 Poster: A snowHead
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Saw that 90% of Kitzbuhel is covered and combined with not needing huge cover due to skiing on grass rather than rock would this be a decent bet for early March? Got to go somewhere!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Dolomites.
I think almost all major resorts now have full snowmaking as they wouldn't be viable without it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Most of the major Austrian and eastern Italian resorts have pretty comprehensive snowmaking. Sella Ronda areas have close to 100% for example.
Contrary to popular belief, quite a few big areas further west have nowhere near full snowmaking (there are meteorological reasons for this, but they are becoming less valid with climate change). Portes du Soleil in particular could do with a lot more. Alpe d'Huez only has 35% coverage. Three Valleys 54%, etc.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just back from Niseko in Japan and didn't notice any snow making. Percentage artificial snow covered slopes is not a good measure of quality.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@8611, Les Arcs appears to only have snow making on the popular blues and some red runs. Most of the runs have no artificial snow making.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@up4it, snowmaking doesn't count for much if its warm, or if they've used up their water reserves, both of which are possibilities. There is some snow forecast for next week which could improve things for early March, maybe wait till its actually fallen though before banking on it and booking
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@johnE, @denfinella, interesting I would have thought it was a necessity everywhere now to ensure they can always open as scheduled, even if they will probably be able to open on natural most of the time
I suspect after this season it will be
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The problem with this season hasn't so much been lack of precipitation but warm temperatures when it DID fall out of the sky, with rain to high altitude, and then lots of warm sunshine. Warm conditions make snow-making completely irrelevant, quite apart from the problem of power and water needed.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Xscape at Castleford had 100% coverage. 
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@pam w, yeah, I presume there are times though when it is cold enough but no precipitation and the resorts will want to maximise their chances, indeed, those that use it presumably do
I'm just wondering re the Dolomites, as I'm pretty sure I have seen them open with little to no actual snow - are we to take it that they can be close to 100% artificial snow in terms of the pistes?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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yes, loads of artificial snow in the Dolomites and very well managed. I think historically they've sometimes had quite low levels of natural precipitation, compared to the northern Alps, so it's been essential for them. I was just making the point that snowmaking won't really help resorts coping with global warming!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@pam w, not sure I quite agree that warm conditions make snowmaking irrelevant. Even in a warmer future climate there are likely to be cold spells every winter where snowmaking is possible. That then forms a solid base which can survive weeks of warm weather. As you say, this season has (since early January anyway) been notable for its dryness rather than lengthy mildness; snowmaking has definitely helped make it a lot better than it would have otherwise been.
The areas which could benefit less from snowmaking are those where warm airmasses are often more humid / rainier. Scotland being an obvious example, but also areas close to the western fringes of the Alps. Which goes some way towards explaining why French resorts tend to have less snowmaking than areas further east.
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Yes the Dolomites are totally reliant on snow making. I think we are a long way past the point where commercial scale snowsports can exist in the Alps without snow making.
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You know it makes sense.
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Kitzbuhel now looking good for 4/3
Good fall over the weekend and very low temps for snowmaking
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Peter S, your last point is certainly not correct. There are many, many commercial ski areas in the Alps with little or no snowmaking facilities. That's just a fact. (Though undoubtedly it is becoming more risky in most places!)
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Poster: A snowHead
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Trying to think of some ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Of the ones I've been to (or planned to go to):
Alpe d'Huez 35% coverage
Praz de Lys-Sommand 30%
Bernex 30%
Bonneval sur Arc 25%
Les Deux Alpes 15%
Lans en Vercors - only the baby slopes
Areas in the Bauges (I think)
Areas with no snowmaking at all will be mostly very small ones. Maybe off the radar to most UK skiers, but still commercially run.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Yes the French resorts have a low percentage of snow making compared with the other alpine countries, but most resorts seem to have some.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1188152/rate-of-artificial-snow-in-europe/
The average potential cover across France is 35% of pistes compared to Italy at a surprisingly high 87%. Being south of the Alpine ridge makes Italy drier than the northern alps but perhaps also more suited to snow making.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Great link @Peter S! I knew Italy had more snowmaking than France but am surprised the disparity is that much. Agree with what you say about much of Italy having an ideal climate for snowmaking. I think (northern) French Alps usually have more consistent snowfall patterns too, so in most seasons there is less need for artificial snow there. Or at least, there wasn't in the past...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Snowspace Flachau has nearly 100% but they haven't been on since early January. With 51% North Facing runs we can skis to valley level at all 9 entry points (at 8-900m) and for the last 10 years the same has been true at Easter, all be it a bit slushy come nach mittag!
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