By Catherine Hansen

New Snowmaking Machines Are Up & Running At Otway Nordic Centre

Nov 28, 2018 | 3:11 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Otway Nordic Centre is now the proud owner of two TechnoAlpin snowmakers valued around $45,000 each, providing an insurance policy when the World Para-Nordic Skiing Championships take place in February.

“When we’re hosting world events there’s a requirement to have a snow contingency, whether it’s snowmaking or hauling in snow or storing snow or all of the above,  these events are required to have a guaranteed snowmaking plan,” said Kevin Pettersen, Chair of the 2019 World Para-Nordic Skiing Championships. 

The snow cannon or gun releases water into the atmosphere, and can only be used once the temperature is below minus 2 with a combination of humidity. As these cannons are built for large spaces, phase one of snowmaking will see the main stadium areas flooded with snow, and then pushed by machine into the smaller narrower trails. 

To supply the snowmaking a new well has been installed, along with a pipeline and several pumping stations that cover two km of trail at Otway.

The entire project cost roughly $450,000 with some of the funding coming from a BC Gaming Grant, along with a $250,000 Economic Diversification Grant from Northern Development Initiatives Trust. With a life expectancy of 30 years for the system, the snowmaking is a legacy that will be left for local skiers to enjoy long after the Para-Nordic event is over.  

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