Snow Farming & Snow Storage Canada | FortyNine51
What Is Snow Farming?
Snow farming is the process of collecting natural or machine-made snow, storing it beneath insulating coverings during the warmer months, and redistributing the preserved snow before the next ski season.
Also known as summer snow storage or snow conservation, this approach allows resorts to save an existing snow resource rather than starting from scratch each winter.
Stored snow can help prepare priority terrain before sufficient natural snowfall arrives or temperatures become suitable for snowmaking.
Save This Season’s Snow for Next Winter
Prepare for the season ahead with snow farming solutions for Canadian ski resorts, Nordic centres and training facilities.
Snow farming preserves snow through the summer so it can be reused the following winter. By combining a carefully planned snow depot with specialized insulation mats and protective coverings, operators can build a snow reserve for early-season slopes, training lanes and cross-country trails.
FortyNine51 helps ski area operators explore practical snow storage solutions suited to their terrain, facilities and opening objectives.
How Snow Farming Works
Collect & Shape
Snow is gathered into a compact stockpile, called a snow depot, during winter or spring. Snowmaking during favourable cold periods can also contribute to the stored supply.
The depot is shaped and positioned to support effective coverage, reduce exposure and limit the distance snow must be moved when it is needed.
Insulate & Protect
Specialized snow depot mats and protective coverings help reduce heat transfer and protect the snow from sun, rain and wind.
Properly overlapped materials, secured seams and suitable anchoring help maintain protection throughout the summer.
Uncover & Reuse
Before the next season, the coverings are removed and stored. The remaining snow is then distributed across selected slopes, training areas or trails to establish an initial snow base.
Why Choose Snow Farming?
Plan Your Season with Greater Confidence
A stored snow reserve gives your team another resource for preparing early-season terrain, scheduling training and organizing opening activities.
Make the Most of Cold Conditions
Snow farming allows operators to preserve snow produced during efficient cold-weather snowmaking windows for use when conditions are less favourable.
Support Early-Season Training
Prepare dedicated alpine race lanes, Nordic loops and biathlon training areas while snow coverage develops elsewhere.
Reuse Snow Across Seasons
Retain a portion of the snow already available at your facility. Depending on site conditions and operational requirements, this can reduce the amount of new snow needed for selected opening areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Snow can be preserved through the summer in a suitably located and insulated depot. The amount remaining depends on the snow volume, depot shape, covering system, weather and maintenance.
Retention varies between projects. A realistic estimate should account for local conditions, snow density, storage duration and the selected insulation system. Snow volume and snow mass are different measurements and should be clearly identified when comparing results.
Snow farming complements snowmaking by allowing operators to store snow for later use. Resorts can continue making snow as conditions allow while using their stored reserve to prepare priority areas.
Stored snow can support earlier preparation of selected terrain. Actual opening dates depend on the available snow, weather after redistribution and the facility’s operational requirements.
The annual material cost of snow farming can be less than $1 per cubic metre of snow preserved for use in the fall. Producing snow during the coldest periods of winter can also reduce snowmaking energy costs by up to 85%, helping offset the initial investment.
Costs depend on depot size, materials, site preparation, labour and machinery requirements. Contact FortyNine51 to discuss your location and objectives.
Start Planning Your Snow Farming Project
As the first to bring snow farming to North America, FortyNine51 draws on hands-on experience in product development to introduce the next generation of snow preservation solutions—helping ski areas save snow and plan for the season ahead.
Contact FortyNine51 to explore snow farming solutions for your ski resort, Nordic centre or training facility.
Email: sami@fortynine51.com
Phone: 705-888-5088