All five Scottish Highland ski areas will have all-weather snowmaking systems after the remaining two that didn’t have the systems last year announced they’re adding their own.
The Lecht, Glencoe and Cairngorm all operate TechnoAlpin all-weather snowmaking machines and Glenshee announced it had secured £1m to add a fourth machine. Now the remaining area, Nevis range, say they’re spending £1 million too on their own system and other upgrades.
However Nevis Range are working with a different company, Recom Ice Systems, a Dutch manufacturer of flake ice plants for the fishing industry; and manufactured in China. Their system, they say, is capable of producing up to 155 tons of flake ice ‘snow’ in a 24-hour period and enough snow to cover an area of 150m by 50m to a depth of 300cm in 14 days.
Money will also go on an expanded beginners’ ski area serviced by a new travellator conveyor lift and improved snow fencing over the whole mountain.
Chris O’Brien, CEO at Nevis Range, said: “We have invested heavily into snowsports at Nevis Range in order to guarantee excellent conditions for skiers and snowboarders in our beginners’ area all season long.”
The snow making farm At Nevis Range will combine with two snow canons to push the snow out to the dedicated beginners’ area that has doubled in size to approximately 100 square metres and conveniently situated less than 15 metres from the Gondola Top Station. The beginner area has also seen new snow fences erected to help catch any natural snow and keep the newly farmed snow in place and a new 80 metre long travellator ‘magic carpet’ style conveyor lift, serving the beginners’ area, has also been installed.
“With no road access to the Top Gondola Station I’m immensely proud of how hard the team have worked, in order to get our snow making plant and new beginners area completed in time, not just for this season but also to secure incredible winter sports facilities for years to come,” added Mr O’Brien.