Great terrain parks result from thoughtful planning, sufficient resources, thorough execution, proper staffing—and the right tools. Supplying your park crew with the right hand tools to use throughout the build-out and for daily maintenance can make a good park great.

In the early days of terrain parks, the only option for hand tools where landscaping and construction tools, such as asphalt lutes and shovels. While these still have their place in different phases of construction, companies like Planet Snow Tools, FallLine and Snow Park Technologies have designed park-specific tools for specialized tasks. These tools help take maintenance and shaping to another level.

Investing in a variety of quality park tools is essential for performing the breadth of tasks in a terrain park. For example, having one transition rake to dig rails, push and pile snow, and fine-tune features would be inefficient at best.

The range of tools includes digging shovels, scooping shovels, shaping and transition tools, and finishing rakes. Each should be used for its specific task. When these tools are used properly, features can be constructed and maintained efficiently, effectively, and with fewer overuse injuries (and workers’ comp claims). This also extends the life of the tools themselves.

Although they are not exactly hand tools, park-specific snowcats and their operators perform the large-scale construction and nightly maintenance of park features. After a night of good grooming, features may need only very minor hand finishing. Challenging weather or snow conditions, though, can leave the day crew with significant work to do.

Hand tools can be separated into three categories: construction and build-out, maintenance, and finishing. Use construction and build-out tools during the initial park build or after significant changes to a feature. Use maintenance tools during day-to-day operations in a variety of conditions.


BUILD-OUT TOOLS

Steel Shovel. Traditional flathead steel shovels are the workhorse during construction phases. The design of the flathead shovel helps cut approximate angles, block chunks of snow, and move material short distances out of the way. These shovels are useful for the initial rough shaping of a feature. The steel implement resists bending; while wooden or fiberglass handles reduce weight and overall fatigue of the crew.

Steel shovels are low-cost, effective tools for build-out. I recommend purchasing the style with the folded steel on the top of the shovel, which creates a small step. This step allows the crew to use their body weight to get extra leverage without damaging their footwear (i.e. expensive ski or snowboard boots).

At Winter Park Resort, we have invested in a variety of handle configurations and lengths, each with a specific role throughout the build-out process. For example, short-handled shovels with a grip make quick work of chopping over a feature and in confined areas. On the other hand, long-handled shovels (no grip) are great for cutting down from above a feature where a grip will reduce the range of motion one can achieve while working.

Suggested use for steel shovels

• setting rails, boxes and jib features

• shaping of take-offs and features

• clearing rubble from sides of rails and boxes after set-up

Post hole digger. Post-hole diggers are perfect for setting rails, boxes, and jib features. They make quick work of getting support legs clear for rails or boxes.

Aluminum scoop shovel. Aluminum scoop shovels help to quickly clear snow debris from a work area. As a crew member works quickly on the rough shape of a feature, loose snow gets in the way. Another crew member, armed with a lightweight aluminum scoop shovel, removes the loose snow and keeps the project moving efficiently.

These shovels should not be used to cut or shape, as they will quickly bend and deform. In resorts where machine-made snow rarely softens, it may be best to use steel shovels exclusively for the same reason.

Suggested use for aluminum shovels

• clearing debris from shaping


MAINTENANCE TOOLS

As construction and build-out near completion, more specific shaping tools are required for superior shaping and cutting. This is especially true of jump transitions, spines, technical rails, quarterpipes, hips, and transfer gaps. For the highest level of shaping transitions, generic landscaping tools become less productive and effective. This is where the following tools shine.

Transition shovels. Transition shovels can shape the snow surface to any angle or configuration desired. These are the perfect tools for cutting downward into the transition of a halfpipe, quarterpipe, or jump take-off. Training and time spent learning to properly use these tools is recommended, since over-cutting (damage to the desired shape) can easily occur. Planet Snow Tools, FallLine and Snow Park Technologies have tools that can extend down massive transitions and have a variety of angles of the cutting blades. At Winter Park Resort, we use a multitude of Planet Snow Tool’s transitions shovels, extensions, and handles to connect in a number of configurations. The variety of interchangeable implements has been optimal, and the performance and durability of the tools is excellent.

Transition shovels are designed to be kept sharp and used for projects where reaching above the waist is not required. Their weight helps them cut into the snow more easily, but can also lead to fatigue when lifted repeatedly. The general rule of thumb is to keep the tool on the snow and below waist level.

Suggested use for transition shovels

• shaping jumps, hips, spines, quarterpipes, superpipes

• cutting sides of take-offs and features for manicured look

Transition rakes. Transition rakes are steel implements that cut like a transition shovel, but have increased width and teeth. Transition rakes are shaped like finishing rakes, but made out of steel. Transition rakes typically have extensions and telescoping handles to reach down longer transitions or take-offs. Like the shovels mentioned above, these tools are best used when lifting above the waist is not required, as they are relatively heavy and can cause fatigue.

Suggested use for transition rakes

• minor shaping of jumps, hips, spines, quarterpipes, superpipes

• light cutting on sides of take-offs and features for manicured look

Plastic scoops. Plastic scoops with long wooden handles are the perfect tool for quickly moving new snow from features. I can’t count the number of times a feature has been in perfect shape for a photo shoot, then it snows overnight. Grooming too close can leave the feature too soft, so removing the snow is the only practical solution. Typically, a layer is formed between the hardened snow and the new snow, so the plastic scoop can scrape the snow quickly and easily.

Suggested use for plastic scoops

• removing snow debris from features


FINISHING TOOLS

Aluminum rakes. After a feature has been shaped, hand tuning gives it the final and professional touch. A lightweight finishing rake can push small amounts of snow and do minor adjustments. These tools are convenient to pack on a snowmobile or take up a chairlift. Planet Snow Tools, Snow Park Technologies, and FallLine each offer finishing rakes, including some products that are a hybrid between a rake and a shovel.

Finishing rakes can be used for a wide variety of tasks, but the aluminum construction can bend over time and require replacement. Having said this, suppliers have designed high-quality tools tested and used around the world. The lifespan of these rakes is at least three seasons under normal use.

Aluminum rakes are the workhorse of daily maintenance. Throughout the season, these tools are used more than any other tool in the arsenal. They keep your features within their design parameters, whether pushing snow left by a passing storm from a take-off, or packing in wet spring snow before salting. These tools are worth the investment!

Suggested uses for finishing rakes

• hand grooming jumps

• hand grooming feature landings

• general hand grooming throughout

• buffing the sides of take-offs and features for manicured look


FINAL THOUGHTS

Purchasing the proper tools should be a priority expenditure. Features change day to day and hour by hour. In some parks, conditions change by the minute. From resort risk managers to terrain park supervisors, the goal is to provide progressive parks that are well maintained and staffed. Allocate and invest sufficient resources each year to ensure the highest quality experience for the guest.