As climate change transforms the winter landscape across Europe, ski resorts are grappling with shorter seasons and dwindling snowfall.
Amid these challenges, an ancient Finnish technique of snow preservation is gaining traction as a potential lifeline for struggling ski destinations.
This innovative approach, rooted in traditional ice storage methods, could not only help maintain the ski industry but also combat the effects of global warming.
The Revival of an Ancient Tradition
Before the advent of electric refrigeration, Finnish communities relied on a time-honored practice known as jään säilöminen, or ice preservation.
This involved cutting blocks of ice from lakes and rivers during the winter months, insulating them with sawdust, and storing them in ice cellars for use during the warmer summer.
Today, as climate conditions become increasingly unpredictable, modern iterations of this age-old technique are being applied to snow preservation, with promising results.
Last month, the ski resort of Alpe du Grand Serre in France announced it would close its doors for the season, citing financial difficulties in adapting to a year-round operation amidst shrinking winter conditions.
This news highlighted the urgency for innovative solutions to preserve ski seasons in the face of climate change.
Snow Preservation: A Modern Solution
In Finland, the use of sawdust for preserving snow has been a practice for decades. However, advancements have introduced new materials, such as extruded polystyrene mats, which offer longer-lasting solutions for snow storage.
These mats, commonly used in home insulation, boast a lifespan of over 20 years and have already made a significant impact in Finnish ski resorts like Levi in Kittilä and Ruka in Kuusamo.
This season marks the first time the Finnish company Snow Secure has expanded its snow farming technology beyond its home country.
The mats are now in use at several international ski resorts, including Tromsø Alpinpark in Norway and Saas-Fee in Switzerland. Plans for implementation in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and other resorts in the US and Europe are also underway.
The principle behind snow farming is straightforward: collect snow at the end of the ski season, store it effectively, and then utilize it at the start of the next season.
Marko Mustonen, the business manager of Levi ski resort, shared that the resort has been recycling snow since 2016 to ensure it could open on time for the annual World Cup Slalom in November.
He noted, “The timeframe when we get the real winter, which means temperatures go below zero all the time, can be from early October to mid-November.”
Reliable Opening Dates
One of the most significant benefits of snow farming is the ability to guarantee opening dates for ski resorts, which allows businesses to plan staffing and enables tourists to avoid disappointments caused by unpredictable conditions.
Mustonen highlighted that even amid unusually warm temperatures in September and October, snow levels at Levi have remained consistent compared to previous years.
“Because we have snow recycling, we have been able to do exactly the same as last year for the start of the ski season,” he explained.
The interest in snow farming techniques is growing, with many European ski resorts reaching out to Levi for insights into the process.
“It’s getting more and more interest,” Mustonen added. “We’re getting a lot of inquiries from ski resorts in the Alps and other European destinations.”
Antti Lauslahti, CEO of Snow Secure, emphasized that the ability to assure a reliable opening date is crucial for the ski industry. “The beginning of the season has become very unpredictable due to climate change,” he noted, reiterating that consistent snowfall is no longer a given.
The Changing Climate and Its Impacts
While northern Finland is expected to experience more snowfall due to increased moisture in the atmosphere, the variability and unpredictability of the winter season pose challenges for ski resorts.
Geophysicist Sirpa Rasmus from the University of Lapland’s Arctic Centre pointed out that the timing of seasonal snow cover has become less predictable.
“It takes longer in the autumn for the seasonal snow cover to form, and it may melt earlier than in the past,” she explained.
Kati Anttila, another geophysicist at the Finnish Environment Institute, echoed these concerns, particularly for southern Finland, where winter sports are increasingly affected by erratic snow conditions.
“In southern Finland, it is already very uncertain to organize skiing competitions because the snow conditions are so unpredictable,” she stated.
The average length of the snow season in Helsinki from 1991 to 2020 was around 97 days; however, in 2019, that length dropped to just four days.
The challenges of climate change are not limited to snow cover; they also include increased rainfall and diminished sunlight during the winter months, creating a darker, less hospitable environment for winter sports enthusiasts.
The Economic Impact
The economic ramifications of these changes are profound. Ski resorts in southern Finland are already facing difficulty in hosting winter sports competitions, leading to uncertainty for businesses reliant on winter tourism.
As climate change continues to disrupt traditional winter patterns, ski resorts are compelled to seek out solutions that can help them adapt to the new normal.
For resorts like Alpe du Grand Serre, which recently closed its doors, the shift towards becoming year-round destinations may be unavoidable.
However, for those willing to embrace innovative practices like snow farming, there is hope that the winter season can be preserved in some form.
The growing interest in these preservation techniques reflects a wider recognition of the need for adaptation and innovation in response to climate challenges.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
The revival of traditional snow preservation methods, enhanced by modern technology, presents a promising avenue for Europe’s ski resorts facing the impacts of climate change.
As resorts adopt snow farming practices and share knowledge with one another, the potential exists to sustain the ski industry even in the face of increasingly challenging winter conditions.
Ultimately, the journey towards sustainability in winter sports will require collaboration and innovation, not only from ski resorts but also from local governments, businesses, and the scientific community.
As the climate continues to evolve, the resilience and adaptability of these winter sports destinations will be put to the test, and the ancient wisdom of ice preservation may very well be their saving grace.