GIANTS RIDGE— The white stuff is flying like never before here, thanks to a $16.5 million investment in new, high-tech snowmaking equipment that should allow skiers to hit the slopes at Giants Ridge earlier than might otherwise be the case in the future.
“We’re taking our snowmaking system from 1980s technology and upgrading it to 2024 standards,” said Benji Neff, director of mountain sports at Giants Ridge.
After a record warm winter last year and a near-record warm fall this year, the need for upgrading snowmaking equipment at the Ridge was pretty apparent.
The upgrade includes 74 new snowmaking guns in addition to the 23 machines added last year. Combined with the existing equipment, Giants Ridge now has more than 100 snowmaking machines. And new technology allows the guns to work automatically whenever weather conditions allow for efficient snowmaking.
“We’re going to be able to make snow across the mountain in warmer, marginal weather,” said Sean Peyla, director of facilities and mountain operations. “So, it will allow us to put down more snow in a broader sense across the ski area.”
The investment, which included replacement of aging waterlines, hydrants, pedestals, and electrical wiring, was funded by the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation and state bonding. The publicly-owned facility is a major job creator and a popular recreational facility that serves thousands of visitors as well as local residents with year-round.
According to Neff, users of the ski facilities will be major beneficiaries of the new snowmaking equipment. “We’re going to be able to put down more snow in more places, having more runs available at the start of the season to just give everyone a better experience and a better value for every day they get to spend on the slopes.”
About half of the alpine runs at Giants Ridge were currently open ahead of this past weekend’s snow. Expect most runs to be open by next week.