The technology of sliding on the snow

Snowboarding or skiing is a mixture of the natural and the man-made. Both rely on gravity and snow, of course, but technology is used all over the mountain, including in making and shaping snow.

Resorts across the country rely on snowmaking systems to supplement natural snowfall, or in some cases, to even stay in business. Snowmaking is an expensive process, with (for example) some portable snowmaking guns costing $22,000 a piece. Add in the costs of pumping water to the guns and the electricity to run them. Mix in grooming equipment ($100,000 new) necessary to keep the slopes from being littered with chunks of ice (“death cookies”), and you begin to understand why a lift ticket costs as much as it does.

Freestyle events–riding on rails and jumps and in halfpipes–require both equipment that is left in the ground (rails, fun boxes, etc.), and machinery for shaping the snow. Groomers, again, come to the rescue, especially those that are specifically designed to properly shape jumps.

Another piece of equipment (known as a “Pipe Dragon” or “Pipe Monster”) shapes and maintains halfpipes, which for many people is the face of snowboarding. Making and maintaining a halfpipe is more science than art, a topic I will discuss at a later point. But for now, take a look at two companies who make a business of making the leading halfpipes and terrain parks in North America.

Snowpark Technologies created the pipe for the recently completed X Games.

Planet Snow Design (warning: you might want to turn off your speakers if you’re in an office) created the features for the 2002 Winter Olympics (Salt Lake City) and continues to provide freestyle professionals and amateurs with designs at the US Open, the USSA Grand Prix, and other events.

Even if you prefer to stay on the ground when you’re snowboarding or skiing, freestyle events are a big part of the mountain scene. Resort managers often believe they need to have freestyle terrain to attract and retain teenagers–the next generation of their customers. Depending on where you go, you’ll have to ride past them to get to the slopes you prefer anyway. So check out these two companies (I’ll add more as I find them) to learn more about how natural forces and engineering work together to bring about freestyle terrain.