Sun Peaks ski resort in British Columbia’s Interior has introduced Canada’s first giant insulated snow blankets to counteract the effects of rising temperatures. The 300-foot-long mats, developed by Finnish company Snow Secure, aim to preserve snow through summer, ensuring reliable early-season conditions for training.
Crews spent winter collecting snow and storing it at a high-altitude site before covering it with the thermal blankets. In fall, the preserved snow will be spread to prepare ski runs for alpine teams.
Ski cross racer Euan Currie praised the move, noting it could reduce costly European travel for training. The technology, already popular in Europe, uses extruded polystyrene and monitors temperature in real-time.
North American resorts are increasingly adopting the method as unpredictable weather impacts revenue and discourages season pass purchases. Sun Peaks invested $180,000 in the initiative, confident it will secure training-quality snow even in 30°C heat, with an estimated 75–80% retention rate.
Operations director Duncan Currie emphasized the reliability of the preserved snow. Meanwhile, meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe noted that B.C.’s southern Interior has lost up to 40% of its snowpack since the 1970s, a trend expected to worsen by 2035.
Sun Peaks communications director Christina Antoniak said the unveiling of the snow later this year will mark a milestone for the resort, bringing a more predictable start to the season.
Source: Swifteradio.com
