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 […] Industry News Zach Armstrong | April 20, 2026 0 Comments
Not All Snowmaking Is Created Equal: New Austrian Study Challenges Carbon Footprint Beliefs 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 […] Brains Julia Schneemann | April 19, 2026 1 Comment
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 […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | September 22, 2025 0 Comments
Brain Post: How Snow Guns Work The idea behind snowmaking is simple: you spray water into cold air, and it freezes into snow as it falls to the ground. But there’s more to it than that. Engineers have spent nearly 70 years developing snowmaking machines, so modern snowmaking is remarkably effective. Let’s take a look at how snow guns work. Related: Has Summertime Use of Snow […] Brains Tanner Blake | September 22, 2025 3 Comments
Italian Ski Resort Fires Up Snow Guns to Keep Guests Cool Amid Summer Heat Located at higher elevations, ski areas typically have cooler temperatures than the surrounding lowlands due to decreased atmospheric pressure. Generally, for every 1,000 feet gained in elevation, a drop in temperature of 3.6°F can be expected, although weather conditions and humidity can change this lapse rate. For this reason, mountainous areas can offer relief for those looking to cool off […] Industry News Brent Glogau | August 18, 2024 0 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Wachusett Mountain, MA – Mountain Skiing, Minutes Away A tiny little hill tucked away in Princeton, Massachusetts, Wachusett Mountain offers locals the opportunity to ski without enduring the long drive north to bigger mountains such as Okemo, Loon, and Sugarloaf. The resort’s jingle is seared into every Central Massachusetts skier’s mind: “Waaa Wa Wachusett, Wachusett Mountain, Mountain Skiing, Minutes Away!”—and it offers exactly that. With the majority of […] Dylan Bradley | June 20, 2024 0 Comments
Australian Ski Resorts Prepping for 2024 Season With Cold Front Bringing First Snow This Weekend Australian ski resorts have tested their snow cannons and have started making the first snow to get ready for opening weekend on June 8. Most Australian ski resorts typically open on the King’s Birthday Long Weekend which is celebrated in Australia on the second weekend in June each year. The snow factories at Mount Buller in Victoria have started production. Buller […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | May 16, 2024 0 Comments
New Study Reveals Harmful Environmental Effects of Snowmaking Climate change is the biggest roadblock in the future of the ski industry because warming temperatures mean less snowfall in most regions and more abnormal weather patterns. Many ski resorts are becoming increasingly dependent on artificial snowmaking to combat this. However, a new study reveals that producing snow has many negative consequences. Published in the Current Issues in Tourism journal, […] Industry News Tyler Hatch | June 16, 2023 3 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Snow Creek Ski Area, Weston, MO – Ski The Gateway to The West! Located just 40 minutes Northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, sits a small but lively ski area called Snow Creek. This is where so many flatlanders learn to ski or ride and where my passion for the mountains was born. Local hills like Snow Creek play a vital role in exposing those all around the world to the beauty of winter […] Luke Guilford | January 23, 2023 1 Comment
Arapahoe Basin, CO, Installing 4 New Tower Fan Snow Guns Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (Colorado) will install four new tower fan snow guns on the Lower High Noon trail this upcoming season. The High Noon trail is a mellow intermediate run on the front side of A-Bay, taking skiers and riders from the top of the Black Mountain Express lift to the Base Lodge. A fun cruiser run, High Noon […] Industry News Nick DeRiso | September 2, 2022 0 Comments
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, NV Projected to Open in 3 Weeks For the 2019-2020 Season Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, NV has plans to open their ski area on October 25th for the 2019-2020 ski season. Related: RFID Gates and Improved Snowmaking Just Some of the Improvements at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, NV this Winter With a base at over 8,000 feet, recent snowfall, and very low temps, Mt. Rose has kicked its artificial snowmaking operations […] Industry News SnowBrains | October 3, 2019 0 Comments
Learn to Ski and Ride at Snowshoe Mountain, WV [Sponsored by Snowshoe Mountain] This just in from West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain: “January: the month of fresh slates, new perspectives and positive vibes (also known for dropping plenty of fresh snowflakes). With the start of each new year, our passion for snow is reinvigorated and knowing that it’s “Learn to Ski and Ride Month” just gets us even more stoked […] Industry News Kim Vinet | January 25, 2019 0 Comments
Loveland, CO Began Snowmaking Last Night Photo Tour: Loveland ski resort in Colorado, usually one of the first ski resorts open in the USA, started snowmaking for the first time this season last night. Loveland generally needs about 4-14 days to put down enough snow to open a ski run, so we’ve still got a decent chunk of time to wait and the temperature forecast looks ok at […] Industry News SnowBrains | October 16, 2015 1 Comment
Copper Mountain, CO Officially Begins Snowmaking for 2015/16 Season | Photo Tour: Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado has official begun making snow for the 2015/16 season this past weekend. Temperatures dropped to 27ºF early Sunday morning and the snow guns were fired up. They’re currently depositing snow on the “Andy’s Encore” ski trail. Copper Mountain is scheduled to open on November 6th. That’ just about one month away… PHOTO TOUR: SnowBrains | October 5, 2015 1 Comment
VIDEO: Sunday River, ME Fired up the Snow Guns This Morning! Sunday River ski resort in Maine fired up their snow guns last night for an early season test. A cold snap last night allowed them to give the guns a good test and make sure all is in working order. Today is the last day of summer and ski resorts will be working hard to get everything dialed in for the coming ski season. Maybe it’s time to take a look […] Industry News SnowBrains | September 22, 2015 0 Comments
Loveland Ski Resort, CO Begins Snowmaking This Week Loveland ski resort in Colorado plans on beginning snowmaking this week on September 27th, 2013. Loveland and Arapahoe Basin always battle it out to see who can open earliest. Last season Arapahoe basin won the battle opening on October 17th. 6 days before Loveland. Loveland got a dusting of snow on September 19th and they’re hoping for more of the natural […] Industry News SnowBrains | September 23, 2013 2 Comments
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