September 2019

    Building Snowmaking Teams

    Resorts have realized it takes a lot more than a decent wage to successfully hire and retain good snowmakers.   Employee hiring and retention isn’t getting any easier for the snowsports industry. Finding snowmakers is especially difficult, and we’re not even talking about keeping them ar Resorts have realized it takes a lot more than a decent wage to successfully hire and retain good...

  • September 2019

    Construction Site :: September 2019

    Major projects are in full swing at resorts across North America, including big lifts, snowmaking overhauls, and a base area renaissance.   SQUAW VALLEY ALPINE MEADOWS, CAIn response to input from a guest survey, Alpine Meadows is replacing the base-area Hot Wheels CTEC Triple with a new, longer Major projects are in full swing at resorts across North America, including big lifts, snowmaking...

  • Centrifugal compressors are typically 15 percent more efficient on a CFM per horsepower basis, consume half the space, and have no oil carryover.
    July 2019

    Pumps and Compressors

    It may be time to rethink this essential infrastructure in response to changes in snowmaking technology or a desire to maximize energy efficiency. Most snowmaking infrastructure is not visible to the general public. Snow guns tend to steal the spotlight, both for their visibility and recent techno It may be time to rethink this essential infrastructure in response to changes in snowmaking...

  • Little Switzerland, Wis.
    March 2019

    Automated Returns

    How a Midwest resort company on a tight budget transitioned from antiquated manual snowmaking to a modern, efficient system. When it comes to snowmaking, most North American ski areas are decidedly old-school. Many European counterparts turn to high-tech solutions to manage when, where, and how mu How a Midwest resort company on a tight budget transitioned from antiquated manual snowmaking to a...

  • Caledon Ski Club in Ontario installed a new 500-hp centrifugal-type air compressor to save on energy costs.
    March 2019

    Snowmaking Upgrades Make a Difference

    More-efficient systems are transforming the on-snow experience across the continent. Brendan Ryan, VP of projects for Peak Resorts, has spent the last three years supervising installation of a $30 million snowmaking upgrade at Mount Snow, Vt. Over the Christmas holidays, Ryan rode up the chairlift More-efficient systems are transforming the on-snow experience across the continent.

  • May 2018

    Can Snowmaking Compensate for Climate Change?

    A little-read study from the EPA suggests resorts can survive this century’s projected global warming—if they achieve greater efficiencies in snowmaking. In June of 2016, I got a call from Dave Mills of Abt Associates in Boulder, Colo. He and his team, all skiers, were in a late draft of a whi A little-read study from the EPA suggests resorts can survive this century’s projected global...

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