Snow is the New Gold
Machine Control and Automation Redefine Snow Management for Snowparks
Author: Reka Vasszi
The allure of pristine slopes and perfectly crafted terrain parks has always drawn adventurers to the mountains, but the landscape of snow management is shifting dramatically. With rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns, climate change poses a significant challenge to the snow sports industry. Natural snowfall is becoming less reliable, leaving resorts dependent on costly snowmaking systems that strain resources and budgets.
For snowparks, these challenges are even more acute. Crafting intricate features like halfpipes, jumps, and rails requires precision and significant amounts of snow—an increasingly scarce resource. Amidst these difficulties, the need for sustainability has never been more pressing. Snow, in essence, has become the “new gold.”
The Tech That’s Changing the Game
Good news: technology is here to save the day (and your slopes). Leica Geosystems’ Snow Management solution, the Leica iCON alpine, paired with Prinoth snow groomers, is helping resorts get more out of less, making the construction of snowparks more efficient and sustainable.
The Leica iCON alpine system leverages GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) and advanced inclination sensors and IMU’s to measure and manage snow depth accurately. Mounted on any snow groomer, this system continuously collects data, ensuring operators can see the exact snow depth beneath the blade and tracks—accurate to within ±3 cm. In other words, it’s like X-ray vision for your snowcat.
Need a perfect jump? Create a 3D model and import the data, which can be read on the screen inside the groomer’s cab. It even handles tricky terrain with features like avoidance zones and anchor point searches. This setup doesn’t just make slopes look good; it helps operators work smarter, not harder.
Snow Measurement for World Cup Slalom Course
For the past two years, Killington Mountain Resort in Vermont has been utilising the Prinoth Connect Snow Measurement system powered by the Leica MC1 software.
Killington is one of the first resorts in North America to invest in Snow Measurement, and it has been vital to executing the Women’s Slalom and Giant Slalom World Cup builds in 2023 and 2024. Killington has the snowmaking capability to cover the race trail, Superstar, with snow in about 100 hours. With the software, the teams can read the snow depth to +/- 3cm, utilising Snow Measurement technology instead of long metal probes. The software helps increase the efficiency of both snowmaking and grooming, making the build easier for the grooming operators, more straightforward for officials, and safer for the racers.
From the Snow to the Dirt
Here’s the game-changer: Leica Geosystems machine control technology isn’t just a winter wonder—it’s a year-round solution thanks to its versatile Leica MC1 platform. This “one-for-all” system allows the same hardware used for snow grooming to seamlessly transition into off-season applications like summer earthworks, trail construction, and road maintenance. With a single investment, resorts get a multipurpose tool that eliminates the need for separate systems, cutting costs and complexity.
For instance at the Rieberalp in Davos Rinerhorn, the versatility of the Leica MC1 "one-for-all" solution is on full display. In summer, it powers excavation work for projects like creating a reservoir, ensuring precise and efficient earthmoving. Come winter, the same system transitions seamlessly to snow groomers, optimising snow management on the slopes. This effortless switch between applications highlights the adaptability and value of the Leica MC1 platform, enabling ski resorts to get the maximum out of their investment while maintaining top performance year-round.
Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of machine control—a powerful, adaptable solution that keeps your operations running efficiently no matter the season.
Technology for More Sustainable Snowparks
Let’s face it—snow managers are under more pressure than ever. The industry demands precision, efficiency, and sustainability, all while keeping costs down. With precision snow management and reduced waste, resorts can achieve operational goals while safeguarding the environment.
As snow becomes the new gold, adopting digital solutions like these ensures that ski resorts and snowparks can continue to deliver world-class experiences for generations to come.