worry about these types of conditions because we have a nice, certain layer of snow
already.
“We can then use the automatic [snow cannon] systems to make skiing as good as
possible after that. If we make snow in -10C rather than -1C or zero C it is almost 10
times better efficiency.”
Learning curve
In Levi, there are nine strategically placed storage areas for the stockpiled snow, which
this year amounted to 200,000 cubic meters. All the snow mounds are covered with 70
milimeter (2.8-inch) -thick insulated mats, made of Finnfoam used in the construction
industry, and topped with a waterproof sheet.
“At the moment under our mats in the north part of Finland, the melting rate is under
13%, which is pretty good,” said Kalle Palander, a retired Finnish ski racing champion and
sales director for Snow Secure, the company behind the insulation.
“And every year we learn more.”
What began on a small scale in 2016 to combat repeated cancellations of the World Cup
slalom races on the Levi Black slope has grown into a wider operation to prepare a
number of ski runs for visitors, including the new showpiece Levi Glacier run, as well as
cross-country tracks, some of which can be preserved under a layer of sawdust or
woodchips.
“It's important, economically, for the ski resort,” adds Mustonen. “It means when we get
the first lift opened, we get people here and we are alive.”
Snow farming is just a small part of Levi's overall snow production and management, but
it has contributed to the resort's commitment to reducing its carbon emissions, on the
way to becoming net zero carbon “by 2050 or as soon as possible.”
Levi, which has used renewable electricity since 2020, has also switched its fleet of snow
grooming machines to biofuel for the 2023-24 season, making the snow farming even a
greener alternative to fossil fuels.
Olympic solution
Machine-made snow has been a long-time ingredient in producing top-level ski racing
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