You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure
This is a statement that rings very true and is widely attributed to business management expert Peter Drucker, though he never said those exact words. What he did say was, "What gets measured, gets managed."
There is a somewhat fallacious notion within the ski area industry that the trails skied and ridden are well-managed. There are ski areas that measure the snow on trails and then manage them very well, knowing the depth and consistency of the snow. However, I would argue that a larger percentage of ski areas do not measure the snow depth on their trails. Therefore, my inference is that they cannot manage the trails effectively if they are not measured.
As with many aspects of skiing, snow depth measurement technology originated in Europe, where there is a heavy emphasis on grooming, most trails are groomed, and snow height measurement is relatively standard, unlike in North America. The major technology for measuring snow height is primarily European-based, with its major players including SNOWsat, a company of Kassbohrer from Germany; Leica, provided by Prinoth from Italy; and ARENA Slope Management by PowerGIS, an independent company from Austria that is not involved in groomer manufacturing. All these technologies are sold in North America.
So, how do these technologies help a ski area manage the trails by taking snow height measurements? Let’s explore how that can happen. The first step is to have a plan; some refer to it as a snow plan. This plan initially utilizes human knowledge to determine the amount of snow required to maintain well-maintained trails and identify areas where snow depths require attention during the season.
Via grooming with groomers equipped with snow height technology, snow depths are recorded at each grooming shift. The snow surface team reviews this information frequently with the groomer drivers, directing them on where snow is in surplus or deficit and where to relocate snow. By examining this information, periodic notes can be made to determine how changes in weather and skier traffic are affecting the snow depth on each trail. The data gathered from the measuring process allows you to begin managing the trail conditions as you haven’t in the past.
The three technologies shared here can each interface with the ski area's snow-making control system, provided it is a relatively current one. By having snow depth information, the snow surface team can manage snowmaking more specifically, by hydrant, to offer the best surface conditions the weather allows. Another level of managing snow surface conditions while optimizing your use of resources and minimizing your costs, not making snow where or when you don’t need to.
Steep Management is the North American representative for ARENA Slope Management. This system surpasses the other two in that it provides ski areas with in-depth consultation on how to utilize snow height data to achieve optimal slope conditions at the lowest cost. It is not just about creating your own snow plan; it is about having a master plan for your snow. Once a ski area has utilized snow height measurement for a while, it has data to help set the correct targets for opening and maintaining trails by managing actual snow depths by trail and making snow only where needed to maintain good skiing conditions.
Combining state-of-the-art technology, field-proven hardware (counting on North American GNSS-engineering), and maximum user-friendliness, ARENA’s solutions enable top performance in slope maintenance – even under the most challenging conditions. By utilizing innovative technology and transparent data analysis and processing, we establish a foundation for objective decision-making, maximum cost efficiency, and an excellent workflow – both on the slopes and in the office. Oh, by the way, your groomer drivers will love ARENA for screen layout and screen options.
Remember, if it isn’t measured, you can’t manage it.
Contact Steep Management at backland@steepmanagement.com or by phone at (802) 279-3081