Levi Ski Resort, Finland, Uncovers Massive Stored Snow Pile to Prepare for October 2 Opening

Finland’s Levi Ski Resort took a big step toward its season today. 

The resort recently revealed on its social media accounts that it has finally uncovered its farmed snow from last year. The unveiling of its farmed snow is the most recent update in Levi’s pre-season preparations, following the inspection of each of its snowmaking guns. Now, the resort turns its attention to spreading the snow across its front face ahead of its October 2 opening date.

“And so it begins,” the resort wrote in its post. “The covers are coming off, and winter is being revealed.”

• Related: Finland’s Levi Ski Resort Preparing Snowmaking System for the Season

Each year, Levi is one of the earliest non-glacial ski resorts to open for the North American ski season — all thanks to farmed snow. Last spring, before the snow melted off at the end of the season, Levi stockpiled its snow into a massive mound insulated under protective coverings designed to survive the summer. That snow is what Levi uses to open in October. The resort spreads the snow across the front face of the mountain, grooms it, and opens it for the resort’s skiers and snowboarders.

While it may seem far-fetched to keep snow frozen during long summer months, the technique works shockingly well. Back in the spring of 2025, Levi stored close to 300,000 cubic meters, with a good amount of it surviving through the warmth. In the early parts of the season, the farmed snow works perfectly when the resort operates with limited terrain. It also helps when the ideal snowmaking temperatures arrive, giving the artificial snow a base to sit on to stay frozen.

Since adopting its snow farming technique, Levi has had some of the longest ski seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. Last season, Levi closed after 220 days of skiing on May 10, 2026, and saw a record-breaking 599,000 skier visits.

With Levi’s opening date set for October 2, it will join fellow Finnish resort Ruka as the first two non-glacial ski resorts to open in the Northern Hemisphere. Despite Levi’s massive snowmaking capabilities, the temperatures in Finland will not allow the resort to build an artificial snow base by the time October rolls around. Because of this, Levi is using its farmed snow strategy to open its slopes for early-season laps.

• Related: Finland’s Levi Ski Resort Adds New Heated Six-Pack Chairlift and Massive Wide-Open Slope

Despite winter temperatures still being weeks away, the resort is still preparing its snowmaking system. Each snow gun is undergoing inspection at Levi, ensuring every gun is ready to go once ideal snowmaking temperatures arrive. The resort has a total of 336 automatic snow guns and 23 mobile snow guns, and checking each one takes some time. For Levi and ski resorts all across the world, making sure each gun is working properly and ready is key to maximizing snowmaking when temperatures are right. Delays in firing up snowmaking guns due to issues can leave the resort’s base weaker and can ultimately lead to a shorter season if multiple guns have technical problems. To combat this, Levi is making sure its guns are ready to go now, while it still has time before temperatures drop.

When the resort opens on October 2, Levi’s slopes will host both alpine and cross-country skiing. Levi Glacier, Front Slope Park, and the mogul track will be open on the slopes, and the Glacier Express, North, and Front Slope conveyor lifts will spin for its guests. The resort hosts the season’s opening FIS Alpine World World Cup men’s and women’s slalom races November 14-15.

Later this season, when fresh snow blankets the resort, Levi will also open its new high-speed six-pack Sunny Express chairlift, alongside new wide, beginner-focused terrain. The resort hopes to have skiers on Sunny Express and new terrain for the first time in November.

With Levi’s snow officially uncovered, laps at the Finnish resort could not be closer. Now, the resort will begin to spread the snow across its runs as the opening date approaches.