LEVI’S 7-MONTH SNOW GUARANTEE – THE SUCCESS STORY OF SNOW STORAGE

Levi Ski Resort’s snow storage system was originally developed to secure the hosting of Alpine Ski World Cup races. Today, efficient snow storage and snowmaking systems enable a long winter season and guarantee excellent conditions for both holiday skiers and competitive athletes.

The Alpine Ski World Cup race, first held in Levi in 2004, is an extremely important event for the resort. Levi’s snow storage practices began after the races had to be cancelled three times due to poor snow conditions, in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Although Levi already had an efficient snowmaking system supported by cutting-edge technology and an experienced, highly professional staff, the races simply could not be held due to warm weather. The cancellations had massive economic consequences for the region. In 2016, Levi Ski Resort decided to secure snow reliability for the races once and for all.

Development of Snow Storage

The first snow piles for storage were created on the Levi Black race slope in spring 2016. In late October–early November, just a couple of weeks before the Alpine Ski World Cup, the stored snow was spread onto the slope, and the competition was successfully held thanks to the preserved snow. Levi Ski Resort learned a great deal from this first season. The placement of the piles was changed for the following year, and work also began on developing protective covers to minimize melting.

Levi’s determined development of snow storage also opened the door to an earlier start for the ski season. For the first time, the season opened record early on the Front Slopes with stored snow on October 18, 2018. Snow storage was later extended to cross-country skiing as well, with a few kilometers of stored-snow trail opening at Levi Golf on October 2, 2020.

Efficient Mountain Operations Guarantee a Long Winter

Today, Levi Ski Resort offers over 200 skiing and cross-country days each year, thanks to efficient fell operations that include world-class snowmaking expertise, state-of-the-art machinery, and snow storage. The newest innovation, the Front Slope “Glacier,” has further improved the storage process. About 650 meters long and 50 meters wide, this “snow glacier” retains snow throughout the summer. With preserved snow, the ski season on the Front Slopes and the cross-country trail begins already in early October, with skiing and riding extending well into spring.

From the very first weeks of October, Levi attracts hundreds of professional athletes from all over the world to train on Levi Glacier. Both alpine and mogul skiers rely on these early-season training opportunities, which are extremely important for their preparation. International stars have praised not only the Glacier slope and mogul course but also the location itself. Levi village is compact and close to the slopes, services are conveniently nearby, and the chairlift ride is short – all of which allow athletes to maximize training repetitions. Freestyle skiers also get to start their season in early October, with jumps and rails set up on the Front Slopes.

Levi has established itself as an international ski resort that provides consistent training and competition conditions for professional athletes for seven months of the year. For Finnish and international visitors alike, Levi offers long, well-maintained slopes and excellent facilities from early October through late spring. Levi Ski Resort is committed to serving both elite athletes and holiday skiers, making sure there is always plenty of snow to enjoy and ensuring every visit to the fells is a memorable one.

Making and Preserving Snow Efficiently

Levi’s 300+ snow guns produce stored snow when it is most energy-efficient – at temperatures around -10°C (in January–February) or colder. At these conditions, eight times more snow can be produced compared to marginal conditions around 0°C. In perfect conditions, the snowmaking system can generate a truckload of snow every eight seconds. In spring, the snow is collected into covered piles to wait out the summer, reducing the need for extensive snowmaking at the start of the season.

Today, the snow piles are covered with around 400 insulating accordion mats. These mats, 70 mm thick, 4 meters wide, and 18 meters long, are topped with protective sheets. Made by Finnfoam, the insulating mats and filter fabrics are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions.

In autumn, when temperatures drop, the covers are removed, and the stored snow is spread on the slopes and trails for the season opening. Before a thick and permanent natural snow cover arrives, additional snowmaking is done – but only as much as is necessary. Resource and energy efficiency in snowmaking are central to Levi Ski Resort’s environmental work, as the resort operates in a sensitive Arctic environment.

Levi’s Pioneering Role in Snow Storage

Levi Ski Resort is a pioneer in snow storage and has developed, in cooperation with partners, optimal tools and techniques for the process. Every year, representatives from ski resorts around the world visit Levi to learn about its snow storage methods and the Levi Glacier innovation. Favorable Arctic weather conditions, advanced snowmaking technology, and years of refining snow storage practices guarantee perfect slopes and facilities for a full seven-month winter season – as well as snow reliability for Levi’s World Cup races.