Q.
On slope grooming
Over the past three years, the ski industry has witnessed the rapid growth of G.L.M. Rental and retail shops had to shift their marketing to accommodate this trend. Ski schools have developed teaching methods and as a result, ski areas have seen a definite percentage increase in the number of skiers on the steeper, more difficult trails. The skiers are using their shorter skis and are creating shorter, sharper moguls in a much shorter period of time. These moguls are not only difficult to ski through, but they also require a different technique in slope grooming.
The answer to this situation would not be to close part or all of an area to G.L.M. skiers. This action would only hurt the area operator. If we are in business to “serve the public”, I feel the answer must come in the area of slope grooming equipment.
Here we look to the manufacturers of this equipment. How effective are the tools at our disposal today? At my area, we have to make two trips to cut to a level of what one trip formerly would accomplish. We could try grooming more frequently but with the fuel allocation upon us, we would have to scrimp in other areas or possibly look for other sources to support our increased fuel consumption.
I work at an area which is considered remote, Arizona Snow Bowl, and do not have ready access to information and ideas as to what the rest of the industry is doing, if anything, to cope with this situation.
Would a lengthing or shortening of a cutter help? Is it possible to modify the equipment we have? I feel that any “tips” offered through Ski Area Management on this subject would be most useful to all of us.
Dave Kuntzelman
Mountain Manager
A.
By mounting a U-Blade on the front of his tractor he can eliminate 90 per cent of the moguls before the tractor goes over them. Then the mogul planer being towed will do the final smoothing and packing.
When cutting moguls, do not try to cut them at the base; rather take the top half of the mogul off with the blade and let it fall into the valley between it and the next mogul. That way most of the snow is left on the hill where it belongs. The shorter skis definitely make larger, closely spaced moguls which would be looked after every couple of days.
Our area has 240 vertical feet which is small compared to most areas, but we take a great deal of pride in our grooming. We spend an average of three to six hours per day grooming. As I understand it Arizona Snow Bowl spends quite a bit less than this.
Our basic equipment consists of a 12′-5″ Roll Powder Maker with which we cover the entire slope each day before opening. This tends to keep moguls under control as partial leveling occurs using this device with the scarifier. We supplement this with the U-Blade which is in use simultaneously with the Powder Maker, making the job a one-pass operation. We then, after heavy use, push our moguls up hill about once a week, followed by a real smooth-up job with a Mogul Cutter. We do this as soon as we close at night to allow snow to set up before passing the Powder Maker over the surface in the early morning hours.
Otto Wallingford, Pres.
Lost Valley Ski Area, Maine
