Winter Sports Technology at your Fingertips

snowTOUR South Tyrol is an innovative concept for presenting winter sports technology and expertise of the highest competency levels. The knowledge and expertise, on which South Tyrol’s snow and winter sports technologies are based, are disseminated in ways which are tailored to the market as well as the relevant target groups whilst remaining firmly embedded in real life situations. In addition, this facilitates an exchange of ideas with experts, and expertise of South Tyrol, which is demonstrated in the best possible way using concrete examples. snowTOUR is aimed at an international trade audience composed of experts from the Winter Sports sector. It is specifically directed at ski resort managers, destination managers, expert staff and investors. The TIS innovation park “Cluster Sports and winterTECH” is responsible for the organisation of the snowTOUR South Tyrol, in collaboration with the following partner organisations: Export Organisation South Tyrol (EOS), Business Location South Tyrol (BLS), South Tyrol Marketing Company (SMG), Bolzano Trade Fair and the “ProNeve” Expert Network.

The first version of snowTOUR South Tyrol was devised exclusively to serve trade journalists from the winter sports sector. On the first day of the event, journalists were taken to the Carezza ski resort where they were initiated into such topics as slope preparation and the technology for producing artificial snow. Two staff from the Prinoth Company who produce snow groomer vehicles, gave presentations on slope preparation. They provided a checklist of factors contributing to optimal slope preparation. A well prepared slope does not merely increase the skiers’ enjoyment, but also, and this is obviously much more important, takes care of the safety aspect, according to Helmuth Messner. He added that there were three phases of slope preparation, with the first beginning immediately after the first snowfall or the production of artificial snow. The second is carried out shortly before the official opening of the relevant ski area, and the third phase begins with the daily care of the slopes. Dietmar Dorfmann added that the skill of the driver is the decisive factor for the success of slope and snow park preparation: only a driver trained to the highest level can achieve a proper and safe treatment of a slope and at the same time skilfully control the fuel consumption of his vehicle. Regarding fuel consumption, it goes without saying that hybrid vehicles are now being favoured in current developments of engines for snow groomers.

Georg Eisath, CEO of the Carezza ski resort, then reported on the success story of artificial snow technology in South Tyrol. He pointed out the importance of artificial snow for the preparation of ski slopes. “Artificial snow is essential nowadays,” he explained. “We rely on it to guarantee slope quality from the very beginning of the season until its end. Besides, artificial snow is coarser than natural snow and thus renders the slope safer to use”. It is precisely this layer of artificial snow which guarantees that the turf is not damaged by the vehicles driving over it, according to Eisath. Artificial snow is produced with the aid of snow cannons or snow lances and consists solely of water and air. Temperature and humidity levels dictate when artificial snow can be produced, with low humidity allowing the procedure at higher air temperatures. In order to ensure access to water, reservoirs should be constructed in the immediate proximity of ski areas. If this is the case, the time span for spraying the snow can be kept short and the use of watercourses can be kept to a minimum.

The second day introduced the journalists to the Plan de Corones skiing area. Andreas Dorfmann, CEO of the skiing area, explained to the participants the measures taken to make the Val Pusteria a more attractive ski destination. A new ascent route is being planned which will link the ski area directly with the train station. This will result in an increase in beds booked in remoter hotels, even in the low season, whilst reducing CO2 emissions at the same time. This means that tourists coming by car can leave their vehicles in the car park and continue their journey by public transport. Thanks to this new ascent route, faster access is not just limited to Kronplatz, but also to three adjoining ski areas, namely Gitschberg, Monte Elmo and Croda Rossa. “We envisage that, in the future, the Val Pusteria will be viewed as a single continuous tourist area”, explained Dorfmann.

In the course of the morning, engineer Werner Hunglinger, from the Bolzano/Bozen engineering and architectural group Plan Team, introduced the participants to the topic of ski resort planning. He used an example representing current best practice to explain the various phases of project planning which lead to a master plan for a ski area. Plan Team developed a master plan for a Russian company with the aim of turning a mountainous region in Russia into a ski resort, with ski and cross country slopes, mid-range and top class hotels, offering recreation areas and retail outlets. The project had to satisfy the wishes of the client whilst taking into account the particular characteristics of the area. “We remained true to the Russian architectural style whilst drawing on our own experiences in this field,” said Hunglinger, adding: “We’re not just exporting our winter tourism expertise, but also technological benchmarks and specific technical skills related to winter sports resorts.”

The first part of the afternoon was taken up with a visit to the new gondola lift developed by the Leitner Ropeways Company which constitutes the first part of the RIED project. The new cableway links Kronplatz with the railway station. The system was presented by Klaus Erharter, senior engineer working at Leitner’s. “It had been the express wish of the Kronplatz management that we should install cabins with heated seats, the very first of their kind in the world”, explained Erharter. Each gondola is capable of transporting 12 people, which makes for a total capacity of 4,000 per hour – the highest in the whole of Italy.

The snow tourists then proceeded to the Plan de Corones pumping station, situated on the side of San Vigilio Marebbe. Expert Zeno Kastlunger stressed the fundamental importance of modern water management for artificial snow technology. Nowdays it is possible to ensure a complete snow cover of the main slopes in the Plan de Corones ski region within four to five days. An efficient and precise control system was of the utmost importance here. Snow cannons and lances are provided with optimum water supplies which results in a highly efficient use of energy.

A further highlight awaited the trade audience on the third day of the snowTOUR: the Super-G race in the Saslong Classic in Val Gardena. Stefania Demetz, General Manager of the Organising Committee, granted them a look behind the scenes and reported on the work of the Organising Committee during major world-class events.

The first snowTOUR for trade journalists was the start signal for this very special way of disseminating expertise and marketing an area. Subsequent snowTOURS are specifically aimed at markets where winter sports are still growing, above all, in China, Russia, Korea and other areas overseas. Participating at snowTOUR South Tyrol will not be free of charge to the target audience. Further information on snowTOUR South Tyrol will be provided by the TIS innovation park “Cluster Sports and winterTECH”, tel: 0039 0471 068164 / cluster.sportsandwintertech@tis.bz.it