Snowmaking for Clubs HKD Snowmakers Mark Horton
About HKD Snowmakers Founded in 1990, HKD Snowmakers has over 400 Customers worldwide. Our Mission is to remain the industry leader in energy efficient, user friendly snowmaking solubons. HKD Snowmakers is the Official Snowmaking Supplier to the U.S. Ski Team. We love to ski and ride on the product we make.
HKD s Offer To work closely with the Club and training facility, to assist in the process of engineer the most effective and compatible snowmaking solution. To help clubs confidently deliver early season terrain for their athletes, utilizing efficient and affordable snowmaking solutions.
2011 Notable Projects Loon Mountain, NH 610 Impulse Towers! StraJon Mountain, VT 300 SV10 and Impulse Towers Gore Mountain, NY 130 SV10 and Impulse Towers! Copper Mountain, CO 87 Fully AutomaBc SV10 US Ski Team and Impulse Towers Breckenridge, CO 15 Fully AutomaBc Impulse Towers, 150 Manual Towers Holiday Valley, NY 28 Fully AutomaBc SV10 and Impulse Towers Camelback, PA 40 Semi AutomaBc Fan guns and 50 SV10 and Focus Towers
Benefits of Club Snowmaking Athletes increase time on the snow. Tremendous marketing value to bolster enrollment in club/academy. Revenue opportunity through rental of early season training space/lanes. Extends the season for club affiliated retail stores, food and beverage, lodging, and lessons.
That s great but Other Energy Needs Snowmaking represents 67% of a resort s winter energy expense 33% 67% Snowmaking Energy Demand
TradiBonal Air/Water Snowmaking 101 -Tools of the Trade- Low Energy Air/Water Electric Fan
A lot of Energy & Effort
Snowmaking Costs (per acre foot) Bottom- line: 26 F - 28 F Wetbulb $349 $2,424 Low- Energy air/water & fans are the most effective way to achieve significant operational savings. 24 F - 26 F Wetbulb $328 $218 $208 $891 $1,238 Air/Water Gun Fan Snowgun HKD SV10201 20 F - 24 F Wetbulb $174 Approximately 6 times more expensive to run traditional air/ water in marginal temps. 11 F - 19 F Wetbulb $176 $402 $121 $135 $272 Below 10 F Wetbulb $85 $135 $0 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500
Air/Water Tower (Breckenridge, CO)
Air/Water Towers (Crested Butte, CO)
Air/Water Towers (Steamboat, CO)
Air/Water Portable (Aspen, CO)
Tower Fan (Camelback, PA)
Portable Fan (Buttermilk, CO)
Just Make us Some Snow
Reality of Alpine Resorts Availability of resources: air, water, energy, & labor. Challenge of early season snowmaking temperatures. Access to efficient & effective snowgun technology. Balancing the priority between the Club s needs and that of the Public.
Partnership with Operations Mutually beneficial relationship with mountain operations is key. Understand the limitations of their snowmaking plant.
U.S. Ski Team Speed Center
U.S. Ski Team Speed Center -Copper Mountain- Only early season, full length downhill training run in the world. Nearly 2 miles long with 2,300 of vertical drop. 100 acre feet of snow needed. 40 football fields covered with 2 feet of snow 18 M gallons of water Limited snowmaking temps before Thanksgiving. Annual opening date of November 1 st.
Here s How They Got it Done
HKD KLIK Automation
HKD KLIK Automation
Independent Control
U.S. Ski Team Speed Center -Copper Mountain-
Mission Accomplished
Nordic Solutions Top 3 Priorities: Water, water, water The majority of your capital cost is in pumping and pipe. Strategic pipe placement is key to effect maximum terrain.
HKD Super Blizzard (Trapps, VT)
HKD Turbo Fan (Trapps, VT)
Snowmaking Checklist -Alpine & Nordic- Amount of terrain being covered. Depth of snow needed. Average temperatures. Desired date for opening terrain. Gallons of water available on the trail. CFM of air available on the trail. Snowguns being used on the trail and their respective performance curves.
Interesting Factoid The world s highest automated snowgun (we think) is installed at Copper Mountain.
Mark Horton Contact Information 617 Osgood Hill Road Westford, VT 05494 (802) 735-5285 Mark@HKDsnowmakers.com www.hkdsnowmakers.com