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Artificial snow

Artificial snow

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Started by Ise in Ski Chatter - 13 Replies

J2Ski

Ise posted Dec-2008


Interesting piece on snow cannons, it does seem there's beena lot of new ones, out and about in the summer you see a lot being installed.

Artificial snow "no panacea" for resorts

Tony_H
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

I read a piece on canons that work at temps above freezing too, some of which have also been installed across Europe this season.

Bandit
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

Tony_H wrote:I read a piece on canons that work at temps above freezing too, some of which have also been installed across Europe this season.


Tony, this system has been installed in Zermatt at Trockener Steg.

http://www.skiinfo.com/News/Zermatt-ECHZERMA-104-en.jhtml?a=125666

I was skiing on the results last month.

Tony_H
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

bandit wrote:
Tony_H wrote:I read a piece on canons that work at temps above freezing too, some of which have also been installed across Europe this season.


Tony, this system has been installed in Zermatt at Trockener Steg.

http://www.skiinfo.com/News/Zermatt-ECHZERMA-104-en.jhtml?a=125666

I was skiing on the results last month.


Yes yes, enough already with all the name dropping.....more importantly, how was it to ski on?

Edited 1 time. Last update at 19-Dec-2008

Bandit
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

Tony_H wrote:

Yes yes, enough already with all the name dropping.....more importantly, how was it to ski on?


It felt less sugary than the conventionally made artificial stuff. It also made a huge difference to the depth of the base on the return run to mid station, giving a good hard base. I have no idea what chemicals are being used, but there was a huge pallet of the stuff in the c/c station.

Neiltoo
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

Aparently there are no chemicals involved, something to do with using a vacuum.
More details here: http://industryreport.mountainnews.com/2008/09/snowmaking_at_90_degrees_fahre.shtml

Ellistine
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

Just as soon as they scale it down a bit I'm having one in my back garden.

Trencher
reply to 'Artificial snow'
posted Dec-2008

Seems to me that snowmaking is only a solution if the problem is lack of precipitation. I've been told that although snow can be made at temps just below freezing, it's not very economical to do so. Even if it were possible to make enough snow in mild temps, people would soon get fed up with permenent spring conditions.

Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....

Topic last updated on 21-December-2008 at 05:14