The number of hours of possible artificial snow production before Christmas has almost halved over the past 40 years in the interior at 400-600 m above sea level, a new survey shows. The researchers believe that those who organize cross-country skiing and biathlon in autumn are increasingly forced to store last year’s snow under tiles. Three actors have joined forces on a large joint report on the snow and skiing conditions in the interior up to 2050. They are NTNU, the Meteorological Institute and the company Norwegian Snow Consulting. The report is financed by Innlandet County Municipality. Main findings from the report This is how the development has been over the past 30 years: In pistes based on natural snow, the ski season has become shorter over the past 30 years, except for the mountain areas in the north-west. The differences between the lowlands and the mountains have increased, the southern county has gained over 30 days. Shorter ski season. The number of hours of possible snow production before Christmas has been reduced significantly over the past 30 years. This is how the future snow and skiing conditions in the Inland will be, briefly summarized: Until 2050, the large alpine ski resorts will be able to ensure opening for the Christmas holidays with current practice and technology in the higher areas. There will be increasing challenges associated with opening the lower slopes by Christmas. Events for cross-country skiing and biathlon before Christmas will increasingly depend on snow storage and, to a lesser extent, traditional snow production in the autumn. The differences in the length of the ski season between the lowlands and higher altitude areas will continue to increase. The altitude interval from 700-1000 m above sea level will continue to have good skiing conditions on natural snow until 2050, although there will increasingly be problems with skiing at Christmas and during the Easter holidays. Until the middle of the century, the ski season will be on average 30 days shorter with a medium emission scenario and more than 45 days shorter with a high emission scenario. Source: “Inlandet i 2050 Future snow and skiing conditions” SNOW CANNON IN FULL OPERATION: From the alpine facility at Beitostølen. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Many international ski races saved Several of the major ski destinations already have several years of experience with this. One of them is Beitostølen, which started in 2011 with summer storage. – For us, this has been absolutely crucial for many years, says Kjell Berge Melbybråten, who is general manager at Beitostølen Stadium. – Just this autumn there is an exception. It is very rare that we have so many degrees of cold and so much replenishment of natural snow in November, he says. Melbybråten says that the classic Beitos sprint would have been canceled 4-5 times in recent years if the ski resort had not had summer storage of snow. Expensive summer storage Melbybråten does not hide that the challenge is the economy. This year, the early season opening has cost approx. one and a half million kroner. – We are a small sports team. But we are lucky that every year there is a season opening for the competitive athletes in cross-country skiing. We thus have some income through that, he says. Money comes from the municipality, business and sponsorship, in addition to the usual event income. STANDING BEHIND SNØRPORT: Researcher at NTNU, Rune Strand Ødegård. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news – Skiing starts early Rune Strand Ødegård is an associate professor at NTNU in Gjøvik, and is one of the contributors to the report. – What worries me the most is getting the kids out skiing, he smiles. – If you want to enjoy skiing, you have to start skiing early. And many local ski resorts will struggle to have slopes ready for the little ones. – If we are to maintain our current skiing tradition, measures must be put in place for snow production in local facilities, he says. Will help small sports teams Facilities advisor Marit Gjerland The Norwegian Ski Association says that they are working on the same problem. WANT TO SUPPORT NORWEGIAN SKIING TRADITION: Marit Gjerland in the Norwegian Ski Association Photo: Alexander Nordby / news – I can confirm that especially ski resorts in the lowlands are becoming increasingly dependent on snow production facilities, she says. Marit Gjerland says that the Ski Association supports research that will contribute to more energy-efficient snow production facilities. – In this way, we hope to eventually get cheaper and more climate-friendly snow production, she says. Gjerland says that the goal is to develop machines that are cheap enough that even small sports teams in the lowlands can afford to buy them. – From a climate perspective – is it right to use electricity to make artificial snow? – This is part of the big debate about what we should use energy for. From our side, it will be important to ensure a low-threshold offer of skiing activities, and to create the joy of movement for people of all ages. – We believe that there are other areas where we can very well reduce our electricity consumption.
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The ski resorts will have to store snow in the summer – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
