Snow-making and slope maintenance equipment

Snow management and ski slope maintenance are crucial throughout the winter season. Ski area operators strive to provide a pleasant skiing experience for everyone, safely, regardless of the vacationers’ skill level.

Maintaining a ski area in winter requires expertise and know-how. Ski area operators prepare, maintain, and secure the ski areas daily. This involves the maintenance of snow groomers, snowcats, snow guns, and all specific machinery to ensure their proper functioning. There is also the use and maintenance of the artificial snow network which secures the opening of the resorts and reduces exposure to climate hazards throughout the season.

Development of Innovative Solutions and Practices

Ski areas optimize snow production by investing in snow depth measurement systems on their groomers at various points in the area. This reduces the use of grooming machines, the production of artificial snow, fuel consumption, electricity consumption, grooming hours, and water withdrawals.

The energy consumed by “lance” type snow guns has been divided by 10 compared to the first generations of the late 90s. That of “fan” type snow guns has decreased by 20% for an identical snow production. It is noteworthy that France is the country in Europe that most favors the use of rods.

More and more groomer operators are trained in eco-driving of grooming machines. Eco-driving of grooming machines can lower diesel consumption and carbon emissions by 5 to 10%. Diesel machines like snow groomers can now run on HVO, a non-fossil fuel made from recycled vegetable oils with a significantly better carbon footprint.

For two winters, manufacturers have been selling 100% electric grooming machines whose technology and autonomy are advancing a little more every day. They are gradually being integrated into the existing machine parks of ski areas.  But the future is already here with very advanced hydrogen-powered groomer prototypes already operating under real conditions on the slopes of several ski areas.

Ski areas that carry out earthworks perform vegetation of intervention areas located in grassy areas and ski areas. They predominantly use endemic seeds. Learn more about biodiversity and the environment in the mountains.

Among the snowmaking and winter maintenance equipment presented by exhibitors at the Mountain Planet trade show:

• Snow depots, snow storage
• Grooming machines, tracked vehicles and accessories
• Machines for marking ski trails
• Snowmakers
• Pumping equipment for snowmaking plants
• Snow transporters