Development

The ability to “create” snow arose as a result of chance. All because of a fruit farmer in the USA who sprayed his fruit with a sprinkler system but one evening forgot to turn it off during the cold of the night. The next morning his fruit was covered in snow. The snow machine was “invented”.

As well as the rise of snow production in the USA since 1959, in 1978 a use was found for it in Europe. Even in 1977, Sir KR Dir. Albert Baier noticed that the need for a snowmachine was not being given the attention it deserved.  As it later emerged, he was not wrong. The idea was not exactly a brand new one, but Baier’s plan to create snow on the Planai attracted much doubt rather than popularity in Schladming. However, he was ahead of his time and carried forth the plan with a good degree of success.
After initial attempts in 1978, the first stage of snow production was erected in 1981 as part of the preparation for the first large snow production facility in time for the World Championships. The snow making team of the Planai also play an important role in further development, since the famous “lances” have their roots here and today leading firms involved with snow production technology are keen to employ such technology in their products.

There is no turning back!

 How it works – water and air – nothing else!

Snow machines consist basically of a water extracting position in a flowing stretch of water or a pond, with cables and connection points laid underground, a pump and should the need arise a compressor station and of course the snowmaking appliance itself!

Snowmaking machines run on a physics principle whereby water in jets is sprayed to create droplets, which during the short space of time from leaving the jet and landing on the ground, form into snow crystals. Chemical substances are not needed and are indeed not used. Since these machines are based on a technical imitaion of a natural process, the origin of hoar frost, they only work in temperatures colder then  – 4°C and not in damp air.

There are two types of machine –
· Low Pressure Machine – For noise and energy reasons the low pressure or propeller machine is almost exclusively used across Europe. Here water is sprayed with a fan as jets into the air, where the water then freezes into snow crystals.
· Lance System – High pressure snow machines have been replaced by the so called Lance system. Due to the changeover certain criticisms such as the high noise level and high energy consumption have lost their importance. The difference between these and the low pressure machines is most importantly that no propeller is need to create air power. The process of crystalisation is replaced by the natural Lance fall height of 13 metres.

 Snow covering Ski Pistes

…compensates for fluctuations in snowfall during the season
…is not used to extend the ski season
…improves the safety and availability of lower pistes and main runs
…covers areas lacking in snow – hill tops, edges, slopes in direct sunlight, and entry areas, otherwise ensures the pistes are covered well with snow in general
…increases the safety for skiers by offering regular and good snow quality.

 Environmentally Speaking…

…helps retain a sufficient snowcover which protects the vegetation layer from frost and changeable frost. This in turn helps avoid freezing and erosion, as well as…
…damage from skiers and piste machines
…there is less need to use piste machines on pistes where snow production is used.
…snow covered pistes keep skiers where they should be. The urge to stray from the pistes will be less so the risk to nature will be lessened.

 Economically Speaking…

…snow machines ensure the international attraction and competitive nature of our winter sport resorts.
…guaranteed snow cover is the most important prerequisite for continued seasonal custom and as a result ensures the income of a tourism region.
… to have snow machines as an additional benefit is a powerful weapon in the battle of brands.
…snowmachine systems can in many cases replace irrigation systems for exposed sections of land and during reforestation.

 Intelligent Use of Energy…

…is the “know how” of snow creation.

Snow creation mainly starts during the water rich and low energy consumption months of November and December. This is mainly why the excess energy from the night is transferred into a the framework of cable connections for the lift system, seeing as the total running costs during ideal conditions amount to €830 per hour. The average water requirement amounts to about 90 litres per square metre to achieve a finished snow cover of 20cm in depth. This complements non prepared natural snow piste with a depth of 50cm. The snow which is produced complements the natural precipitation of the average winter.

 Water

From 1 m³ of water about 2.5m³ of snowcover can be created. In total a production of 4,257m³ of snow per hour is possible when all of the machines are in operation, which amounts to about 425 truck loads.

To supply this amount of water a flowing stretch of water with a corresponding high flow or in favourable cases where the  height difference can be utilised a pond or lake is required. The most apparent problem in snow production is that large amounts of snow needs to be created in a relatively short period of time even to be able to offer the guests the bare minimum effect. At peak periods water storage has proved to be very advantageous, whereby extraction capacity in flowing water sources is pushed to the limit so that there is a good amount of water saved for when it is most needed.

For water storage there are 4 storage ponds at our disposal (2 each on the Planai and Hochwurzen), which are equipped with a capacity of 171,194m³ (Planai 121,044m³, Rohrmoos 50,150m³).

In total, 200 hectares of the entire ski area can be covered in our produced snow (110 hectares at Planai, and about 90 hectares at Hochwurzen), whereby 100% of Hochwurzen is covered and 80% of Planai is covered. This means that all of the Hochwurzen ski pistes can be covered in our snow.

 Criticism

Towards the end of the 80s environmental organisations expressed criticism about snow production. Looking back, this was more of a strike out against the use of snow production for economic means rather than a criticism of its effect on nature. The machines were personified as the “Devil”of exploitive tourism., as devourers of energy and a producer of bacteria, and as the unhealthy product of rampant winter tourism.

We could not agree more, that if something is going to have an effect on or in fact intervene with nature, its effect should not go unrecognised and this also applies to snow making facilities.

However, our experiences to date show that with  proper and moderate planning, ordered and extensive procedures and technically correct operating systems any problems are soon under control.

Overview of Procedure
· Legal Water Procedure
· Health and Safety Procedure
· Protection of Nature Procedure
· Construction Procedure
· Dedication Procedure
· Roads Procedure
· Forestation Procedure
· Electricity Procedure

You could say that snow production is a necessary evil!