The Art of Snowmaking
Posted on 15 Jun, 2024 in On the Slopes
What is snowmaking and how does it work?
Here’s the lowdown on all things man made snow in Thredbo!
Snowmaking has been around for a while. The first snowmaker was developed in the 50’s from a garden hose, a 10 horsepower compressor and a spray-gun nozzle. For Thredbo, the art of snowmaking arrived in 1987, the same year the first mobile phone call was made in Australia.
The process of making snow has been fine-tuned massively over the past 20 years but you still need the same two very important components: water and cold air! We’re talking subzero degrees kind of cold air.
Sounds easy enough right? Well not quite. Things get far more intricate when it comes to maximizing production and efficiency of man-made snow!
When the water is compressed out from the snow guns, it’s crucial that a light mist is formed and is fine enough to linger in the air for as long as possible. The longer the water is suspended in the cold air, the more likely it is to crystalize and turn into soft, white snow. The colder the temperature, the better the quantity and the quality of the snow.
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In 2006, we started automating our snowmaking system. Before this, our snowmaking guns would continuously need to be re-aligned, requiring huge man power on the ground to manually aim the guns as well as turn them on and off. This meant hardworking staff would work through the dark hours of the morning in freezing temperatures to tirelessly monitor and control the machines.
Nowadays, our system is automated however our dedicated snowmaking crew still work through the night to monitor the temperature across the mountain and ensure maximum efficiency. Shoutout to the snowmakers!
We continually improve our snowmaking infrastructure to ensure our fleet remains world-class. This winter, we replaced the pipeline snowmaking gun and added three new fan guns towards the base of the Kosciuszko Chairlift, building upon the fifteen snowmaking guns we added in 2022 and 2023. Find out more about our Development Plan.
This incredible infrastructure allows us to cover the mountain with a significantly greater amount of snow for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy each winter. We wouldn’t be the resort we are today without it!
Whether you ski, snowboard, hike, mountain bike or are visiting for the first time, our app is your companion to Australia’s Premier Adventure Destination.
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Thredbo sits on the traditional land of the Monero – Ngarigo people who have looked after this land, water and community for over 60,000 years. We thank them for all they have done and continue to do to look after their country, a special place which we all love and respect.
