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<p>MAGAZINE - ENGLISH SNOWEXPERTS 1/2007 IMPRINT: Publisher: © TechnoAlpin AG/Spa · Via Copernico 6 A · 39100 Bolzano · Alto Adige/South Tyrol · Italy Tel. +39 0471 550 550 · Fax +39 0471 200 441 · info@technoalpin.com · www.technoalpin.com · Marketing Manager: Dr. Irmi Prader Editors: Dr. Irmi Prader, Dr. Hubert Weiler-Auer · Design: dv media, Brixen - www.designverbindet.it · Printed by: Satzzentrum, Brixen · English translation: Chris Marsh, Innsbruck · Frequency: twice a year · Reprinting, electronic dissemination and use only with the publisher’s explicit consent. WWW.TECHNOALPIN.COM CONTENTS 3 Editorial 4 New dimensions in snowmaking with the A30 8 News international 12 News in brief 14 T60 big on power 16 T60 & A30 presentation at Lenzerheide 20 Research & Development 22 Levi FIS Ski World Cup Opening 2006 24 Interview with Dr. Gerhard Vanzi 26 TechnoAlpin turnkey solutions 2007 Visitor polls show that reliable snow cover has become the main considera- tion in choosing a ski area. That is clear confi rmation of the meaningful na- ture of our work. Visitors are particularly satisfi ed when they fi nd trails with fi rm snow offering a good grip. That is the kind of snow that goes without saying at TechnoAlpin. Anyone running a ski area today knows how high the quality requirements are at all levels. And we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to those people for the great job they do, the effective way they co-operate with us and the positive feedback we receive on the technical side, too. That has always been the driving force behind ongoing enhancements to our systems. For TechnoAlpin it is important to be able to offer the solutions that give our customers a competitive advantage on their markets. In addition to the quality of the snow, the economics of the installations are of enormous importance. That explains our focus on one-stop shopping for all snowmaking requirements, with intelligent and durable components that are perfectly matched. To ensure that we always meet our goals, we operate our own research & development Department with a highly qualifi ed team of experts. Every year TechnoAlpin invests large sums of money so as to be able to offer ski areas and organizers of major events the basis for perfect snow conditions on the mountain and a powerful competitive advantage at the same time. As experience shows, a TechnoAlpin snowmaking installation is also an invest- ment in good economics and customer satisfaction, in skiers and snowboarders who keep on coming. Now we take pleasure in presenting new dimensions in snowmaking. Look for- ward to discovering our latest high-tech products – the T60 and A30! Sincerely, Georg Eisath, Walter Rieder, Erich Gummerer EDITORIAL The TechnoAlpin management team: Walter Rieder, Georg Eisath, Erich Gummerer SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 3 A30 THE A TYPE, THE LATEST LANCE GENERATION AT TECHNOALPIN, MEANS NEW DIMENSIONS IN SNOWMAKING. WITH THE A9, AND ESPECIALLY THE A30, TECHNOALPIN IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE LANCE MARKET. THE DISCOVERY For the R&D Department at TechnoAlpin, the objective was to achieve a number of goals: integration of the latest technical innovations, construction of an ice-free lance, and use of the tried and tested ceramic nozzles. The result was the A9, the fi rst spherical lance head. It has proved a great success. And now the A30 – a more powerful lance with even greater adaptability – is there for still higher output on the mountain. NEW DIMENSIONS IN SNOWMAKING WITH THE A30 LANCE SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 4 Innovative technology for enhanced performance The results achieved with the TechnoAlpin A type have exceeded all expectations: an ice-free snowgun head at even the coldest temperatures, more power, best qual- ity snow at marginal temperatures, impressive throw, wider angle of distribution and reduced sensitivity to side winds. That has been proven in trials conducted not only locally in the Dolomites, but also in Levi on the Arctic Circle and at dif- fi cult marginal temperatures in Australia and New Zealand. The futuristic design of the snowgun head conceals intelligent engineering for high-tech solutions. The launch of the A9 triggered a revolution in the fi eld of lances. Now, with the A30, TechnoAlpin’s engineers have gone a step further: still greater output and an even wider angle of distribution. SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 5 A30 Advanced engineering for the most diffi cult conditions The patented lance head of the A30 works with three nucleators, and twelve fi xed and ten adjustable nozzles. The specially developed high-pressure nozzles with nucleators guarantee extremely fi ne atomization, maximum throw and best quality snow. High-pressure nozzle propulsion is the key to signifi cantly enhanced cross- wind tolerance. The Anti-Ice system developed by TechnoAlpin keeps the lance head free of ice even in strong headwinds and at very low temperatures. The A30 and A9 feature a new valve block, a high grade aluminum casting that is especially compact and clearly laid out. The mature valving system, the integrated water fi lter in chromium-nickel stainless steel and the reliable sensors guarantee trouble-free operation and long service life. The aluminum boom extrusion features integrated water and air-supply lines. The hydraulic height adjustment and manual horizontal pivot system are easily accessible and simple to operate. ENGINEERING A30 TECHNICAL DATA Height in lowest operating position 8500 mm (6900 mm*) Height in highest operating position 9700 mm (7900 mm*) Max. vertical angle 70 deg. Min. vertical angle 50 deg. Height of tower support assembly 2020 mm Axial rotation 350 deg. Min. water pressure 12 bar Fixed nozzles 12 Adjustable nozzles 10 Nucleators 3 Settings 4 * with 6 m tube A30 The Remarkables Falls Creek Perisher Blue Snowmakers are demanding people. They also know all about the demanding requirements for producing top quality snow in their respective regions. And they know what the snow and the trails must be like if the skiers and boarders are going to keep on coming. It is doubtless that the southern hemisphere makes the most specifi c demands of today’s snowguns. For one thing air temperatures are mostly in the marginal range for snowmaking, while the vicinity of the ocean makes for high levels of humidity. The A30 lances took these conditions in their stride; they operated without a hitch, demonstrated their strengths in the marginal temperature range and generally estab- lished convincing snowmaking credentials. OCEANIA IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE THE A30 LANCE WILL BE STARTING ITS SECOND WINTER IN JUST A FEW MONTHS. IN ITS FIRST SEASON, THE SNOWMAKERS IN NEW ZEALAND (THE REMARKABLES) AND AUSTRALIA (FALLS CREEK, PERISHER BLUE) WERE HIGHLY ENTHUSIASTIC. A30 SUCCESSFUL IN THE DIFFICULT CLIMATE OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 7 NEWS INTERNATIONAL SÖLDEN INVESTS IN EFFICIENT SNOWMAKING Sölden (A). The fi rst major order for the T60 comes from Austria, from the Ötztal Arena in Sölden. The 2007/08 Winter Opening will be guaranteed with the help of 130 new T60 snowguns. Work on the new installation begins in spring 2007. M18/M20 RESCUE THE WORLD CUP BIATHLON Ruhpolding im Chiemgau (D): Spring weather in late autumn with correspond- ing temperatures plus high humidity. And the ski area had been selected to host World Cup races in the Biathlon and Nordic Combination. At TechnoAlpin extra shifts were organized to produce the necessary M18 and M20 snowguns. They were delivered in just a few days and rescued the honor of this friendly ski area in the Bavarian Alps. In just fi ve days at continual marginal temperatures, seven TechnoAlpin snowguns produced the urgently needed 25,000 cu.m. of snow. The Nordic Combination, Biathlon and Ruhpolding were saved! SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 8 TECHNOALPIN IN CATALONIA Vallfosca (E). The Spanish FADESA com- pany is one of the biggest contractors in the country and is also active on the international construction market. For the Vallfosca Ski Park in the Catalonian area of the Pyrenees, the company has chosen TechnoAlpin to handle the snowmaking. The project will be implemented over a two-year period. Then Vallfosca will be able to offer 17 km of trails with man- made snow. SAILING TO SKI Hammarby, Stockholm (S). Stockholm now has something that makes it pretty unique among the world’s capitals. Although only 87 m high, Hammarby Hill has a number of advantages for winter sports: It is just 3 km from the city center and has a direct motorway link and fi ne views of the city, the surroundings and the sea. And it is served by a ferry! It also has a fully automatic snowmaking installation (with fi ve M18 fan guns and two A9 lances). This was a prestigious project for TechnoAlpin and an opportunity to prove that excellent snow conditions are possible in spite of the nearby sea and consequent high humidity. Hammarby, a ski area operated by the Swedish Skistar group wets people’s appetites “at the heart of the city” for more skiing pleasures in the big Scandinavian ski areas. SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 9 NEWS 1. FULLY AUTOMATIC SNOWMAKING SYSTEM IN SOUTH AMERICA In Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, at the southernmost tip of the South American continent, lies an attractive little ski area called Cerro Castor. The ski area’s profi le: 200 - 800 m above sea- level, skiing from May to August, very high humidity (the sea is just 5 km away). The goal: World Cup standard slalom and giant slalom slopes on Cerro Castor. The problem-solver: TechnoAlpin. In Ushuaia, South America’s fi rst fully automatic installation is now in operation with nine fan guns and two lances from TechnoAlpin. The ski area is used by various na- tional squads for their summer training programmes. YELLOWSTONE CLUB: TECHNOALPIN FOR PRIVATE POWDER One Yellowstone Club Trail (USA). At the periphery of Yel- lowstone National Parks lies an exclusive private club, also by the name of Yellowstone. Access to the ski area is for club members only. There TechnoAlpin has installed a fully auto- matic snowmaking system with a fl eet of M18 fanguns. The management at Yellowstone Club invested in automation for reasons of consistent snow quality plus higher effi ciency – thus doing more than justice to their slogan “Private Powder”. INTERNATIONAL SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 10 BIGGEST FULLY AUTOMATIC SNOWMAKING SYSTEM IN RUSSIA Krasnojarsk (Russia). The TechnoAlpin system confronting the most diffi cult climatic conditions anywhere is to be found in the Russian Urals, where Sibe- rian temperatures predominate in winter. Krasnojarsk has the dream of becom- ing a Russian Chamonix. TechnoAlpin has installed the country’s biggest fully automatic and most modern snowmak- ing system there. The 77 lances and six fan guns are ideally suited to the harsh conditions. SKIING DAY AND NIGHT Jisan Forest Resort (South Korea). In Jisan, just beyond the South Korean cap- ital Seoul, a TechnoAlpin snowmaking system with 44 snowguns has been in operation for a number of years now. Although small by Alpine standards, the ski area is a big attraction within the Seoul conurbation. In the dry winter climate, the conditions on the mountain would never be good enough for win- ter sports without snowmaking. The ski area itself is open day and night. Even at night the trails are pretty full, as the photograph taken at 11 p.m. shows. With such heavy traffi c on the trails, they can only be kept in shape with powerful snowmaking facilities. BUKOVEL: BIGGEST ORDER FOR LANCES IN 2006/07 Bukovel (Ukraine). A huge area is now being developed in Bukovel. Just a few years ago this Ukrainian winter sport resort had exactly 8 km of trails. An upgrade to 32 km was completed this winter – with the help of TechnoAlpin to guarantee reliable snow cover and good skiing on 25 km of trails. The contract comprised 302 A9 lances, 40 fan guns, eight 318 kW pumps and six 250 kW compressors. Bukovel has ambitious plans for a total of a hundred kilometers of trails. SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 11 NEWS IN BRIEF TECHNOALPIN: WINNER OF THE 2006 EXPORT AWARD Having come fi rst in 2004 and third in 2005, TechnoAlpin has returned to the top again as the winner of the coveted South Tyrolean Export Award for 2006. Today, a very high percentage of output at TechnoAlpin goes to its export markets. The management took advantage of the response in the media to expresses their gratitude to the workforce, without whose untiring efforts this achievement would not have been possible. With its 22 agencies around the world, TechnoAlpin services 683 customers in 35 countries. TechnoAlpin is particularly proud of the fact that its customer base includes the venues of so many major events like Winter Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup and European Cup races. The A9 lance has been a big hit ever since its market launch two years ago. Since then, no fewer than 2500 A9 lances have been sold. The biggest single order, for 302 tow- ers, went to Bukovel in the Ukraine. A9 LANCE: BIGGEST SELLING SNOWGUN IN THE LAST TWO SEASONS SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 12 WHAT DO YOU SAY? Have you any suggestions or criticism? What subjects are you interested in? Even if you only want to have your address changed, please send us a mail: magazine@technoalpin.com Personal orders for the Snow Experts Magazine can be placed quickly and easily at www.technoalpin.com WINTER VISITORS: RELIABLE SNOW COVER AS THE MAIN CRITERION Winter sport visitors were asked: What is important for you when selecting a destination? The result: Reliable snow cover is the main factor in the choice of the resort and the criterion that counts most for leading ski areas. When choosing a winter sport area, visitors attach the greatest importance to reliable snow cover followed by safety on the trails, the variety of the skiing, the standard of the lifts and cableways, and the friendliness of the personnel. That is the result of polls con- ducted via the websites of seventeen ski areas in the winter of 2005/06. The polls were created and evaluated by the Austrian Mountain Management company. An interesting detail: reliable snow cover and safety on the trails received even higher scores than the year before. For further information, go to Infos: www.mountain- management.com PULLING TO- GETHER FOR TOP ACHIEVEMENTS The hard core of the TechnoAlpin Extreme group, Stefan Malfer, Karlheinz Terrabona, Lukas Schmittner and Markus Pfeifer, climbed the Ortler in beautiful weather on 30 Sep- tember 2006. As one would expect of the TechnoAlpin Extremists, they fi rst had a little celebration at the summit and then hoisted the TechnoAlpin banner at 3,905 meters above sea-level. TechnoAlpin Extreme is the name of a club for sports enthusiasts among the Snow Experts who want to practice their sports together, enjoy the great outdoors and set the occa- sional record. Apart from rock climbing and mountaineering, the focus is on skiing in win- ter and cycling in summer. Mens sana in cor- pore sano! SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 13 T60 T60: BIG ON POWER, EASY TO USE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE WINTER, THE HIGH EXPEC- TATIONS OF THE T60 WERE MORE THAN CONFIRMED IN THE PRACTICAL TEST OF DAILY OPERATION ON THE MOUNTAIN. THE T60 IS A MASTERPIECE OF DESIGN AND ENGINEERING. THE RE- SULT: POWERFUL PERFORMANCE, HIGH OUTPUT, LOW WEIGHT, EXCELLENT MANEUVERABILITY – AND ATTRACTIVE LOOKS ALL ROUND! THE ENCOUNTER T60 ENGINEERING Length (with undercarriage) 2.550 mm Width (with undercarriage) 2.450 mm Height (with undercarriage) 2.300 mm Weight of gun (without cables) 655 kg Axial rotation 360 deg. Maximum angle 42 deg. Minimum water pressure 8 bar Water fi lter 250 micron Fixed nozzles 7 Adjustable nozzles 14 Nucleators 7 SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 14 T60: the dawn of a new era The T60 is made to do great things on the mountain. The fi rst prototypes of the new snowgun showed just what they are capable of on the mountains of the Dolomites: reliability, increased output and superb performance at marginal temperatures. Everyone was happy with such a successful step into a new snowmaking future! And a T60 standing on the trail shows that perfect engineering can also make an impression with its looks. Enhanced ergonomics and user-friendliness The streamlined design of the T60 conceals a lot of innovation. The compact electric control cabinet is fully integrated in the fairing. For enhanced ergonomics and user-friendly operation, the keypad, pivot function and height adjustment are all conveniently placed on the same side. All components are easily accessible for maintenance and servicing work. In addition, the plug-in connections in place of the permanent cabling simplify maintenance even further. Additional power for the same energy consumption The T60 works with seven nucleators and 21 Quadrijet nozzles. It is designed to start even earlier in the marginal temperature range. Water throughput and thus snow production are higher for the same power consumption. Even at different air temperatures, the T60 delivers snow of constant quality. The TechnoAlpin water ring – with its stainless steel nozzle ring and cast aluminum nozzle holders with the Quadrijet nozzles – has been further developed and now delivers a much higher volume of snow. Intelligent handling Innovative solutions for various details have made it possible to reduce the height of the T60 compared with the M18. Similarly, signifi cant reductions in weight have been achieved through improvements to the metal frame and the use of aluminum castings for a number of components. And yet the T60 has not lost out in terms of stability in any way; it is simply a more compact snowgun. The engineers paid great attention to a low center of gravity for the machine. The docking point for lifting the snowgun is centrally located. That makes the T60 very easy to handle. The helicopter can place the machine on the ground and swing clear immediately. The T60 is also quickly placed on an undercarriage or on the platform of a tower or lift. TECHNOALPINMAGAZIN 15 SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 16 T60 & A30 TECHNOALPIN PRESENTS THE 2007 AUDI FIS SKI WELT CUP FINALS AT LENZERHEIDE T60 TECHNOALPIN PRESENTING T60 & A30 NEW DIMENSIONS OF SNOWMAKING “The last few seasons have demonstrated the importance of fully connected and carefully matched snowmaking systems,” said Rainer Flaig, CEO of Lenzerheide Bergbahnen AG. “A major upgrade to the snowmaking system is therefore a cen- tral element in our strategy for the future at Lenzerheide Bergbahnen. 35 million Swiss francs have been earmarked for that purpose and TechnoAlpin selected as the ideal partner to handle the project.” From advice and planning to the complete implementation of the system, the Snow Experts will be installing a complete and fully automatic snowmaking system in the next few years. The system will be based on the latest high-tech snowguns from TechnoAlpin, the T60 and A30, which Erich Gummerer, CEO at TechnoAlpin AG and Walter Rieder, the founder of the company and head of product development, presented as the highlight of the press conference in Lenzerheide. IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, THE FINALS OF THE 2007 SKI WORD CUP IN LENZERHEIDE, SWITZERLAND, WERE THE PERFECT SETTING FOR THE MARKET LAUNCH OF THE NEW T60 AND A30 SNOWGUNS. UNDER THE MOTTO “NEW DIMENSIONS OF SNOWMAKING”, A PRESENTA- TION WAS HELD IN THE FINISHING AREA OF THE WORLD CUP TRAIL, WHICH FOCUSED ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN SNOWMAK- ING TECHNIQUES AND THE SNOWMAKING PROJECT FOR LENZER- HEIDE BERGBAHNEN AG. THE ENCOUNTER SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 18 SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 19 WALTER RIEDER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Walter Rieder, the man with practical experience of everyday ski area operations, is the co-ordinating and driving force in the R&D Department at TechnoAlpin. And he is always open for suggestions, wishes and ideas from the ski areas and their snowmakers. He has gathered a highly competent team around himself. Together they develop visions and are constantly striving to go one better and take modern snowmaking to new horizons. The task of Research & Development: from the prototype to series production “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere,” says Frank Sinatra in one of his most famous songs with reference to New York. That is also the way all snowguns go at TechnoAlpin; when a newly developed prototype produces its fi rst snow on the trail, then it is time to celebrate at TechnoAlpin: If they can make it there, they’ll make it anywhere! DEVELOPER WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WALTER RIEDER WAS FORMERLY OPERATIONS MANAGER AT THE OBEREGGEN SKI AREA. THE UNRELIABLE SNOW COVER IN THE DOLOMITES SOON HAD HIM SEARCHING FOR FEASIBLE SNOWMAKING SOLUTIONS. THE CO-FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER OF TECHNOALPIN HAD FOUND A NEW AND CHALLENGING MISSION. SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 20 Team work at its best Before a prototype can start trials in a ski area, the project manager at R&D has a lot of work to do and co-ordinate. That includes weekly briefi ng sessions and project meetings with the leading engineers (mechanical engineering, electrical en- gineering, electronics and software development), computer simulations, structural design calculations, load models and tests for the individual components, and the fi nal plans and working drawings in 2D and 3D CAD. The number one priority is always functionality, reliability and ergonomics but without neglecting the calls of design. Once the prototypes are ready, the long test series begin – fi rst with individ- ual system components and then with the various assemblies interacting together. Development work on the T60 lasted 2 1/2 years. The fi rst prototypes were sent out to selected ski areas in disguise and underwent continuous testing on the moun- tain under the most grueling conditions. After the trials, the prototypes are returned to the works, where every single com- ponent is removed and analyzed. That supplies useful information in terms of wear and durability. Evaluation of the results and implementation of any necessary modi- fi cations are followed by small-series production. It is only when the results are available from those series that the go-ahead is given for full series production. And even then, the start of series production is still the beginning of a process of continuous enhancements. The customer as the motor for development Many useful suggestions are derived from the regular talks held with ski area opera- tors and their projects. This close relationship is fruitful; it is the driving force for all research projects and product enhancements. The fact that power and performance in combination with effi ciency can also look good is underscored by the design of the new snowgun series: the futuristic lances in the A series and especially the new TechnoAlpin fl agship, the T60. LEVI Levi. ® THE 2006 LEVI FIS SKI WORLD CUP OPENING THIS WINTER THE OPENER FOR THE FIS ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE FAR NORTH, IN LEVI. THIS LEADING FINNISH SKI AREA ONCE AGAIN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A HIGHLY POSITIVE IMPRESSION ON AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE: FRIENDLY PEOPLE, WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE, PERFECT CONDITIONS AND THE SUPERB TRAILS THE WORLD’S SKIING ELITE HAVE COME TO EXPECT. As in the case of the 2005 Ski World Championships in Bormio, the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino and many other famous World Cup venues, the snowmaking system supplied by TechnoAlpin played a major role in a very successful event at Levi. THE DISCOVERY SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 22 TechnoAlpin’s major project on the Arctic Circle With the Ski World Cup opener in November 2006, Levi made a fi ne impression as a well organized winter sport resort and a reliable venue. For two years now TechnoAlpin has been active in Levi on the Arctic Circle. The location at such a northerly latitude – with low temperatures and very high humid- ity – is a big challenge for snowmaking. In the fi rst season in 2005/06, seven TechnoAlpin snowguns turned in a perfect performance in spite of the periods of extreme cold. That test year confi rmed the outstanding characteristics of the TechnoAlpin snowmaking system. In spring, the second project stage was begun, involving automation of the other pumping stations including the water cooling system and the compressor house, plus another twelve TechnoAlpin snowguns. That included the new A30 snowgun tower, which produced excellent results in its fi rst season of operation and ran without a hitch. After the second season with the fully automatic TechnoAlpin snowmaking system, General Manager Jouni Palosaari concludes: “A lot has been made easier. Take the example of the pumps and pumping sta- tions; we always had to keep an eye on them in the past, but now the snowmaking system is switched automatically. And what is especially important for us, the snow is more homogeneous and the quality is consistent. This consistent snow quality is something we particularly appreciate; it greatly simplifi es the snow grooming. Our experiences with the Ski World Cup were also extremely positive. Snow Quality Control gave us World Cup standard race conditions that impressed the elite ski- ers. With the old manual system we would never have had trails of such good and uniform quality. And collaboration with TechnoAlpin was excellent, too. The results confi rm the wisdom of that decision. A harmonious style of working, from the initial talks to the system planning and implementation of the second project stage, also led to positive personal relationships.” And TechnoAlpin takes pleasure in welcoming a further satisfi ed customer! LEVI - FACTS AND FIGURE General Manager: Jouni Palosaari Technical Director: Hannu Levinheimo 20,000 beds 26 lifts and cableways 45 trails with a total of 30 km 2 halfpipes 1 terrain park Snowmaking available on about one third of total trail area Fully automatic snowmaking system for a high level of effi ciency Ski season: end of October to mid- May (approx. 200 skiing days per season) Special feature: 24-hour polar night in mid-December; 24-hour daylight from mid-May Mean winter temperature -10 °C CEO Jouni Palosaari, Levi GERHARD VANZI SnowExperts: DolomitiSuperski has always been considered a pioneer in the fi eld of snowmaking in the Alps. When did Dolomiti Superski install its fi rst snowmaking installation? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: That was at a very early stage; in 1974 Erich Kastlunger imported a fi rst snowgun from the USA and set it up in San Vigilio (Marebbe). It was a huge machine, extremely cumbersome and enor- mously expensive in comparison with today’s prices. Using it to produce snow cover for a trail was a very diffi cult undertaking. At the time, people said he must be crazy. A sec- ond snowgun was bought for Vigo di Fassa in 1988/89. That was the winter in which the fi rst snow did not fall until 16 February! SnowExperts: What was the response like in the various resorts and ski areas? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: Two successive winters with little snow, namely 1988/89 as I said and then 1989/90, when we had to wait until 3 March for the fi rst fall, brought a big change in people’s thinking and the “crazies” became pioneers almost overnight. SnowExperts: When was the decision taken to invest in snowmaking in a big way? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: Those two winters showed the ski area operators that something simply had to be done. We were 40 percent down on revenues. That is when the decision was taken to invest in snowmaking on a step- by-step basis. It was its location to the south of the main Alpine chain – with its warmer cli- mate and 80 % days of sunshine – that turned DolomitiSuperski into a pioneer in the Alps. SnowExperts: Was there any criticism, and how did you respond? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: The people who live in the Dolomites know the conditions under which we operate; they know that snow is the foundation of economic success for whole areas. Wherever the snowmaking question became political, we responded openly and frankly and sat down to talk to the critics. That greatly helped to overcome prejudice. The others learnt about our general situation and came to appreciate our needs, and we learnt to make careful and economic use of our resources. In retrospect I would say that we have always made positive use of the criticism raised. NO SNOW, NO TRAILS, NO WINTER SPORTS DR. HUBERT WEILER-AUER CONDUCTED AN INTERVIEW FOR SNOWEX- PERTS WITH DR. GERHARD VANZI – MARKETING DIRECTOR AT DOLO- MITISUPERSKI, THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SKI AREA INTERCONNECT WITH OVER 1,200 KILOMETERS OF TRAILS – ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SNOWMAKING. INTERVIEW SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 24 SnowExperts: Is snowmaking something you could do without today? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: For us in the Dolomites, that is currently unthinkable. We are giving thought to what visitors would appreciate in addition, but a day on the trails is simply the ultimate for a winter sports enthusiast. SnowExperts: What is the signifi cance of snowmaking for DolomitiSuperski? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: No snow, no trails, no winter sports – and widespread cancellations instead. I guess that scenario speaks for itself. The snow is the foundation of our economic success in winter. That is something the last two winters have shown very clearly. In spite of the lack of snow this winter, we were able to repeat last season’s good results thanks to our snowmaking facilities. SnowExperts: What percentage of total trail area now has snowmaking at Dolomiti- Superski? Dr. Gerhard Vanzi: Over 90 % of our trails are covered by the snowmaking system. Some ski areas like Kronplatz and Obereggen actu- ally have 100 % coverage. We have had general all-over snowmaking for almost ten years now. When we say general all-over snowmaking, we mean that only a few minor trails – short connecting trails or non-groomed ski routes that are not decisive for the qual- ity of the skiing experience – are not part of the snowmaking network. With some 1200 kilometers of trails available to visitors, they do not notice any quantitative difference. We are very pleased with the result of this level of snowmaking and equally pleased that we went for area-wide snowmaking at such an early stage. As a result, almost all our investments in the last few years have been targeted at the sparing use of resources and enhanced snow quality. That ensures that we stay in the lead. SnowExperts: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Dr. Gerhard Vanzi, Marketing Director DOLOMITISUPERSKI www.dolomitisuperski.com SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 25 Turnkey projects begin with the planning A major share of TechnoAlpin’s activities relate to the detailed planning work need- ed for any turnkey installation. Our list of reference installations worldwide is con- fi rmation of our competence in this fi eld. Every installation is planned with an eye to the future, so that it runs reliably and can be operated as effi ciently as possible, and ensures low follow-up costs for every system upgrade. All the components are a perfect match: from the snowmaking pond and the pump and compressor stations to the line materials, snowguns and fully automatic control technology in the form of a state-of-the-art ATASS (Automatic TechnoAlpin Snowmaking System). TURNKEY PROJECTS TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS TECHNOALPIN OFFERS ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR THE PLANNING AND INSTALLATION OF CUSTOMIZED TURNKEY PROJECTS. APART FROM THE BEST POSSIBLE PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF SNOW PRODUCTION, THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION FOR ANY INSTALLATION TODAY IS ECONOM- ICAL RIGHT-SIZING AND THE SPARING USE OF RESOURCES. THAT SAVES TIME AND MONEY AND HAS POSITIVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS. SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 26 TECHNOALPIN Turnkey snowmaking solutions New projects start with a full advisory offering. Our in-house planning department prepares an initial concept, draws up the master plan and performs the fi nal system calculations. The installation is planned in collaboration with local civil engineers. The planning process benefi ts from our twenty years of experience and the many TechnoAlpin systems installed worldwide, from the Arctic Circle to New Zealand. All project implementation stages are managed and coordinated by a TechnoAlpin contact, who carefully follows the provisions of the detailed master plan. Rather than stand-alone solutions, TechnoAlpin gives priority to complete solutions as a long-term investment with meaningful economic benefi ts. Once the system is up and running, TechnoAlpin’s 24-hour service is available to guarantee absolute operating safety and system availability. The advantages of a turn-key solution at a glance TechnoAlpin’s twenty years of international experience are refl ected in the work of the company’s planning department. The department collaborates with a network of external specialists and planners (structural engineers, electrical and hydraulic engineers, civil engineers for the earthworks , etc.). Every system built is the product of anticipatory planning taking account of all possible or proposed developments for the years ahead. A master plan and individual construction stage plans go without saying. The careful match and effective interplay of system components acquired from a single source guarantee maximum effi ciency, mean lower initial costs, save operating energy and resources, and are rewarded with long service life for all components. TechnoAlpin is the professional for turnkey installations. TURNKEY SOLUTIONS SNOWEXPERTSMAGAZINE 27 Alain De Cian Alexander Bauer Alexander Leitner Alfred Weissensteiner Andrea Cavatton Andrea Sanfelici Andreas Schwingshackl Anita Kompatscher Anja Berents Arno Hafner Astrid Torggler Dagmar Geis Daniel Lantschner Daniele Neri David Holzmann Denise Mayer Dieter Haas Egon Oberkofler Elmar Kaufmann Erich Gummerer Erika Unterweger Fabrizio Formaggio Georg Eisath Gerald Reichegger Giorgia Cassiolari Hannes Oberrauch Hanspeter Hochwieser Harald Brunetti Heidi Vonmetz Heinz Viehweider Irmi Prader Ivan Gross Jitka Mahdalikova Joachim Stuefer Johann Kaufmann Johann Untermarzoner Juris Panzani Karlheinz Terrabona Klaus Bacher Patrick Peintner Patrick Platzgummer Peter Rottensteiner Philippe Ronin Priska Innerhofer Richard Reifer Renè Schiess Robert Reider Roberto Begliatti Roberto Maoret Roman Vogl Stefan Mutschlechner Stefano Bruscagin Stefano Cianchi Stefano Locatelli Stephan Psenner Thomas Burger Thomas Damian Thomas Lunger Thomas Möltner Thomas Pichler Ulrike Oberrauch Umberto Marchesan Verena Pattis Walter Rieder Walter Weger Wolfgang Hanni Wolfgang Lechner Bianca Zanona David Dietrich Helmuth Grünbacher Johannes Partsch Klaus Kaltenbacher Manuela Wacker Markus Egger Aldo Lauri Brice Lacorre Diana Schatt-Orecchini Erich Betschart Ivana Kempf Kurt Bissig Marco Albiez Melanie Zurbriggen Remo Bulgheroni Reto Saner Sascha Zgraggen Alexander Reindl Annelise Kneidl Eberhard Gall Gerti Zandt Manfred Huber Ralf Behrends Ulrich Gall Bernard Ligori Didier Blanchard Franck Tiffreau Henri Philippe Michael Payan Eric Saint-Paul Valérie Vacher Antónia Turiaková Igor Schmidt Ján Lietavec Ladislav Podmanicky Lowy Ladislav Veronika Slysková David Kennedy Geir Vik Karen Emerson Nicole Clifford Peter Söderholm Veikko Mantila Christer Jansson Curt Boström Jan Mangborg Lasse Ericcson Lasse Nordström Johanny Möller Jan-Erik Nilson Anja Lunnerfjord Anna-Lena Olson Jong Sook Park Jong Woo Won Kwan Hee Won Tae Ha Kim Lue Shengming Xing Xin Thomas Peintner Slawa Kalugin Oleg Fedorov Kiyohiro Kawakami Gregor Vehovec Gere Caba Serban Sovaiala Petre Popa Alexander Mechkov Stanislava Mechkova Stefka Miteva Klaus Hardt Alberto Rodriguez Ángel Jaraiz Raul Garcia Cristina González Rosa López Lukas Schmittner Manfred Scherer Manuel Nössing Manuel Wunderer Marco Moratti Markus Mahlknecht Markus Pfeifer Martin Coser Martin Eppacher Martin Gamberoni Martin Hofer Martin Margesin Martin Stofner Matteo Paterno Matthias Fauster Marco Benvenuto Mauro Centofanti Mauro Ficara Mauro Freno Max Vieider Michael Wieser Mirko Brunner Monika Hornikova Norbert Baumgärtner Paolo Nardone Paolo Stegher Michael Kirchmayer Robert Kramberger Stefan Egger Stefan Malfer Roberto D‘Agostino Siegfried Rieder Paul Lambert Scott Whiting Michal Beˇlunek Jiri Beˇlunek Kemal Akin Ihsan Kars Giorgio Nulikas THE SNOWEXPERTS. </p>
