Search Results for: snowmaking

Snow Storage Offers Alternative To Snowmaking, Grows In Popularity Among North American Ski Areas

As natural snowfall becomes less reliable with each passing season, many ski areas in North America have increasingly turned to snowmaking to open early season terrain. However, aside from water supply and energy use issues, snowmaking requires cold temperatures to work. The start of the ski season in the Western part of North America brought unseasonably warm temperatures for months […]
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Zach Armstrong |
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Not All Snowmaking Is Created Equal: New Austrian Study Challenges Carbon Footprint Beliefs

Snow making machine blowing snow under blue sky.

The familiar argument that skiing in the era of climate change, which has increasingly become reliant on snowmaking, is environmentally indefensible is facing new scrutiny from a recent study. New research from the University of Innsbruck challenges the assumption that snowmaking inherently carries a large carbon footprint. Instead, the 2026 study emphasizes that the key variable is the energy mix […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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Snowmaking Staff Saves Engagement After Ring Falls 118 Feet at Boyne Mountain Resort, MI

What was supposed to be a picture-perfect proposal on one of the Midwest’s most iconic ski attractions turned into near disaster when the engagement ring slipped out of the nervous proposer’s hands and tumbled down 118 feet to disappear in the snow, seemingly lost forever.  Trevor Van Camp had planned the perfect proposal with a surprise weekend getaway to Boyne […]
Julia Schneemann |
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Belleayre, NY, Report: A Great Start to the Season or Just Great Snowmaking?

Belleayre Express

Belleayre Report from Friday, December 12, 2025 It’s the second weekend of December, and although any form of snow has yet to fall on NYC, a quick two-and-a-half-hour drive up to the Catskills transports you to mountains that better reflect what the area typically looks like in mid-February (on a good year) rather than mid-December. So what is going on […]
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Liam Abbott |
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Okemo, Mount Snow, and Stowe, VT, Upgrade Their Snowmaking Systems to Improve Efficiency

This summer and fall, in partnership with Efficiency Vermont, Okemo, Mount Snow, and Stowe completed significant snowmaking upgrades to improve the efficiency of their snow guns. These upgrades mean more snow, faster coverage, and a better start to the season, all while operating more sustainably. This directly supports their Commitment to Zero, Vail Resorts’ sustainability goal of achieving a zero […]
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Avatar photo Gregg Frantz |
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Palisades Tahoe, CA, to Open Limited Beginner Terrain This Weekend as Snowmaking Continues

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Palisades Tahoe will roll out a limited early-season experience on Saturday, December 6, offering carpet-accessed beginner terrain at SnoVentures while the resort continues building toward its full opening. Consistent snowmaking windows have allowed crews to make steady progress, though temperatures remain the deciding factor for expanding terrain. The resort announced on Wednesday that its teams plan to open the Ahsoka […]
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Martin Kuprianowicz |
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Bear Valley, CA, Set to Open This Friday with Fresh Snowmaking and Holiday Events

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Bear Valley, California, is kicking off the season right on schedule. Thanks to steady cold nights and a busy snowmaking crew, the resort is opening this Friday, November 28, and will run through Sunday, November 30. After the weekend, Bear Valley will pause midweek and reopen on Saturday, December 6, as mountain operations continue to bring more terrain online. For […]
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Avatar photo Brent Glogau |
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[PHOTOS] Loveland Ski Area, CO, Begins Snowmaking in Effort to Open Earlier Than Last Year’s November 9

Loveland Ski Area, Colorado, has officially kicked off snowmaking operations for the 2025–26 season, ahead of schedule and just days before its usual early-season start. The ski area’s snowmaking team fired up its guns around midnight on October 13–last year, snowmaking began on October 18. Related: Loveland Ski Area, CO, to Replace Lift 7 for 2025-26 Season The resort’s early […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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Reclaimed Water into Snow: State Approves Recycled Water for Snowmaking at Big Sky Resort, MT

Snowmakers at Big Sky Resort, MT. | Photo: Big Sky Resort

Conservation groups applaud first-ever permit for a public ski area in Montana. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued final approval of Spanish Peaks’ application to use highly treated recycled water for base layer snowmaking at Big Sky Resort. This process will improve the quality of snow and the early and late-season ski experience, in addition to recharging […]
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[PHOTOS] Copper Mountain, CO, is the First Resort to Begin Snowmaking for Winter 2025-26

First day of snowmaking. | Photo: Ian Zinner/Copper Mountain

Snowmaking is officially underway at Copper Mountain, Colorado, where crews fired up the resort’s snow guns early Wednesday morning as overnight temperatures dropped below freezing. The effort marks the unofficial start of the 2025–26 winter season in Summit County. Related: Copper Mountain, CO, to Host First Alpine World Cup in More Than 2 Decades Copper’s snowmaking team will continue operations […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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Innovations & Improvements in Snowmaking Systems Across the Globe Improve Sustainability

As ski resorts across the globe face increasingly unpredictable winters, snowmaking has become an essential tool for maintaining reliable ski conditions. Unfortunately, snowmaking comes with an environmental impact from its heavy water and energy use. A 2023 study by University of Waterloo, Canada, and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, estimated that it takes on average of 1,033 cubic meters of water […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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[VIDEOS] Sunday River, ME, Completes Annual Snowmaking Test

Annual snowmaking test is completed at Sunday River, ME. | Photo: Sunday River

Sunday River Resort, Maine, officially kicked off the countdown to winter with its annual snowmaking test early Saturday morning, September 20. The operation was conducted on the Lower Downdraft trail of North Peak, where the snowmaking crew fired up the snowguns to ensure the state-of-the-art system was fully operational and ready for the season once temperatures drop. Related: Brain Post: […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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Saddleback Mountain, ME, Announces Less Than 100 Days Until Snowmaking, Pushes Ticket Pack Deadline

The summer heat may be peaking, but Saddleback Mountain is already counting down to winter. The Maine ski area marked the milestone of fewer than 100 days until its projected start of snowmaking late last week, reminding skiers and riders that opening day is not far off. Related: From Coast to Slope: The Indy License Plate Club Gains National Momentum […]
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Martin Kuprianowicz |
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Deer Valley, Utah, Provides Updates on its Massive New Infrastructure That’s Set to More than Double its Snowmaking Capabilities

Construction is underway for one of North America's most advanced snowmaking systems. Photo Credit: Deer Valley

Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, is undergoing a massive transformation. This includes upgrades to existing facilities, expansion of the skiable terrain, and the new Deer Valley East Village to name just a few of the projects that encompass the “Expanded Excellence” plan. One of the biggest undertakings of the transformation is the major upgrade to the snowmaking infrastructure. […]
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Luke Guilford |
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Fresh Snow Dusts Australian Alps As Resorts Kick-Start Snowmaking for the 2025 Season

A modest early-season snowfall blanketed Australia’s alpine ski resorts over the past 24 hours, offering a brief taste of winter just weeks before the official start of the season. Perisher, Hotham, and Thredbo all reported a light coating of fresh snow at their upper elevations, though totals remained just under 5 centimeters (2 inches). With snowmaking operations underway and temperatures […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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Burke Mountain, VT, New Owners Aim to Triple Snowmaking Capacity in Time for 2025–26 Ski Season

burke mountain Vermont

After nearly a decade in federal receivership, Burke Mountain Resort in Vermont officially has new owners. On Friday, May 2, 2025, the Bear Den Partners ownership group closed on the purchase of the 72-year-old ski area in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, setting the stage for a new era of independent ownership and mountain investment. Related: Burke Mountain Resort, VT, Sells for […]
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Martin Kuprianowicz |
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5 Noteworthy Ski Resorts That Don’t Rely on Artificial Snowmaking

Many challenges and factors affect a ski resort season. Operational costs, staffing, and mountain upgrades are variables that resorts have to deal with every year. Climate change and warmer temperatures have made it increasingly challenging for all ski resorts to have a successful season. Some regions worldwide have seen less snowfall over the last decade, which can lead to a shorter operating […]
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Avatar photo Gregg Frantz |
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[PHOTOS] Copper Mountain, CO, Kicks Off Snowmaking in Preparation for Winter 2024-25

Thanks to plummeting temperatures, Copper Mountain in Colorado seized the opportunity to begin its snowmaking operations for the upcoming 2024-25 winter season. The resort’s snowmaking crew initiated the process early Monday morning, focusing on building a solid base for the upper mountain’s alpine race training facilities. Related: [VIDEO] Direct Weather October Snow Forecast: These Are the Regions That Will See […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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