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Once temperatures fall below -2℃, water can be fired up into the air above the slopes which helps create natural snow on the slopes for the skiers to use. In Belgium, where snowfall is rarely sufficient for proper winter sports, snow cannons are often needed to supplement the season’s snow.
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For the last three years, the snow cannons have not seen any use at Ovifat due to mild winters and the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the resort opened to the public for just one week. With temperatures now reaching -12℃ in some part of the Ardennes, this year’s weather is perfect conditions for the resort to put its snow cannons to use.
Credit: Piste de Ski Ovifat
“We have quite low temperatures and no snow. We can snow some parts, but we’re not going to snow everything. It’s not chemistry, but pure water sent into the air. The weather and nature do the rest, then it falls. Then when everything melts, everything flows back into streams. It’s really great. We might as well try so that everyone can have this happiness at a lower cost,” Pierre Heinen, member of Ovifat, told RTL Info.
To reduce costs during times of high electricity prices, the snow blowers run off the ski resort’s own generator and are turned on only when needed.
According to the official Facebook page of the ski resorts, the blue ski run will remain open to the public until Sunday evening. The toboggan run is also open to the public.
