Scandinavian Ski Centres Claim Record For Amount of Snow Being Saved Through Summer

Several Scandinavian ski centres say they have each stockpiled more snow than ever before through summer 2023. The process, which is becoming increasingly common and known as snow farming, allows the resorts to spread the snow back out on the snow in early autumn to create a base.  A proportion of the snow is lost to melting through the summer but covers and insulation to protect it from the summer sun means most of it makes it.  

Sweden’s Idre Fjäll (pictured below in Autumn 2020), which offers cross country ski tracks and downhill training from early October says it has stockpiled a total of 203,300 cubic metres of snow, the most ever.

“Demand for training groups has increased steadily since 2015, and we are continuously striving to develop more efficient methods of storing the snow. We are looking forward to a fantastic autumn with many enthusiastic training and competition groups,” says Calle Enarsson, sales manager at Idre Fjäll.

About 55% of the snow saved is used for the cross-country tracks and 45% for downhill slopes. The  92,700 cubic metres of snow saved for this autumn is actually down a little on last summer, but the resort believes its increased use of local bark as an insulation layer on the snow will mean about 25% more snow will make it through, so there’ll actually be more than ever to use in the autumn.

“We expect the snow to be preserved much better than before, thanks to more piles being covered with bark. The bark has proven to be the best and most effective method to increase the durability of the snow. With all the snow saved, we look forward to being able to offer an incredible pre-season experience at Idre Fjäll,” said Johan Persson, operations manager at Idre Fjäll.

Meanwhile Finland’s Levi ski area has saved a similar 200,000 cubic metres of snow for the opening of their skiing and cross-country skiing season in October, as well as the Levi World Cup alpine skiing event.

Again, the snow storage volume is at record levels here too, exceeding the amount Levi stored last summer by 33 percent. A total of nine snow storage piles have been placed at the Levi Black Slope, the Levi Glacier area on the Front Slopes, and the Northeast Slopes. 60,000 cubic meters of preserved snow is for the Levi Black Slope to guarantee the successful execution of the Levi World Cup on the second weekend of November.

The most exciting highlight of the resort’s snow farming is the Levi Glacier slope area, which was built in the summer of 2022 and is unique in the world.  The idea being to keep piling on the snow so the snow survives year round, under cover in summer. Thanks to the snow recycling process in the Glacier area, the skiable slope area is extensive from early October.

Levi Ski Resort’s sixtieth ski season will open on October 6th for both alpine skiers and cross-country skiers while Idre Fjäll plans to open for the 23-24 season on 21st October, 2023.