The Hirvensalo and Meri-Teijo ski resorts try to snow at night, but the frosts should also be used during the day. The aim is to have the slopes open before Christmas.
The ski resorts of Southwest Finland in Hirvensalo, Turku, and Meri-Teijo, Salo, are balancing on the electric curve when making cannon snow. Both companies use electricity from the stock exchange. Electricity is needed for both snow guns and water pumps.
In Salo, the snow began to fall on Thursday morning. At the Hirvensalo ski resort, the snow is still waiting to start. However, the guns are ready on the slopes.
Cannonballing is concentrated at night, but frosts must also be exploited during the day.
Freezing temperatures trigger snow cannons
According to Lehtinen, the ski centers have no options for the time of snowfall if they want to keep the slopes open.
– Snow is made when it is possible according to the weather. So far, we haven’t made a decision to go with snow. We rely on market forces. Moderate price increases are coming for some ticket categories, says Lehtinen.
Both centers aim to open the slopes by Christmas. Last winter, we were able to hit the slopes as early as December, and the expectations for winter are high both in Turku and in Salo.
In Salo, bangs are used for local tourism. In previous years, Russian tourists have traveled in the area, especially at the turn of the new year, but after the last few years there have been no more, says Kakko.
Last year, Hirvensalo reached more than a hundred open days. According to Lehtinen, it is possible to reach up to 120 days if the slopes are opened before Christmas.