Snow Valley keeps eye on weather to ensure enough snow
By Cheryl Walsh
Snow Valley isn’t depending much on Mother Nature for snow this year.
Although Edmonton’s Nov. 13 snowfall was later than normal this year, the delay in winter precipitation hasn’t affected snow making at the hill at 119 Street off of the Whitemud.
“The only difference I think it may have made would have been for opening day to be a bit more busy,” said marketing and communications manager Tim Dea.
Snow making at Snow Valley. Photograph provided by www.goskialberta.com
Averaging more than 1.2 million cubic metres of snow made per year, Snow Valley is right on track to host its expected 180,000 or more skiers this winter.
“The only thing we want Mother Nature to provide is a cold temperature and a favourable or no wind,” said operations manager Marlin Van Zandt.
Wind is crucial to the snow-making process at Snow Valley. If it is blowing towards the freeway, Snow Valley cannot make snow because the wind-blown precipitation causes dangerous driving conditions on the neighbouring roads.
Van Zandt said the machines have the ability to make snow when the temperature is 1 C, but the most cost-effective temperatures to make it at are between -5 C and -25 C.
“As soon as the cloud comes over the hill, our snow-making is done,” said Van Zandt. “It’s like putting a blanket over the hill, and temperatures can rise degrees within minutes.”
One of the snow-making employees always has to be on call, especially at the beginning of the season. When there is very little snow on the ground, Snow Valley wants to take advantage of every opportunity to make it, and if that comes at 3 a.m., then someone has to be there to make it happen, said Van Zandt.
“There are a few staff members that have been around for a while and know what they are doing when it comes to making snow,” said Van Zandt. New snow apprentices learn the practice from their more seasoned mentors.
The snow-making staff try to monitor weather up to 24 hours ahead of time.
The water used for making snow is city drinking water and when the machines are performing at full blast for 24 hours, they can produce up to 17,000 cubic metres of snow, using about 4.5 million litres of water.
Van Zandt said that the colder it is, the more snow you can make. Snow Valley uses the newest in airless technology for snow-making and is constantly tweaking the machines to make them more energy-efficient.
