OLYMPIC SNOWMAKING
TechnoAlpin provides
guarantee of snow for 2018
Winter Olympic Games in
Pyeongchang, South Korea
By Mark Halsall
When it comes to staging the Winter Olympic Games, weather is always
top of mind. Marginal weather conditions during the Winter
Olympics can lead to snowmaking challenges, which was the case
at both the 2010 Games in Vancouver, Canada, and the 2014 Games
in Sochi, Russia.
For the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the company
behind the snowmaking system for most of the skiing and snowboarding competitions
is guaranteeing there will be enough snow.
“TechnoAlpin is very proud to be the main snowmaking supplier for this important
event,” said Michael Mayr, the company’s area sales manager for Asia. “This is
the result of our long-term involvement in the Korean market and the high investment
in research and development during the past years. Our outstanding products
and our long experience with fully automated systems will guarantee perfect conditions
for the Olympic Games.
“Being trusted for such a big event, where the whole world is watching, is always
a challenge, but also a great honor. For us, this is another proof that our innovative
and meticulous work is acknowledged by ski resorts all over the world.”
In total, 25 of the 31 skiing, alpine, snowboard and freestyle competitions in Pyeongchang
will take place on snow from TechnoAlpin. Marginal temperatures and
high humidity can create special challenges for snowmaking in South Korea, especially
in lower elevation areas, but Games organizers are confident that TechnoAlpin
is up to the task.
“Not many major winter sporting events are held in South Korea,” said Davide
Cerato, a snowmaking consultant for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, following
the announcement of TechnoAlpin’s Olympic partnership at the Interalpin
2017 trade fair held last April in Innsbruck, Austria.
“That’s why, when it came to snowmaking, they were looking for a partner with
many years of experience and knowledge of the conditions,” said Cerato. “TechnoAlpin
took part in a public tender and was selected by the Province of Gangwon. The
above-average success of the test events confirms that this was the right choice.”
Mayr says TechnoAlpin installations at 2018 Winter Olympic Games sites proved
their power during pre-Olympic testing in 2016 and 2017.
“Our system is made to make the snow under very marginal temperatures using
the newest technology,” he said. “After the first snowmaking for the test events, we
noted that our system exceeded all expectations and we produced the needed snow
in much less time than requested.”
Despite the challenges with marginal conditions, Mayr says, skiing and snowboarding
are very popular pastimes in South Korea.
“Skiing and snowboarding have a long tradition in South Korea. Ski resorts are
open 24 hours, to allow all the employees working shifts at large facilities in Seoul to
go skiing after their work shifts,” he said. “This helps a lot to keep it popular.”
Test event at Phoenix Park, where
TechnoAlpin’s equipment performed
even better than expected
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