Behind the Scenes - How Snowmaking at Ski Resorts Works

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 23 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 279

  • @sharktooth2888
    @sharktooth2888 3 роки тому +15

    Don't forget all the fun parts like using the Tiger Torch to thaw the ice that often forms on the rear fanguard screens. Digging out the hoses and power cords after the night shift guys slept most of there shift. Hanging, thawing, and rolling 100 ft water hoses etc. Unsung heroes.

    • @mikeo3428
      @mikeo3428 2 роки тому +4

      6am, just got back from a gun run. Im the night shift guy. 🤣

  • @johnpatterson4272
    @johnpatterson4272 6 місяців тому +4

    Great video and well articulated as to the finite technology of snowmaking in the 21st century. The narrator has a vested interest in that local business, it's obvious, and he's a serious asset to Calabogie. Probably the best video on snowmaking in North America I have ever seen. Thank you.

    • @SlopeEdge
      @SlopeEdge  6 місяців тому +1

      Thank you for your positive comments. Happy you enjoyed the video.

  • @juliezaremskiy3635
    @juliezaremskiy3635 6 років тому +122

    Nothing beats the feel of natural snow though

  • @michaeldougfir9807
    @michaeldougfir9807 6 років тому +82

    In my family of six, we learned to ski as soon as we could walk. All six of us have worked in several ski areas. But the snow making equipment, when it finally came in, remained pretty much a mystery. So I was glad to see this video. I wish my parents could have seen this.
    So I thank you for this presentation.
    Now I'm going to see if Google will help me find you. I don't believe you said where you are. As a Californian, I have skied only in our mountains. So I don't know where the other ski areas are.

    • @SlopeEdge
      @SlopeEdge  6 років тому +12

      Hi Michael. The mountain featured in the video is Calabogie Peaks, located just outside Ottawa, Ontario in Eastern Canada. www.calabogie.com

  • @frazbfraser
    @frazbfraser 7 років тому +66

    Most resorts in Japan have no snow making facilities.. Place to be!

    • @ProFettMoHaMett
      @ProFettMoHaMett 6 років тому

      It is great.

    • @fulcrumthebrave5715
      @fulcrumthebrave5715 6 років тому +16

      The main reason resorts out in Utah and Colorado make their own snow so that they can open earlier and stay open later.
      As he said in the video, man-made snow makes a better base layer. We used to be able to ski from October to June on lift-serve

  • @duncanmifsud6537
    @duncanmifsud6537 6 років тому +12

    Great System!!! Here in Montafon Austria, they use snowmakers on almost every resort!!! Unfortunately, even in the Alps the weather is not always ideal!!!
    Greetings from Austria!

  • @theroadnottakentravel
    @theroadnottakentravel 2 роки тому +2

    5:00 “Come Christmas, our trails will be fully open” Last Christmas, this hill had 2 of their 25 trails open🤣. The weather in December was pretty cold, with the exception of one week.

  • @johnreyn19
    @johnreyn19 9 років тому +8

    Great video! It's amazing how much infrastructure goes into snow making. Keep up the good work!

  • @DestinationsChronicles
    @DestinationsChronicles 6 років тому +8

    I think the ski lodge I am an instructor at is one of a very few that doesn't have snow making... Wish we did!!

  • @peppeddu
    @peppeddu 8 років тому +36

    Those snow making machines are not fail safe, in case of a power/motor failure they should automatically drain all the water out to prevent pipe breakups.

    • @Smegma_pirate
      @Smegma_pirate 5 років тому +7

      you must be an engineer, congrats on noticing something fairly small that wasn't worth mentioning in the video

    • @pauloconnor3056
      @pauloconnor3056 3 роки тому +2

      @Peppe Ddu thank you so much, I've got a question though, are all other types of snowmaking machines like this, or is it a common problem you encounter with all snowmaking machines

  • @danielshanklin7397
    @danielshanklin7397 6 років тому +6

    Fantastic narration, Paul Murphy

  • @youandiryan
    @youandiryan 6 років тому +7

    Awesome video! I was always so curious about snow machines. I am very close to a world class resort (Whistler Blackcombe) in Canada. I always see these machines

  • @death2man666
    @death2man666 4 роки тому +4

    being a snow maker at my local ski resort was my all time favorite job! i think i still have my SmoMaker swiss army knife, the rep gave me.

  • @BerHarSenSam
    @BerHarSenSam 4 роки тому +5

    Great and rather informative video. Thank you very much for putting it together. It would be great to see on how the snow is spread across the trails - ski runs where it gets made by carriage fans. Thank you.

  • @domcizek
    @domcizek 5 років тому +3

    Beautiful presentation, well written, I always wanted to know how they make snow, very detailed, nice resort also,

  • @Sc0ttPrian
    @Sc0ttPrian 5 років тому +1

    passing through the snow machines is the best part.

  • @Timotheus157
    @Timotheus157 5 років тому

    Excellent example for other ski resorts to follow.

  • @jakejakejakejakejakejake
    @jakejakejakejakejakejake 2 роки тому +2

    That was immensely fascinating! Great video! X

  • @turtlezed
    @turtlezed 6 років тому +25

    Great production guys, i didn't realise all that hard work went on behind the scenes, I am now well informed, Thank you :¬)

    • @Smegma_pirate
      @Smegma_pirate 5 років тому

      by behind the scenes you must mean behind that blue curtain they used a s a blue screen for this shoddy ass production.

  • @one2three4our
    @one2three4our 5 років тому +2

    Surprisingly good, interesting and informative video.

  • @erickbanks
    @erickbanks 5 років тому +125

    Got high and wondered how fake snow is made so now I’m here

  • @thurst0n
    @thurst0n 6 років тому +3

    This was very interesting. Thank you!

  • @ethankondor7181
    @ethankondor7181 9 років тому +2

    Very very interesting video. I thought that it was all natural snow because the workers told me its all fresh snow , but now I know it's a snow maker machine
    Great Vids!!!⛄️I subscribed to you. I love skiing too I love how you made like a interview in a vid

  • @olegvelichko1659
    @olegvelichko1659 6 років тому +212

    Did I just watch over 10 minutes of an ad fro a ski resort that I will not likely EVER go to?!?!

    • @travisk5589
      @travisk5589 5 років тому +8

      Of course the areas with artificial snow will last longer. It's got twice as much snow as the other areas.

    • @travisk5589
      @travisk5589 5 років тому +3

      Yeah, I'm wondering where the hell Calabogie is.

    • @ektorasbountioukos1251
      @ektorasbountioukos1251 5 років тому +1

      Oleg Velichko yos

    • @goldenretriever6261
      @goldenretriever6261 5 років тому +2

      Near Ottawa.

    • @niel7250
      @niel7250 5 років тому +5

      Just went there last weekend, poutines not bad and 40 bucks for a day pass

  • @DonegalOverlanding
    @DonegalOverlanding 2 роки тому

    That was really interesting, thanks for making the video for us.

  • @traditionalfood367
    @traditionalfood367 6 років тому +5

    Early snow this fall.
    Likely to be a long season.

  • @harrymartin1
    @harrymartin1 7 років тому +3

    Thanks for a rather awesome window into the ski industry!

  • @glnassa5589
    @glnassa5589 6 років тому +2

    It's really educative and full of knowledge. Many thanks for sharing this update. All the very best!! Best regards, Nassa

  • @vmiximv
    @vmiximv Рік тому

    Thank you for making these informative videos❤

  • @tcreate.s
    @tcreate.s 3 роки тому

    Such an awesome video on snow making!

  • @jakerossino4594
    @jakerossino4594 9 років тому +2

    Wow! That's actually really cool.

  • @awesomegaming8617
    @awesomegaming8617 Рік тому

    9:45 Kinda like sprinklers during the summer when you're under very crappy droughts all summer long! It makes so much sense now! We do it when fricken weather doesn't! Now I want a snow machine! Probably wouldn't have a very welcoming water and electric bill though... 😂🤣

  • @sevenwind688
    @sevenwind688 5 років тому +18

    the technique part starts from ~ 5:22

  • @phishinfool
    @phishinfool 6 років тому +1

    Very good video it's a art to it and you guys know the way to do it !

    • @SlopeEdge
      @SlopeEdge  6 років тому

      Thank you for the feedback. Happy that you enjoyed the video.

  • @tijsenmoses4819
    @tijsenmoses4819 8 років тому +1

    At Stratton vt, a trail had 25-30 feet piles in May.

  • @Typistss
    @Typistss 3 роки тому +2

    This video felt like a school project

  • @tv.8066
    @tv.8066 3 роки тому

    와우 넘좋아요 잘보고갑니다 열열히 응원합니다 3종세트 선물입니다 풀청하고 갑니다 감사합니다 디딤돌tv영상감독.
    👍💯🙏✍

  • @jeramijohnson529
    @jeramijohnson529 6 років тому +2

    Very informative.. nice job !!!

  • @tonysmith5465
    @tonysmith5465 5 років тому +2

    outstanding video. thanks a lot. SC Navy vet

  • @jonirons1625
    @jonirons1625 2 роки тому

    Great video!

  • @thomasbarlow4223
    @thomasbarlow4223 5 років тому

    Looks like a fun job

  • @tommarello01
    @tommarello01 6 років тому +1

    Most informative, thank you.

  • @breker19er
    @breker19er 2 роки тому

    That was interesting!

  • @raysimeral4296
    @raysimeral4296 6 років тому

    Nice system. I work at a resort in pa that has a system that has 90 techno alpines and a portable fleet of pole cats that is an automated system with e-motors that run water hydrant.

  • @davejohnsen8540
    @davejohnsen8540 5 років тому +1

    Just watched a new Marines recruit video before this and was waiting for this guy to start yelling at me!

  • @stevedoe1630
    @stevedoe1630 4 роки тому

    Lifting water was the main driving factor for the invention of the heat engine. Water is heavy. This is not lifting water out of a well. This is lifting 2,000 gallons of water up a mountain every minute for up to a week at a time, nonstop...that’s a lot of work/energy.

  • @polyannamoonbeam
    @polyannamoonbeam 3 роки тому

    Very interesting.. pity it’s raining so much more. When you need those dry cold days to make snow. How expensive is it, running this system..?

  • @sean8081a
    @sean8081a 4 роки тому

    Super interesting.

  • @campanerosdelaltoojaezcara6761

    great !!!

  • @RyanBrown01
    @RyanBrown01 4 роки тому

    Excellent info!

  • @KD-xo2fx
    @KD-xo2fx 5 років тому +1

    Cool informative video..... :)

  • @mike1022
    @mike1022 6 років тому +5

    whats the avg cost of running one of these per hour ?

  • @JimmysTractor
    @JimmysTractor 5 років тому +1

    5:50 the pressure is generated at the snow gun- that fire hose would burst well below 600psi.

  • @trevortodd6060
    @trevortodd6060 2 роки тому +1

    How do you keep your water pipes and hoses from freezing?

  • @jeremiahblocker8909
    @jeremiahblocker8909 8 років тому +38

    Where can I buy this machine?

  • @jacobmurphy7333
    @jacobmurphy7333 6 років тому +3

    1:30 Colorado resorts stay open for more than half the year

    • @MrSeahawks40
      @MrSeahawks40 5 років тому +1

      Colorado is different, idiot.

  • @chriscook215
    @chriscook215 5 років тому

    Your saving money with your new system. Are you lowering the price of the tickets for your place?

  • @JohnS916
    @JohnS916 4 роки тому +2

    That was informative. It would be ideal if they could power those big electric motors with renewable energy, like wind power.

  • @kimberly1567
    @kimberly1567 4 роки тому +1

    Some interesting content to a limited audience that just doesnt want to watch so many ad's from a greedy person with only 1.78K subs. Greed never wins

  • @81794mn
    @81794mn 6 років тому +2

    Might want to fix your seal leaking on your shaft from your electrical motor on that water pump....

  • @leonst99
    @leonst99 6 років тому +1

    With TechnoAlpin equipment you can start making snow even at temperatures above 0 degrees.

    • @ewanachard4133
      @ewanachard4133 5 років тому

      With smi too if you speek in wet temperature

  • @alfredwilliam1184
    @alfredwilliam1184 5 років тому

    Very impressive, thank you for a great insight into stopping the global warming scam.

  • @edv9019
    @edv9019 4 роки тому

    Where can I learn about equipment, operational costs, production efficiency, snow quality differentials of spraying steam vs liquid water???🤔

  • @mightymotoxkid
    @mightymotoxkid 5 років тому +7

    So many Jerry's in the background

  • @caine-chow
    @caine-chow 4 роки тому +1

    for the water distribution, how do you keep it from freezing?

    • @timmyteabag69
      @timmyteabag69 2 роки тому +2

      You keep it flowing, water doesn’t freeze easy when it’s moving at a high rate of speed

  • @postal3212
    @postal3212 2 роки тому +1

    So how do you keep the water from freezing at those temps between the pump house to the machines?

    • @timmyteabag69
      @timmyteabag69 2 роки тому

      You keep it flowing, I was making snow last night at -32 and if you have a problem and water quits moving for over a minute you’re pretty well screwed, I run a mobile unit with a big generator and water tank in a sea can with a high pressure pump pushing water to the snow maker, tank is filled by a 3 inch water pump running at pretty well idle

    • @postal3212
      @postal3212 2 роки тому

      @@timmyteabag69 interesting stuff.

  • @BuffaloBuffaloQuasar
    @BuffaloBuffaloQuasar 8 років тому +6

    Cool.

  • @jaggass
    @jaggass 6 років тому +55

    It would make my life at university more comfortable if i had this instead of the other snowflakes there.

  • @tirkentube
    @tirkentube 6 років тому +45

    @7:48 "those motors use less electricity (horsepower), great for the environment. @9:12 "key to making snow is horsepower, we've increased our horsepower dramatically."

    • @Eric-lf6yx
      @Eric-lf6yx 6 років тому +21

      Kilowatts is equal to horsepower, not "electricity". Electricity is a vague term and he could have easily meant that the efficiency has gone up, not that kilowatts went up. Efficiency=mechanical power output / electrical power input (power=kilowatts). Two electric motors could use different amounts of kilowatt hours and produce the same horsepower (kilowatts) if one is more efficient that the other. Had the guy said kilowatts instead of electricity, you'd be correct, but he didn't.
      Sincerely,
      A Mechanical Engineer.

    • @stevenbryant4718
      @stevenbryant4718 5 років тому

      smaller hp is less power usage. The duty of the motors are going to be similar. you know that.

    • @BrewPub
      @BrewPub 5 років тому +2

      He would have meant the motors are more efficient than the previous system or systems used by some of the lodges.

    • @blove142
      @blove142 5 років тому +5

      do you want to ski or not?

    • @inothome
      @inothome 5 років тому +1

      By less electricity he means less kWh of energy needed than before.1 HP equals 746 Watts, it's set number and efficiency has nothing to do with it. Demand, measured in "Watts", over time is measured in "Watt hours" (Wh). Example, a 10 HP motor will draw 7.64kW. That motor in one hour, at a full constant load will use 7.46kW hours (consumption) of electricity. What Paul was saying is the new (well 4 years ago...) fan guns only use 15 HP (11.190 kW) each, which is 40% less kW than the old system of having huge compressors that would feed all the fan guns compressed air. The new guns compress the air themselves, and by doing that are 40% more electrically efficiently than using one central source of compressed air for all the guns. Which is unrelated to the pumps for the water, that both the old and new system still need.

  • @ndutimenang4539
    @ndutimenang4539 8 років тому +2

    I want that machine

  • @JF2it
    @JF2it Рік тому

    You may be able to set up for Mtb bikes to help get through the other 265 days.🤷‍♂️

  • @austintousant8595
    @austintousant8595 6 років тому +5

    How does the water lines not freeze

    • @SlopeEdge
      @SlopeEdge  6 років тому +8

      As long as the water is pumping through they will not freeze in most cases. The danger is when the power goes out and the pumps stop, the snowmaking crews have very little time to disconnect the hoses and drain the water before the snowguns get damaged. Because of that, it becomes dangerous and risky to do snowmaking as it gets extremely cold (-20'c and beyond).

    • @raysimeral4296
      @raysimeral4296 6 років тому

      The water lines from the lake to pump house and from pump house to each gun station is buried in the ground over two feet deep. Than has a lateral from main water line connected to a hydrant that has drains on the bottom of them which are also buried .

    • @raysimeral4296
      @raysimeral4296 6 років тому +2

      The ski resort I work at has 103 automated pole cats and techno alpine system. That have back up batteries that work a e- motor that sits on hydrant that shuts them off and drains

    • @mike99ify
      @mike99ify 6 років тому +2

      I’m a snow maker and a piston bully operator. The lines do freeze sometimes. Gotta get out there and unfreeze them. 300psi water 90pst air and 480volts all in one little spot. I love my job.

  • @brandonc3956
    @brandonc3956 10 місяців тому

    I’m interviewing to do this job later and I figured I’d get a better hourly pay if I made it sound like I knew what I was doing 🤣

  • @LegendLength
    @LegendLength 4 місяці тому

    It would seem better to have a water tank at each pump. That way you wouldn't need any central high pressure system.

  • @gregschulz4921
    @gregschulz4921 5 років тому

    Interesting

  • @alexmurdoch3828
    @alexmurdoch3828 2 роки тому +1

    How do they prevent the pipes from freezing?

    • @Hexarth
      @Hexarth Рік тому

      when the pumps aren't running the water drains back into the lake, leaving empty pipes

  • @ILIK3HATERZ
    @ILIK3HATERZ 6 років тому

    I'll buy 1 just for the 45 acres of land I purchased !

  • @goldenretriever6261
    @goldenretriever6261 5 років тому +2

    He keeps calling it a mountain. Calabogie is a speed bump.

  • @ellstackeradventures
    @ellstackeradventures 5 років тому

    Cool

  • @Michener215
    @Michener215 3 роки тому +1

    How do they stop the pipes or hoses from freezing?

    • @mikeo3428
      @mikeo3428 2 роки тому

      The water at my hill is pumped out at 5 degrees celsius. The water is warm enough when traveling through the hose to keep it from freezing. If the pump fails and water sits idle in the hose, its a different story.

    • @mikeo3428
      @mikeo3428 2 роки тому

      Pipes are underground and our system sucks the pipe dry when you shut the water off.

  • @blizzunt420e
    @blizzunt420e 3 роки тому +2

    You’re using 40% less electricity but you’re using three times more water I’m not sure how that’s environmentally friendly

    • @draggy6544
      @draggy6544 3 роки тому +1

      Where do u think the water ends up? Snow locked into snow packs on mountains is the best type of water u obviously cant do that artificially for every mountain since it would cost way too much still that water gets to be recycled very efficiently

    • @theroadnottakentravel
      @theroadnottakentravel 2 роки тому +1

      The water comes from and ends up back in the lake next to the mountain

  • @BallerDan53
    @BallerDan53 4 роки тому +1

    Is no one concerned about the large water leak? 9:10

  • @dietrichcheney8258
    @dietrichcheney8258 6 років тому +4

    Powder Mountain UT does not even have snow makers and their yearly average is 500".

    • @jondstewart
      @jondstewart 5 років тому +1

      Dietrich Cheney I haven’t been to that one, but know it’s a lot grittier and non-touristy that the main six as I call them (Alta, Snowbird, Park City, Deer Valley, Brighton, Solitude)

  • @anthony9343
    @anthony9343 4 роки тому +6

    Not enough footage of the snow blowers actually running

  • @antingchang3258
    @antingchang3258 6 років тому +1

    9:14 ya, one of the pump's packing is fucked lol

  • @RealtorSkool
    @RealtorSkool 5 років тому

    How much did this system cost???

  • @amazingjourneyrider5151
    @amazingjourneyrider5151 5 років тому

    IS THIS POSSIBLE IN TERAI REGION?

  • @funkylosik
    @funkylosik 6 років тому

    That intro, lol)

  • @tylerwatt12
    @tylerwatt12 8 років тому +1

    Jeez that's still 11KW per snow maker.

    • @LeossJ433
      @LeossJ433 8 років тому

      yeah nothing environmentally green about this whole operation..

    • @jamie91433
      @jamie91433 8 років тому

      Tyler Watthanaphand nope, not enough snow.

  • @markdezuba
    @markdezuba 3 роки тому +1

    Snow is time released water

  • @nicholastroy471
    @nicholastroy471 5 років тому

    Hahaha! My favourite ski can’t not go to Calabogie

  • @harrycarrey1225
    @harrycarrey1225 6 років тому

    I live in Hawaii and they dont make snow here ...so we dont get to go skiing.

  • @paydenrivera9041
    @paydenrivera9041 9 років тому

    do ya not have cooling towers?

  • @vurdumduymaz5952
    @vurdumduymaz5952 3 роки тому

    I really want to make a snow operation of my own. I think I found the best place to produce snow and make a business out of it. so start the research.

    • @timmyteabag69
      @timmyteabag69 2 роки тому

      Go to Alberta and do it for oilfield

  • @neeko6464
    @neeko6464 5 років тому +7

    this must have been such a joke to the snowmakers to see these guys talking about this lol

  • @donroo736
    @donroo736 2 роки тому

    I wonder what has more gas, those fan guns or the presenter hehehe

  • @stevedoe1630
    @stevedoe1630 4 роки тому

    Electric snow guns SO MUCH QUIETER than the old style compressed air snow guns.

  • @krisconneely5977
    @krisconneely5977 4 роки тому

    How do we donate please

    • @SlopeEdge
      @SlopeEdge  4 роки тому

      What are you inquiring to donate to?

  • @WhiteBuffalo032
    @WhiteBuffalo032 3 роки тому +2

    Well that does explain the extremely overpriced lift tickets

  • @macmcleod1188
    @macmcleod1188 6 років тому

    I've ski'd it. It's not snow.
    It makes an okay base but it lacks crystaline structure and looks like bead's more than snow.
    It ices up more than snow.
    snowboardmountaineer.com/artificial-snow/
    It takes time to make real snow. They need to find a new process for artificially making snow that has at least some crystals (cause that's what makes it fluffy).
    I just got back from a place that had moguls made entirely of 1/8" beads of ice. It felt slushy and heavy.