Giants Ridge already thinking snow

BIWABIK—In just more than three months, 74 new Super PoleCat Snowmakers will help the Giants Ridge ski hill become more efficient in making snow and get open quicker each season.

The extensive $16.5 million project will replace old, failing snowmaking water lines, water hydrants, electrical wiring and pedestals.

The installation of additional water and electrical infrastructure across the mountain plus automation controls are all part of the project.

“It’s been a long time coming,’’ said Sean Peyla, Director of Facilities and Mountain Operations at Giants Ridge.

“This will give us a significant advantage in the future especially in the early season, and times of marginal snowmaking weather conditions, allowing us to produce more snow in shorter snowmaking weather windows.’’

The project started in May and has been moving quickly of late with drier conditions.

The 74 new snow guns—featuring automated, on-board weather stations—will add coverage to the ski hill, which will enable Giants Ridge to open for skiing earlier. Peyla added the temperature still has to be 29 degrees or colder. The brand new snowmaking machines will be added to 23 that were purchased last year and 36 that were bought two years ago.

But whenever that happens, there will be more than 100 snow guns running at one time, he said.

The snowmaking machines will be pre-programmed to turn themselves on and off at just the right times to be the most efficient, according to Peyla.

In addition to the automation, the new snowmaking machines will be permanently placed on the concrete towers. That will eliminate the need for employees to move them across the hill and change the settings manually. If need be, the new equipment can be adjusted via an online app.

Giants Ridge’s large terrain park (Garmisch) will have the automated machines from top to bottom, Peyla said. Previously on Garmisch, employees had to drag extension cords, hoses and the snow guns to each different location that needed snow.

While the new snowmaking machines won’t encompass all of the 35 ski runs, “it will be a vast improvement,’’ he commented. “Everything’s going to be there with a touch of a button’’ and the time to open the entire ski area will be cut in half.

Substantial completion of the project is targeted for Nov. 1 and the ski hill typically opens the day after Thanksgiving. If everything goes well, the skill hill could be open earlier than usual, Peyla said.

Contractors were hard at work Tuesday on the steep terrain installing water and electrical lines, along with getting the concrete pedestals ready. Lakehead Contractors, with offices in Aurora, is the general contractor, while ArchKey Town and Country is the electrical subcontractor.

The project is being funded by $12 million in state bonding from last year and $4.5 million in Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation funds.

The skiers will be ready if the ski hill opens earlier than normal. Peyla said there is always a pent up demand in the fall.

The new snow guns will be “a great thing for our guests.’’