Snow Grooming | November 2014

NOVEMBER 2014 | ISSUE 6

TERRAIN

PARKS

VISIT US ONLINE

For articles, events, product catalogue and more! snowgroomingmag.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

November 2014 | Issue 6

04 08 14 18

Prinoth – A peak behind the steel curtain By: Mark Halsall

The NSAA’s PhatCat Challenge By: Jim Timlick

Pisten Bully – Raising the Bar By: Mark Halsall

Destoy takes Terrain Park building to another level By: Jim Timlick

23 26 29 34

23

29

38 42 46

04

18

PIM’s Polyurethane Revolution By: Jim Timlick

COMMANDER ATV & UTV Track Systems Building Goliath By: Jessica Antony

Making the Most of your Hill – The Tube Slide Craze By: Jessica Antony

A New Tool for Terrain Park Risk Management and Documentation By: Jim Timlick

The Oil Man – Hydraulic Fluid Selection By: Jessica Antony

MND Group – They’ve got your mountain covered By: Jessica Antony

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE November 2014 | Issue 6

Connie Lester

Published by

Publisher

R

2851 Henderson Highway Winnipeg, MB R2E 0C5 Website: snowgroomingmag.com Email: info@snowgroomingmag.com Phone: 1-204-505-5858 Fax: 1-204-505-5859

Publisher Connie Lester clester@snowgroomingmag.com Managing Editor Mark Halsall editor@snowgroomingmag.com Design & Layout Edge Marketing Strategies © 2014 Integrit Media Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the authors and/or editorial sources contained in Snow Grooming Magazine are those of the respective parties and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher.

Publication Mail Agreement #42677534.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 2851 Henderson Highway Winnipeg, MB R2E 0C5 Printed in Canada.

Welcome to Snow Grooming Magazine!

I

’d like to welcome you to the Terrain Park Issue of Snow Grooming Magazine. Last season we received a lot of emails and phone calls about doing a feature issue surrounding the industry of Terrain Parks and we listened. Inside this issue we discuss many of the facets of Park development, maintenance and the tools and techniques currently being used in the industry as well as some new technology that will change the way Terrain Park maintenance is accomplished. Building and maintaining Terrain Parks is one of finesse and detail and so it’s like the master craft of snow grooming.

I’d also like to draw your attention to www.snowgroomingmag.com. We’ve really stepped it up this season with many online articles, classified and product listings as well as our events page. You can be a part of our website too. We want to encourage all snow grooming organizations to use this tool as the “go to” online community where you can get information and to find great deals on products and services by suppliers within the industry. It will continue to grow as we encourage more and more suppliers in the industry to utilize our site for product information, information on repair and maintenance on equipment and much, much more.

Please visit www.snowgroomingmag.com frequently to check for updates and to find the information you are looking for within the snow grooming industry throughout North America. If you don’t find what you are looking for, email info@snowgroomingmag.com and we will

find it for you or direct you to the experts who can give you up-to-date information within the snow grooming industry. We are here to help you get what you need to be efficient and make good decisions on the snow for you and your organizations.

Lastly, Christmas is coming soon. If you have a grooming operator or operations manager in your sites, please consider purchasing a subscription to Snow Grooming Magazine. It’s the most unique gift you can give! Filled with information within the industry of grooming snow, it’s a sure way to bring the joy of gift giving to those who may be hard to buy for or just love reading about snow grooming! Go to www.snowgroomingmag.com and click on “subscriptions”. You have the choice of one or two year options.

Thanks for reading and enjoy Snow Grooming Magazine!

Sincerely,

Connie Lester, C.E.O. Integrit Media Publisher of Snow Grooming Magazine

snowgroomingmag.com | Issue 6 | SNOW GROOMING

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A peak behind the steel curtain A brand-new grooming platform from promises to break new ground in terms of innovative features for building and maintaining terrain parks.

By Mark Halsall

“ PRINOTH introducing the first T4 final to the snow proves our commitment to innovation and solidifies our position as the #1 snow groomer in North America.”

– Dave Hunter Director of Sales, Snow Grooming, North America

Visit us:

en.prinoth.com/snow-groomers

Like us:

facebook.com/prinoth.official

4

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

PRINOTH’s new platform in its early stages of development, featuring a completely redesigned cabin and Tier4 engine.

O

ne of the biggest names in snow grooming is introducing a new terrain park groomer this winter – it’s so new in fact, that the machine doesn’t even have a name yet.

The keenly anticipated groomer platform from Prinoth sports a new look and promises better performance. It’s also packed with brand-new features guaranteed to make even the most crusty terrain park builder swoon.

The groomer won’t be going into production just yet, but the industry will get a preview look at a handful of demonstrations that Prinoth is staging at different ski locations this season.

“We will have a few demo vehicles that are going to be running throughout North America this winter,” says JeanClaude Perreault, Prinoth’s vice-president of Sales. The plan, he says, is to do a very targeted introduction of the new platform with different customers to build up anticipation in the ski industry.

The move follows the introduction of the BISON XPT park groomer by Tier4 engine promises exceptional performance.

Prinoth just last winter. According to Perreault, it’s a natural progression in the company’s commitment to providing exceptional machines for terrain park building and maintenance.

“The BISON XPT was introduced last year as an evolution to the BISON X,” explains Perreault, adding that the BISON X set the standard for terrain park groomers when it first entered the market. “Now the XPT version is bringing a bit more to the table, and the reaction has been very good,” he says.

“With this new model, we’re going even a step further into areas that really are different than what has been offered in the past,” says Perreault. “We have some new features on this vehicle that are just going to blow everyone’s mind. It’s going to be great.”

“ We have some new features on this vehicle that are just going to blow everyone’s mind.

It’s going to be great.”

– Jean-Claude Perreault Vice-President of Sales, Prinoth

New Tier 4 Engine Prinoth’s new platform is being developed with the new Tier 4 engine technology, and was necessitated by new engine emissions regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These new engines will reduce dramatically the NOx emissions and diesel particles.

This new platform will provide the first groomers with Tier 4 final engines to hit the snow in North America. This will set forward Prinoth’s “Clean Motion” vision of providing more environmentally responsible and efficient groomers.

The new model will also replace the company’s existing groomers, the BISON and the BR 350. “This is a very big change for vehicle manufacturers to go from Tier 3 engines to Tier 4 engines,” says Perreault. “We decided that while going to Tier 4 we would take the opportunity to combine these two mod-

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“ It’s going to be just faster and easier to build the park than with what they used before. We can really bring a lot to the table, more than just a machine that’s pushing snow.”

– Jean-Claude Perreault

Vice-President of Sales, Prinoth

els that were playing in the same field and create a new vehicle with better performance, a new engine, and a lot of new features for the park industry.

“We really had the park needs in mind from the start, so we were able to design in things that weren’t possible before,” says Perreault. He points to Prinoth’s relationship with Snow Park Technologies as a big reason why.

The two companies announced last year they were forging a long-term partnership related to the development and marketing of Prinoth snow groomers dedicated to terrain park and pipe building. Snow Park Technologies is one

of the leading names in snow sports, having designed and built hundreds of Winter X games courses and other competition facilities the world over.

“We’ve worked with them to design what the snow park users want, and what (groomer operators) have to have on a vehicles to make their lives easier,” says Perreault. “Everything was developed with these snow park experts to make sure that we answered the snow park needs.”

One feature that will really enthuse park groomer users, says Perreault, is a new sliding operator seat that can move sideways within the cab. “The driver can

sit on the left-hand side in the cab to do precise cutting of features or to do halfpipe grinding, but then they’ll also be able to slide to the center of the cab to do more general pushing and for when they want to have broader visibility,” he says.

Philippe Gosselin, Prinoth’s marketing manager for North America, says the new vehicle is in final stages of development, but promises it won’t look like or even operate like any groomer the company has produced before.

“On a technical level, it’s really outperforming anything that’s out there presently,” he says. “We have made lots of efforts with design firms to have something really good looking,” Gosselin adds. Whatever its final form, the new Prinoth groomer is shaping up to be a huge hit with terrain park crowd.

“It’s going to be just faster and easier to build the park than with what they used before,” says Perreault. “We can really bring a lot to the table, more than just a machine that’s pushing snow.” ❃

Features and Benefits of New Prinoth Park Groomer Platform •L ohman final drive and Bosch Rexroth transmission (both highly reliable for vehicle’s life) Reliability

• Frame reinforcements (to prevent cracking) • Thicker, more durable teeth on tiller rotor • I ntegration of tiller combs through rubber molding (no more combs lost in the field)

Frame reinforcement analysis

• Overlap lacing track option (more reliable than hinges) •P ark blade features include back blading teeth that enable tiller passes on kick off/landing areas to be reduced, and a blade straight cutter that permits more of the kick off/landing to be cut straight • Enhanced horsepower (400 hp) Productivity

• Higher top travel speed (13 mph or 21 km/h) •H igher power to weight ratio (resulting in higher grooming speed) • Fewer refills of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) required •A utomatic engine warm air selector (prevents air filter clogging with ice)

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SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

Park blade with back-blading teeth and straight cut side extensions

• Snow deflectors below front windshield • Low profile on rear aluminum deck (for unobstructed view of tiller rotor) • Increased glass area on cab (for enhanced visibility) Visibility

Redesigned anti-skip sprocket profile.

•S liding/pivoting seat feature (seat can slide from left to central position and be rotated 15 degrees) • Rear corner LED light that is easily pivoted • LED lighting option •P owertrain dropped 7/8 inch in the frame, creating lower center of gravity that results in same climbing capability as Bison, even with heavier T4F engine •A nti-skip sprocket profile in rear wheel (less sprocket popping when turning)

• High torque final drive ratio (for better turning and snow pushing capabilities) Maneuverability

•B osch Rexroth transmission provides higher relief pressure for better turning and snow pushing capabilities) • Revised suspension set-up (for better turning capability) •M ore force on roll and up/down cylinders on pushframe (increasing maneuverability of snow handling capability of front blade) •R evised software set-up (providing shorter learning curve for operators and easy operation) • Lohman final drive more efficient and requires less maintenance

Maintenance

• More time between engine oil changes (every 500 hours) • Track bushing option (reduced need to re-torque track crosslinks • Fuel efficient Tier4 engine

Fuel Efficiency

• Bosch Rexroth transmission three per cent more efficient than Bison transmission •M otor speed sensor on control display enables operator to monitor rotor speed on tiller

HD user-friendly control screen

•R edesigned screen with more ergonomic touchpads positions • Revised arm cushions shape (more rounded) Comfort + Ergonomics

•F uel and DEF filling positioned on the front of vehicle (no need to climb on track) • Electronic track adjusting system for pressure relief • New cab suspension system with improved vibration damping • Double way sliding windows and sunroof (for enhanced air flow inside cab) • Optional air conditioning with integrated ventilation (for easier activation) • Redesigned cab and cowling

Aesthetics

• Vehicle snow guards • Tiller snow guards, covers, carpet • Red tiller rotor (for increased visibility)

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The NSAA

(National Ski Areas Association’s)

PhatCat Challenge Groomer operators from ski resorts throughout North America show off their talents in the PhatCat Challenge competition held this January 2015 in Killington, Vermont.

By: Jim Timlick

Competitors conducting a pre-op checklist before operating the machine.

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SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

“ The bragging rights are a neat element to this... the industry is trying to recognize these guys and the skills they offer and show their skills to their peers.”

– Earl Sale

T

he job of a snow groomer can be akin to that of a baseball umpire or a football referee – do it well and no one notices, do it poorly and everyone notices.

Paying homage to the skills of these unsung heroes of the slopes was the reason the PhatCat Challenge was created in 2005. Held annually in conjunction with the National Ski Area Association’s Western and Eastern Winter Conferences and Tradeshows, the event pits the top snow grooming machine operators from across North America against each other in an onsnow competition.

“We felt this would be a great opportunity to show off their talents,” says Jennifer Larson, the NSAA’s director of association meetings. “We felt the groomers were being overlooked when it came to that talent and what they had to offer to the skiers and how important they are. We felt this would be an opportunity to showcase what they can do.”

Earl Sale, the NSAA’s director of education programming, says that in addition to providing groomers with some much-deserved recognition, the PhatCat is an opportunity to inform the general public about the work groomers do.

“Groomers often work at night when the area is closed so the public doesn’t really get exposed to what they do other than when they wake up in the morning and go skiing on the product they helped deliver,” he says. “Groomers are like groundskeepers. If they do a great job nobody notices. It’s only when something’s bad that you start getting complaints.”

The PhatCat began as a snow grooming rodeo before morphing into its current incarnation in 2005. It is divided

First Place Winner of the 2014 PhatCat Challange, Steve Slivinski of Mount Snow Resort pictured on the right. Deb Bernstein of Mount Snow on the left who tied for third with Aaron Hyer (not shown).

into two categories of competition: professional drivers who are currently employed as grooming operators and the PhatCats, general managers and other people in charge of operations for whom grooming is not their primary job.

The pro drivers compete for a top prize of $1,000 while the competition’s namesakes duel it out for…well, let’s just say for fun.

“We’ve had PhatCats come in who have never operated a piece of grooming equipment before,” Lawson says. “It’s not as bad as you think,” she adds, laughing.

While the $1,000 grand prize is a

nice reward for the pro operators, organizers say the competition is more about prestige than cash.

“The bragging rights are a neat element to this,” Sale says. “By doing this the industry is trying to recognize these guys and the skills they offer and show their skills to their peers. It’s really about getting recognition amongst that group.”

The PhatCat is held in a different location each year meaning the course changes slightly from year to year depending on the local terrain. The course is designed to test the overall proficiency

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Drivers have 15 to 20 minutes to complete the actual course and use machines provided by Prinoth and Pisten Bully.

of drivers and includes a slalom course with tight corners; a blade-to-grade component which requires grooming a chairlift unloading ramp; and a straight pass which evaluates a driver’s to create a smooth snow surface.

Prior to the actual competition, operators in both categories have to conduct a pre-op checklist of the machine they are using. Each driver starts off with 100 points and receives a deduction of five or 10 points for every infraction noted including something as minor as a faulty headlight.

Each driver has approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete the actual course which challenges them on every-

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thing from their ability to leave a clean path to maneuvering a ball on their blade while traversing up a mountain.

One of the newer features of the PhatCat is a terrain-based challenge which was added to the competition a few years ago.

“The idea of incorporating the terrain-based challenge is really to highlight the fact that grooming operators do more than just smooth out the snow.

They’re integral to the whole operation across the resort,” Sale says.

“This year we want to mix it up a little bit and have these guys build a snow feature that is actually used in the teaching of snowboarding and ski-

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

ing. They will need to build and clean up that feature as part of their time on the course.”

Larson says judging is conducted by a group of industry experts which includes manufacturing representatives and resort employees. Each driver is accompanied by a judge during their portion of the competition.

Recent winners include Elia Hamilton of Peak Resorts, Nate Yingling of Canyons Resort and Dan Cherkis of Mount Snow. Interestingly, there has never been a repeat winner in the pro category. Sale says that could be due to a number of factors including driver turnover, availability and the location of the contest.

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The 2015 PhatCat Challenge will take place Jan. 20 at Killington Resort in Killington, Vermont as part of the two-day NSAA conference and tradeshow. Registration can be done online at the NSAA’s website at www.nsaa.org.

Registration opens in mid-November and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Operators must be registered to attend the trade show and conference to be eligible to compete in the PhatCat. Larson says participation in the competition has to be capped at 20 for the sake of expediency. “It’s more of a timing issue. To get everybody though in one day we really need to limit,” she says.

Sale says participation in the event

“ The idea of incorporating the terrain-based challenge is really to highlight the fact that grooming operators do more than just smooth out the snow.”

– Earl Sale

tends to fluctuate from year to year and depends largely on the location. The event has traditionally attracted its largest numbers in eastern locales, he adds.

“We typically have more participation in the East by virtue of the location and the ease of participating. (But) we try and encourage as many drivers from as many different areas as possible to participate,” he says.

Larson says as participation in the PhatCat has grown over the years so has awareness of the event and what it’s about. More and more people know it’s happening and want to be part of it, she says.

“It does have a lot more recognition now. People will say ‘So-and-so was PhatCat from whatever year’ when they see them at the tradeshow. The bragging rights that come with it are really big.” ❃

MORE ONLINE!

You can check out the competition yourself by visiting snowgroomingmag.com/ PhatCatChallenge

snowgroomingmag.com | Issue 6 | SNOW GROOMING

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The Lite Trax 1100 dhc Groomer and the Lite Trax 1100 d2 Groomer provide the comfort and flexibility of a large groomer as well as agility that is second to none, all within a small footprint.

The Lite Trax 1100 d4 provides transportation for people and supplies to remote locations, as well as providing grooming capabilities. These compact, low ground pressure vehicles are powered by a Kubota Turbo Diesel engine and are hydrostatically driven to provide unsurpassed control and maneuverability. They are easy to operate, comfortable to ride in, and easy to maintain.

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“ It’s really an upgrade for everybody… the biggest upgrade in the park scene in the last six years.”

– Dennis McGiboney 14

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

Left and Center: The straight edge defines cuts needed for terrain parks finessing. Right: The strap bracket also comes equipped on the Park Pro.

Raising the Bar Recently unveiled PistenBully Park Pro offers a host of new features for building a better terrain park.

By: Mark Halsall

S

ince its official unveiling earlier this year, the PistenBully Park Pro has seen an enthusiastic response from terrain parks across North America.

“It’s off the charts, actually,” says Dennis McGiboney, vice-president, sales, North America for Kassbohrer, manufacturer of the PistenBully. “It’s really an upgrade for everybody…the biggest upgrade in the park scene in the last six years.”

This reaction is perhaps not surprising, considering customer input was integral in the Park Pro design. “We had a focus group of some of the top parks in the world, not only in North America but in Europe as well, to get input into what’s important and what’s

not,” says McGiboney. “We said, ‘OK, it’s time to move forward — what features do we need on this machine to take you guys into the future?’”

Central to these discussions was the front blade – the major instrument for terrain park builders. The range of motion for the Park Pro blade has been increased (extending now from 88 to 102 inches) and the push frame has been reconfigured so there’s less snow and ice buildup.

Then there’s the SwitchBlade2, a new front blade design that includes a taller, stronger blade screen for moving snow guns, rails or large boxes. The wings are six inches wider, enabling the blade to carry more snow and for it to be moved in tighter to the feature for precision

work. The wing ends have been squared for straight edge cutting. Both wings can be easily extended on the fly to create a perfect straight edge for back blading.

The SwitchBlade2 design also features foldable tines for moving rails and boxes, a back blade cutting edge, a built-in receiver on the blade face, and chain and strap brackets.

McGiboney says getting – and acting on – feedback from terrain park groomer operators was critical. “They want the blade wider. They want square ends on it to cut the features that reduce the handwork. They want a different push frame on the front that doesn’t build up ice and pushes the blade out further, so they can see better to do this fine, detailed work,” he says.

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“ We’ve incorporated several new features that increase the ability to build a terrain park. It’s easier for the driver, he can do it quicker, he can do more, and he can do it in a better fashion.”

– John Glockhamer

John Glockhamer, Kassbohrer’s marketing manager for North America, says, “We try to give them the tools to really create a very exacting feature.”

Alpine Flex Tiller One such tool is the Alpine Flex Tiller. In standard execution it is used to churn out seamless corduroy. The Alpine Flex on the Park Pro has incorporated some additional features. It is steerable side to side from any height, the tiller has one-touch, up and down side finishers, track and tiller fenders, and an innovative flex lock feature with one-touch activation.

“The tiller flexes to follow terrain better, but in terrain parks sometimes you want a very flat surface like on your take-off deck,” says Glockhamer. “From inside the cabin, you can hit a switch and the tiller will lock rigid so you can

16

create your flat surface. You can then hit a switch and it’ll unlock and you can follow the contour again.”

The new, improved blade and implement features on the PistenBully Park Pro mean fewer man-hours are required to build all those breath-taking jumps, jibs and pipes that snowboarders crave.

“When you see those big features, there’s a lot of handwork there,” says McGiboney. “People are out there with chainsaws and rakes and shovels – it’s not uncommon to have two or three guys doing the handwork on one of those to provide the aesthetics that you see in an ad. When you put all these features together on the Park Pro, it reduces the manual labour hours required.”

McGiboney says the flexibility and additional capabilities of terrain park groomers like the PistenBully Park Pro

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

The alpine Flex Tiller is steerable side to side, has one-touch, up and down side finishers, track and tiller fenders, and flex lock capabilities.

are turning heads throughout the ski industry. He points out that in the Far West there is a growing trend to purchase park machines for use in standard trail grooming.

“The thing is, you just have so many more options available on the Park Pro than you do on a standard groomer.

Mountain operation managers are recognizing the versatility of park machines and are finding them beneficial in fleet grooming as well.”

The PistenBully Park Pro also promises better handling, with a 17:1 ratio final drive that provides more torque and more pushing power. There’s also a new suspension system that provides a smoother ride, better climbing and a longer life for the machine.

Operator Comfort Crucial Comfort is also key. Operators will relish the new ergonomic design of the Park Pro joystick and its precision controls for the blade, tiller, engine throttle, wipers and other operations.

“You have the steering controls for the tractor on your left-hand side and

New Ergonomic Design of joystick and precision controls for the blade, tiller, engine throttle, wiper and other operations, right at your fingertips.

you have the controls for the blade and the implements on your right-hand side,” says McGiboney. “Your hands never come off the controls and you can actually pivot the seat 15 degrees to make it easier to look over your shoulder to see what’s behind you.”

There are numerous other improvements in the Park Pro cab aimed at enhancing the operator experience, like an upgraded music system, Bluetooth capability for hands-free communication, and power mirrors.

The LED screen is bigger with all diagnostics at the touch of a hand.

Most importantly, a premium driver’s seat comes complete with air suspension, air lumbar support, a swivel base, and anti-slip microfibre upholstery.

According to McGiboney, this special fabric helps hold operators in place when they’re working in steep terrain.

“It’s easy to slide in but it’s difficult to slide out,” he says.

McGiboney notes all these improvements add up to a better experience for terrain park builders. “If you’re working 14 hours a night in this machine,

really small things become important to the drivers,” he says. “Take the power mirrors. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s a really big deal to a guy building terrain features.”

Glockhamer agrees: “We’ve incorporated several new features that increase the ability to build a terrain park. It’s easier for the driver, he can do it quicker, he can do more, and he can do it in a better fashion.” ❃

THE MOST VERSATILE GROOMER

Soucy Track’s track systems are the most versatile grooming option out there. With our ingenious four-track system, your tractor will get the traction, flotation, and comfort you need for grooming your trails.

www.soucy-track.com snowgroomingmag.com | Issue 6 | SNOW GROOMING

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The Destoy 3D system is more precise than other design systems and is easy to use.

Destoy takes Terrain Park building to another level Through GPS tracking and 3D Design, Destoy’s new technology for building and maintaining Terrain Parks is grooming the way to new advancements.

By: Jim Timlick 18

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

“ You’re going into the season with (everybody in) the snowmaking department on the same page...there’s no question about what you’re doing or why.”

Here is an example of a GPS output file built by Destoy for Windell’s Camp, in Whistler, BC, Canada.

– Caleb Hamilton

O

n the surface, farming and terrain park building don’t seem to have much in common. In fact, you’d likely be hard pressed to find two more disparate endeavours.

A family-owned business in Auburn, Maine has managed to find a connection and it could radically transform the way terrain parks are built.

Destoy Terrain Parks has developed a GPS software system that uses Google Earth and computerized 3D modelling to allow users to plan, develop and build their ideal park. The main component of the system is Cruizer II, a precision guidance system originally designed for agricultural applications.

Destoy co-owner and president Caleb Hamilton says he and his partners came up with the idea for the system a few years ago after chatting with a snowcat operator at a cutters camp.

He was using the Cruizer unit, which was developed by Raven Industries, to lay straight lines after using it at a farming job the previous summer.

Hamilton and Co. – his brothers Bentley and Gabe and partner Kyle Bradley – quickly realized the GPS technology could do much more and began imagining ways it could be used to design terrain parks.

Hamilton had already been dabbling in park designs using SketchUp, a 3D modelling software system, but the system was somewhat limited. After learning the Cruizer GPS unit had an output for Google Earth he quickly realized it could be used in combination with SketchUp to shape terrain and overlap that design on an actual 3D map of the area that includes all of its features.

The process begins by creating a reference map using the GPS unit which

Hamilton says provides the Destoy team with a baseline for the park. They then capture and upload images of all of the park’s features, take measurements and conduct an inventory of all of the park operator’s snowmaking equipment. Once all of the features have been catalogued, Destoy’s design team can cut and paste them onto a blank trail.

It usually takes about six to eight weeks to complete the design phase, according to Hamilton. The final stage is the actual build itself which Destoy assists with.

“It’s a really easy program to use. I’m totally self-taught,” he says. “It’s just like any other cut-and-paste (system). The nice thing is when you cut and paste a rail into the park it automatically lines up with the park.”

Hamilton says the beauty of the Destoy 3D system is that it is far more

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“ The days of us getting the measuring tape out and going up and down the hill marking stuff are kind of over with.”

– Logan Stewart

Screen shots of Destoy’s system that provide snow values such as depth, angles allowing building and maintenance to be more efficient than traditional methods.

precise than other design systems and tells resort operators what they can and can’t achieve with their resources.

“Now we know if we’re overstepping what their commitment is or if we’re under what they are willing to commit and can adjust it based on when they want to have it open, how much snow (they can make) and the money they want to spend,” he says.

“This system gives us a way to say this is what it’s going to truly take to build your park, your snow values, your estimated snow-making (time) and we also give them estimated cat hour times based on our personal experience.”

Hamilton says another advantage of the system is that it is designed to make terrain parks more efficient.

“You’re going into the season with (everybody in) the snowmaking department on the same page. The grooming manager knows how many cat hours

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you need. No one’s left in the dark and everyone’s on the same page. There’s no question about what you’re doing or why,” he says.

In addition to increased efficiency, the Destoy system provides enhanced accountability by providing precise numbers for everything from snow values to jump sizes.

“Everyone is afraid of attaching values and numbers to terrain parks because there’s no way to maintain them or know what those numbers are,” Hamilton says.

“With this system every time you go down a landing you know what the angle is and you know that… everything you’re building is inline and flows properly. You’re not overbuilding either because you can use it to qualify your snow values. You know how much snow you have. You’re not ripping anything down to the dirt. You know you’re

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

leaving the proper amount of base inbetween features.”

Because most of the technology the Destoy system uses already existed in one form or another, it’s allowed the company to remain lean and mean.

The only changes required were to the Cruizer unit’s software to include information such as real time snow depth and course-over-ground.

Hamilton says he and his partners have been encouraged by positive feedback they have received from the terrain park operators they have worked with.

“People love it. It’s the next level of (terrain park design). Once you start using it you don’t ever want to go back.

It makes everything so much more efficient and the quality of everything I’m building is far beyond what you can do with the naked eye,” says Hamilton, who has been working closely with Windells ski and sports camps.

Groomer Operator using Snow Navigation to perfect and finesse.

One of Hamilton’s first customers was Timberline, a year-round ski area and resort located near Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. Hamilton has worked at the ski area for a number of years as a groomer and park operators quickly became interested in his GPS system after learning about it.

Timberline has been using the system for the past two years and mountain operations manager Logan Stewart says its “awesome.”

“The days of us getting the measuring tape out and going up and down the hill marking stuff are kind of over with,” he says. “Now one guy can go in a cat can go out on the hill by himself, mark an

area, do the mapping by himself, get all his waypoints done and know exactly where stuff is going to be built.

“It takes a lot of the guesswork out (of it). Knowing exactly where that stuff is going and not having to guess where… is huge for us.”

In addition to allowing grooming staff to do their job even in bad conditions and poor visibility, Stewart says the Destoy system has allowed them to be far more efficient. A half-pipe wall which once took a couple of days to build can now be completed in less than a day, he says.

Still, Hamilton admits his company has encountered resistance from some

quarters as “no one’s really bitten the GPS bullet yet.” He’s optimistic that is about to change.

“I think the bubble is about to burst on GPS, whether it’s us or some other system,” he says.

“People are starting to understand this is the future and every other industry on the planet that runs equipment has some type of technology like this in their equipment, it’s just we’re a little behind the curve.” ❃

MORE ONLINE!

To see a 3D Fly Through of Destoy’s work at Blue Mountain, visit snowgroomingmag.com/ destoyflythrough

snowgroomingmag.com | Issue 6 | SNOW GROOMING

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Tiller wing parts built by PIM.

PIM’s Polyurethane Revolution Re-equipping the snow grooming industry one polyurethane part at a time.

By: Jim Timlick

S

tephen Foglio’s job can sometimes be similar to that of a high school science teacher.

As North American business development manager for PIM (Polyuréthane Industriel Moulé) Foglio is not only responsible for developing a client base, he has also been tasked with educating those same people about the merits of the company’s line of polyurethane snow grooming products.

While the French-based company has had a presence in Europe since 1981, it only decided to explore the North American market in 2012. Because polyurethane snow products are still so new to this market, it’s meant PIM has had to

work hard to educate potential customers about their true potential.

“It was a huge educational undertaking to help educate some (parts) of the market on what polyurethane actually is,” Foglio says.

“Polyurethane is a molded plastic so it’s poured into a mold and it sinks into the mold and then cools at room temperature. You then have a very pliable product that has a lot of properties and characteristics that are like rubber but more durable, a lot more durable. The people who use polyurethane really love (it).”

The company’s snow equipment division, PIM Snow, manufactures a number of different products including cutting

“ You then have a very pliable product that has a lot of properties and characteristics that are like rubber but more durable, a lot more durable.”

– Stephen Foglio

edges for plows, tiller wings and extensions for snow grooming machines, and pulleys and rollers for ski lifts at its facility near Lyon, France. For now, the company’s primary focus in North America is on cutting edges and tiller wings.

Foglio says one of the biggest misconceptions about polyurethane products is a perceived lack of durability.

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...the company’s polyurethane products typically cost between 20 and 40 per cent less than those produced by original parts manufacturers.

The fact of the matter, he says, is that they are every bit as durable as those made by original equipment manufacturers. In the case of the company’s cutting edges, they have a Shore rating of 92, which is comparable to the hardness of a hydraulic O-ring or the wheels on a skateboard.

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PIM offers a variety of polyurethane products including Cable car rollers.

“It’s the same thing (as original equipment). It’s the same process, the exact same process. We use the highest grade of polyurethane out there. It’s all from BASF. It’s a mixture of three different chemical compounds that you put together to make polyurethane,” he says, adding a polyurethane tiller wing is more likely to fall off than wear out.

While PIM is still new to North America, it has a huge presence in Europe. It sells tiller wing parts to AZTEC, a French snow grooming machine manufacturer, as well as spare parts for Kassbohrer and Prinoth machines. They are available in a variety of different colours and hardnesses.

Foglio says the biggest advantage PIM parts has going for them is cost

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

savings. He says the company’s polyurethane products typically cost between 20 and 40 per cent less than those produced by original parts manufacturers.

In the case of a tiller wing, which can cost between $1,500 and $1,800, that can mean a savings of as much as $700 per unit. Multiply that by three or four tiller wings for each piece of grooming equipment during a season and it can add up to a significant savings for a terrain park operator.

“It’s huge,” Foglio says.

Another key advantage to polyurethane products is that they come in a variety of lengths and sizes. In the case of tiller wings, they can be as long as 16 feet and can be segmented with up to four or five different segments.

Cable Car Roller

Lateral Snow Comb

Tiller Wings

Tiller Wings

Cutting Edges

Tiller Extensions

Ski lift pick up liners are also available from PIM.

Polyurethane parts built for all makes and models of groomers Now available in North America

• Tiller wings • Tiller extensions • Cutting edges • Track wheels PIM also manufactures: • Cable car rollers • Custom polyurethane parts for any application

Call today to discuss your parts needs or visit: snowgroomingmag.com/PIMcomparison for more information.

Stephen A. Foglio Business Development Director Indianapolis, IN 46220 USA

Foglio says PIM can even custom-make an item for a specific piece of equipment, from a cutting edge for a plow to tracks for a snow grooming machine.

“Say you have two or three different plows. Every time you want to change one of those blades you have to drill holes in the polyurethane…to line up the lag bolts. If you send us the product dimensions and the size we can make them perfectly designed so you can take off the old one and you snap this one right on,” he says.

CEO Christophe Ray says he is pleased with the reception his company and its products have received in North America to date. He says PIM is committed to boosting its presence here because “(North America) is a huge market as far as snow removal and snow groomers.” ❃

Cell: +1 317 550 6199 E-mail: s.foglio@pim.fr www.pim.fr

Cutting edges for any make or model of groomer blade or other implements are also available.

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COMMANDER ATV & UTV Track Systems Important Years

About Commander

The Commander brand was founded May 28th 2005. Its main goal was to offer ATV riders, track systems to maximize the use of their ATV. In January 2006, Commander introduces their very first track system, known as the Wide Track.

Commander brought two new products to the market in 2010. A set of tracks designed for year round use and a kit developed specifically for the growing market of UTV vehicles.

Even more to come! What can be expected until the end of 2014? New exciting and revolutionary products, a redesigned website and the introduction of Commander products to the Russian market through Kimpex Russia.

The COMMANDER track kits are everything you could wish for in terms of floatation, design and performance.

Famous for their versatility and resistance, the COMMANDER track kits offer an unmatched traction no matter whether you are riding in snow, mud or any other type of terrain. Whether you prefer UTVs or ATVs, use it for work or for fun, the COMMANDER track kits will safely take you where you never thought of going with your tires.

COMMANDER. FOR THE POWERSPORT ENTHUSIASTS, THE THRILL SEEKERS AND THE PERFECTIONISTS OF THIS WORLD.

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SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

Visit us:

commandertrackkit.com

Evolution of the track systems 2006: WIDE TRACK

The Wide Track was designed for ATV use in winter conditions. Its construction with a plastic slider shoe provides an excellent performance in the snow. Its UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight polyethylene) frame offers a great resistance at a lower weight.

2010: WTX, TREX 2.0, TREX UTV

The WTX was introduced to the Commander Track family.

It’s an evolution of the Wide Track and the WTX offers an optimized tread pattern for incredible traction in the snow The Trex 2.0 was the first Commander Track kit developed for four seasons use. The internal traction sprocket, the slideless system and heavy duty steel frame make the Trex the perfect system for extreme conditions. Meanwhile, the Trex ATV, features the same specifications as the Trex 2.0 but is specifically designed for side by side vehicles.

2011: TREX 3.0.X

In addition to the internal traction sprocket, slideless system and heavy-duty steel frame, the TREX 3.0 is equipped with a track specifically developed to perform in all seasons.

2012: XTR

This new generation of ‘‘Commander’’ is the best there is when it comes to 4-season systems. This new XTR is above all a proven design with well- researched ‘‘pallet’’ type tracks giving optimum performance in both summer and winter seasons. The oversized tubes provide total reliability while keeping the light weight needed in deep snow. Its large circumference sprocket increases the ATV’s speed.

2014: WS4, WSS4

The WS4 is the logical continuation of our “Commander” series, with reduced driving effort, decreased vibration and same traction capability as always for the best performance in all 4 seasons. Of course, the same sturdiness is maintained through a 2.5” tubular frame and an overall lightweight necessary to surf on snow. The WSS4 is the UTV version of the WS4. It offers the same characteristics as its predecessors but with robust design to support the weight of side by side vehicles and offer a greater flotation surface.

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You’ll like what we leave behind!

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Building Goliath Arena Snowparks Explains the Construction of the Camp of Champions By: Jessica Antony

Grooming Terrain Parks is the most prestigious job for a groomer operator. It takes more finesse and ultimate control of the machine to get the perfect results.

W

ith twenty years of experience building snowparks and a passion for snowboarding, Steve Petrie certainly knows what it takes to design, develop, and construct a topof-the line park. His company, Arena Snowpark Construction Ltd., was in fact responsible for the construction of the half pipe in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. We spoke with him

about what it takes to build a park from start to finish.

Petrie started in the industry in 1994, working for Blackcomb Mountain in vehicle maintenance – his first real exposure to snowcats. “After working on the cats for a few months and getting the opportunity to drive them around the shop yard a bit, I realized that this was something I could see myself doing,” he explained. “Plus, I wanted a job that I

“ I saw an opportunity to offer the knowledge and building skills I had gained to other resorts and event organizers.”

– Steve Petrie

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Overall, a snowpark like the Camp of Champions would take between 120 and 160 hours of snowcat time to construct – no simple task!

Creating the perfect angles are key to the success of jumps.

Pushing and building the snow in order to get an accurate height is very important to the flow of the park.

could do at night so I could snowboard every day.” When one of the new operators broke his leg skiing, Petrie got a chance at a job. “It was also the first season that Blackcomb had the new pullbehind Pipe Dragon. None of the other operators were very keen on running it so I took over that job because I was into pipe riding and wanted it be perfect.”

For eleven years Petrie worked at Whistler Blackcomb building the parks and pipes in the winter, and working on the glacier in the summer. In 2004, he decided to venture out on his own and started Arena Snowparks. “I saw an opportunity to offer the knowledge and building skills I had gained to other resorts

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and event organizers,” he explained.

This November will mark ten years for Arena Snowparks, and in that time they’ve worked on a vast number of prestigious events, including building the half pipe for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and building the snow cross/ski cross for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. They’ve also been involved in other events, such as the World Championships, World Cups, Arctic Challenge, and their work with the Camp of Champions summer snowpark.

The park that Arena Snowparks builds for the Camp of Champions is located on the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Mountain. The Camp is a summer snow-

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boarding and skiing camp with sessions that run from five to twenty-nine days.

It’s where a number of professional snowboarders and skiiers – including X-games medalists and Olympians – have gotten their start, secured sponsorship, or received the expert coaching they needed to advance to the next level in their sport.

The Camp boasts expert coaches and one of the most well-designed summer parks – a design that Arena Snowparks is responsible for.

The construction takes about two to three weeks to complete, from start to finish. “We start with a blank canvas of snow. We send the resorts a snowmaking plan ahead of time and they

Getting the custom built rails up the slopes is done with the help of a helicopter.

use their own crew and equipment to make the snow. We usually spend the first week farming as much snow off the ridges as we can and moving it towards where the features will be. After that we start to form the jumps and rail platforms with the snowcats, working on the basic shape. As we get closer to the start of camp, about a week out, we have the dig crew come and work with the cats on installing the rails and boxes and shaping jump take-offs. We fly most of the rail up with a helicopter, and the rest of the gear we truck up to the snow line then take it the rest of the way with snowcats. With jumps we have some specs we’ve developed

over the years to use as a guideline, but in the end every situation can be slightly different so we use our judgement on what style of jump, length, and height will work in the given terrain.” After that, Petrie explains, they’re responsible for maintaining the park and rebuilding the features as the snow melts. When they’re making changes to an existing terrain park, there are additional variables at play. “When making changes to a park we would consider things like how the park flows, the skill level of riders that will be using the park, what kind of features can be put in to offer riders options to progress and improve, and most importantly

we design the park so its easy for the snowcats to move around and perform the daily maintenance.” Overall, a snowpark like the Camp of Champions would take between 120 and 160 hours of snowcat time to construct – no simple task!

Given that it’s such a huge undertaking, with a number of variables – including some serious machinery – safety is a key factor for Arena Snowparks. “We make sure that anyone working around the cats is aware of what we’re up to and not to assume the operator can see them,” Petrie explains. “You must make eye contact with the operator before moving around the cat.” Additionally, Petrie and his crew

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always give the dig crew and other staff working on the hill a briefing about working around snowcats, particularly winch cats. “We always announce over the radio when we’re working with the winch cat, as well as put out signs and flashing lights.”

Snow is obviously a very important factor when building a snowpark, thus the snowmaking process is key. Petrie and his team spend a great deal of time planning the volumes and placement of snow before they start building, in order to optimize the process. Some resorts, he explains, will even begin doing some earth work in the summers in order to save on the amount of snow they will require to open the park in the winter.

The kind of equipment used is also incredibly important to the job. “When we’re building we prefer to use snow-

“ When we’re building we prefer to use snowcats that are specifically designed to work in snowparks.” cats that are specifically designed to work in snowparks, like the Pisten Bully Park or the Prinoth BISON X,” Petrie explained. “These machines have a wider range of movement in the blade and tiller, plus some other features that make them more suitable for park builds. We also do a lot of winching on jump landing and in half pipe builds. I would say that ninety percent of the work is done with the cats – the hand shapers come in and do the finishing touches.”

The process of building a snowpark is clearly no easy feat, and Arena Snowparks has the years of expertise necessary to get the job done right. From design and planning – including dirt work,

snowpark site and location analysis, snowmaking planning and equipment requirements – to construction – including snow management and snowmaking placement, snowpark and event maintenance, and snowcat and maintenance training – to the steel and tools you’ll need – including rails, boxes, rakes, shovels, and even custom fabrications from their fully-equipped fabrication shop – Arena Snowparks can turn your snowpark dreams into a reality. ❃

MORE ONLINE! For more information visit snowgroomingmag.com/ arenasnowparks

Arena Snow Parks experts (Left to Right); Steve Petrie/Founder-President, Carl Fortin/Shaping Crew Supervisor, Lucas Ouellette/Project Manager.

Aluminum and Steel Track Grousers available for most makes and model machines.

Hans Hall custom and OEM Style replacement parts.

Rubber Fishbone grouser designed for Snowmobile and Nordic grooming.

Nut Rails are designed for use with BR350 semiclosed grousers.

Track belts keep your grousers in line while in operation. With proper tensile strength and design Hall belts will last and perform at the highest level.

Ideal for crossing roads and sensitive turf areas such as golf courses.

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What Do All of These Have in Common?

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Tire Guides are where your bogie wheels roll through. Hall offers Aluminum, Plastic and steel Guides depending on machine and track.

To get more info, go to www.snowg answers roomingmag.com/ hanshallparts

You can get them all at Hans Hall USA or at any Hans Hall North American Distributor. Call or Email Andy at 801-820-7700 or andy@hallusa.net www.hans-hall.com

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SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

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Making the Most of your Hill Tube Shaper and the Tube Slide Craze By: Jessica Antony Tube Shaper implement allows two tube slides to be groomed in one pass.

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Tubes slides being developed and laid out via software that allows you to see the result before building begins.

I

n order to capitalize on the popularity of tubing as a winter recreational activity, Cory Bradburn and Cale Neff launched Tuber Shaper LLC, in April 2012. They invented and developed a snow-grooming implement that makes the construction and grooming of snow tubing lanes – which can actually be applied in the summer as well – simple and efficient.

Tube Shaper may be a young company, but it has grown successfully in a very short period of time. Bradburn explains that he and Neff started the business after going to see a tubing implement that Ober Gatlinburg had developed to construct a two-lane tube slide. “It was a complex piece with a power tiller and expensive to produce, but worked very well. I started to work on a less complicated version of Cale’s original version.

Then it came to a point where Cale and I worked together to come up with the implement we have now. It was all started by the need to put more lanes in a limited space. It basically doubles the amount of lanes you would have in the same amount of space.”

Constructing a tube slide can be time consuming, and the maintenance required can put stress on snow grooming staff. Tubing hills vary, of course,

depending on their size. Jason Sawin, Western and Midwest U.S. Snowmaking Sales for CHS Snowmakers, explains, “the big tubing hills with a large population base put as many lanes in as possible and continue to install conveyor lifts to meet demands. The lanes have typically been formed with a full-sized snowcat (about 18’ wide) and maybe a smaller snowcat (10’ to 12’ wide). The operator pushes snow up to create berms.” Tube Shaper, however, can make this process much less time consuming by allowing groomers to double the number of lanes without doubling the number of passes a snowcat has to make – it will actually create two lanes in one pass. While any tubing lane will inevitably form a layer of ice, and traditionally a tiller is needed to clean it up, the Tube Shaper will provide the same results.

Whether the Tube Shaper or just a full size snowcat tiller is used to construct the lanes, the tube hill must include a safety margin along the hill and the outrun, along with a counter slope to stop the tubes. Snowmaking also necessarily requires width to keep the snow in a workable area. Sawin explains, “if someone only wants two lanes with a Tube Shaper, they should have at least 30’ to 40’ to be able to work

the snow. A full-sized cat will need 50’ to 60’ to accomplish this.” A four-lane hill would be much the same, although would require less space along the edges for snowmaking. Each lane, for winter snow tubing, should be approximately 1000’ or more in length, and generally only needs to be maintained once per day, depending on use, speed and temperatures.

So, you’re interested in drawing people to your hill with tube slides – how do you go about it? The actual construction of the tube slides is met with a

Tube Shaper can make the process much less time consuming by allowing groomers to double the number of lanes without doubling the number of passes a snowcat has to make. number of variables, which are easily navigated with some careful planning.

First, you will need the benefit of favorable weather conditions. It needs to be cold enough to both make a lot of snow

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Orange mSnow is made from recycled construction barrels and is fully-recyclable.

and keep that snow around. You also need to be mindful of your water supply, power supply, any zoning issues that need to be resolved, hill aspect (a northfacing hill is ideal for shade), and finally the partnership of your local community.

“Once these are taken care of, then the final design can be completed,” Sawin explains. “This includes the slope grade, the outrun, the lift, the lodge, tube storage, snowcat, snowmaking system design, insurance secured and other issues that inevitably arise.” The slope of your slide can vary when it comes to winter tubing – steeper slopes can produce speeds of up to 50mph. Sawin notes, “As a tube increases speed, the danger factor goes up, but also the fun factor! It is up to the

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operator to determine how much of a risk they want to take. I would suggest in the 30 to 40 mph range.” It is also key to hire personnel for the construction of your slide before breaking ground – be sure to secure all of the material you will need, along with your equipment, such as the lift, lighting, snowmaking equipment and a snowcat, well in advance. Having good staff who are properly trained is key to opening day success. Sawin notes “in the first couple of years there will always be changes. Just make sure the guest is happy and meet the needs of as many as possible including young and old.”

Financial considerations are also important, but Sawin explains that while the cost of a two-lane slide and four-

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

lane slide are essentially the same, costs will depend on a number of variables around location. “Someone that relies on natural snow, owns the land, has the water rights, a good slope maybe able to do this for $100,000. If someone has to buy the land, buy the water, install snowmaking and everything else is brand new, it can range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 or more. The owner needs to develop a business plan and determine how much they can put into it and how long they want to have mSnow Bumper Tubing provides an operations layout prior to installation.

Summer tubing can use the same hill, the same lift and the same tubes as winter, thus increasing revenue and maintaining staff year round. an ROI.” Insuring a tube slide can cost somewhere in the range of $20,000, but again this depends on variables of the hill itself. Being prepared and aware ahead of time of the factors involved in constructing a tube slide is absolutely key. Generally speaking, you can charge between $10 and $20 an hour for tubing, and the addition of concessions can increase your financial profit.

Finally, tube slides are not just for winter, but can be used in the summer as well. Sawin explains, “summer tubing can use the same hill, the same lift and the same tubes as winter, thus increasing revenue and maintaining staff year round. I represent a product called mSnow and we use it for summer tubing called Bumper Tubing.” Summer

tube lanes can be shorter in length than winter lanes – about 300’ to 500’ – and the slope need only be between 12 and 20%. There are a number of summer hills in operation in the Midwest, including Keystone Resort in Colorado, who for the past few years have been making a lot of snow in the winter and reopening in the summer. Scaly Mountain, North Carolina has had a summer hill on an outdoor carpet for several years. “This year,” Sawin explains, “they added mSnow and sped up the two lanes. I was there a few weeks ago and their business has doubled this year!” Lake Lennier, in Georgia, is a brand new operation under construction who have four lanes of Bumper Tubing and are planning on opening

this winter. Red River, New Mexico, also uses a plastic product for their summer tubing and has found success with it. And finally, Liberty Mountain, Virginia, is a ski slope that has been using Snow Flex for the past five years.

Snow Flex, Sawin explains, is being used in Colorado as well, but it uses water and is limited to above-freezing temperatures.

Planning may take time, but the benefits are vast. By capitalizing on tube slides, you are not only drawing people to your hill who may not have the interest in skiing or snowboarding, but encouraging the recreational use of the land for both winter and summer fun, contributing the employment of people in the area, promoting health and wellness through outdoor activity, and endorsing outdoor recreation as a whole! Sawin suggests taking a look at the other tube slides that are in operation in your area and even beyond – they vary depending on location and size, and no two are the same. Seeing what’s out there is a great way to determine what will work best for you. ❃

“The Grooming Professionals”

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Updates can be made in a matter of minutes and immediately accessed by authorized users via their computer or mobile device from anywhere.

A New Tool for Terrain Park Risk Management and Documentation 1RISK discusses their relatively new Terrain Park Management Program that tracks and reports up-to-the-minute data through live-access technology.

By: Jim Timlick

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W

hile there have been numerous advances in skiing and snowboarding equipment over the years, that hasn’t exactly been the case when it comes to terrain park documentation and management tools.

Most managers and staff still rely largely on first-hand visual inspections and mountains of paperwork to keep tabs on maintenance activities at their facilities. Although the system works, it may often be time-consuming, slow to react and labor intensive.

...clients can control the configuration of the system without having to pay for costly and lengthy system upgrades as they have to with rival products.

A Fairfield, Pennsylvania-based risk management solutions company recently introduced a cloud-based software system it says could revolutionize the way terrain park management is handled. The park maintenance

40

system is part of 1RISK’s Terrain Park Management program and allows park crews to track and report various kinds of maintenance data.

Charles Mickley, owner and director of business relationships for 1RISK, says one of the main advantages of his company’s system is that it can provide far more precise information, and in a fraction of the time.

“We all know it’s a fact with paper it (documentation) can be lost or inaccurate. Our system provides the ability for everything to be accurate, up-to-date and to be able to run a report at any time with the most current set-up,” he says.

“When management, park staffers or the ski patrol wants to see what the park looks like currently, that data is all live and up-to-date. They can report on or review that data at any time.”

The 1RISK system is linked to Google Maps and allows users to overlay images of the park features onto a digital map.

Updates can be made in a matter of minutes and immediately accessed by authorized users via their computer or mobile device from anywhere. This can include information on everything from padding around a lift tower or piece of snow-making equipment, to the status of a trail sign. Management, park, grooming, or ski patrol members can access the data anytime and from anywhere and review what the current park set-up looks like or determine when maintenance was performed and

SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

logs were last completed.

“One of the biggest (advantages) is the readability and the live access to data,” Mickley says. “Often it’s a challenge for the people who need that (information) to get to it, such as risk management or ski patrol. The 1RISK solution provides access 24/7 for them to see the most current and up-to-date data which is helpful in a variety of situations.”

One of the system’s most attractive features is its ease of use. Mickley says clients can control the configuration of the system without having to pay for costly and lengthy system upgrades as they have to with rival products.

The 1RISK system was introduced two years ago and has been in use at half a dozen resorts since then. The company expects that number to double or even triple during the 2014-15 seasons as people become more familiar and comfortable with the technology.

“We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback,” Mickley says. “The resorts we work with give us feedback on how they use it. We (then) try and put in… features and enhancements that will work for everybody.

“What we are looking at now is trying to become standardized software that everybody can be using the same way…so there’s a level of consistency when reporting on terrain park activities, which assist the resorts in managing their parks: what they do, how they do things, when they do it.

Mickley acknowledges his company faced some initial skepticism when it introduced the system. “Three years ago going in there was huge reluctance for anybody to use cloud-based systems. It was just the unfamiliarity and the concerns regarding security around cloud-based systems,” he says.

“Now, moving into the third year, pretty much everyone has turned that corner and is starting to look heavily at cloud-based solutions,” he adds. “Now most solutions run from cloud-based systems which is beneficial in many ways. The system doesn’t run at a particular property so if something happens at that property the data is not stored there. It’s backed-up and replicated across the country and it’s secure.”

Mickley says his company continues to engage its industry partners in an effort to determine ways of enhancing the system. As a result of those discussions, 1RISK plans to continue releasing new enhancements or changes to the application throughout the season.

“We’re extremely excited about that. It shows us that people are using it and they want to use it and are giving us lots of ideas,” he says.

One enhancement the company plans to introduce later this season is an integrated dispatch system that will function similarly to a 911 system for mountain and resort operations. It will include a patroller log which will allow a dispatcher to track patrollers and quickly redeploy them to where they may be most needed. It also has an incident dispatch feature which logs the time and location of an incident, how much time was spent at the scene and what resources were needed to respond to that particular incident.

Mickley says the dispatch module will help give users a better understanding of how to respond to similar situations in the future, and what kind of resources may be required.

“That’s what many resorts want…to track the resources and time involved in the dispatch of people, equipment and other resources.”

1RISK plans to begin beta testing the dispatch module at a number of resorts in early 2015 and hopes to introduce a working model in time for the 201516 season.

“Most resorts use some kind of dispatch system, but many are paperbased at this point,” Mickley says.

“What this new product will allow, is the tracking and reporting for a variety of information. How much time did it take to get from the scene to patrol base? What equipment is available at a particular base and where are my inventories? Do I need to move or reallocate resources?

“We’re really excited about it. It’s the most complex piece of software we’ve tried to develop yet. It’s a highly-requested module…(and) we’re going to pour significant resources into this.”

Mickley estimates nearly 70 per cent of his company’s current business is the ski resort and snow sports industry. He expects that to continue into the foreseeable future as the industry continues to demand more and more integrated solutions. ❃

MORE ONLINE!

For more information on 1RISK’s available programs, visit snowgroomingmag.com/1RISKapp

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Hydraulic Fluid Selection Red Giant Oil Weighs In By: Jessica Antony

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ed Giant Oil Company, established in 1910 in the American Midwest, provides high quality lube oil to the farming, rail transport and heavy equipment industries. We spoke with Jay Nenneman, Red Giant’s Lubrication Specialist, about the factors to consider when purchasing hydraulic fluid for your snow and trail groomers.

There are a number of challenges that every groomer and park builder faces when it comes to maintaining equipment and machinery. First, you’re faced with the strain that park terrain puts on your equipment. “These machines are designed to operate at certain elevations and at certain angles and when you take a machine like that and put it into a sixteen- or eighteen-foot half pipe, turn on all of the implements, and start going back and forth, it doesn’t

take long until the hydraulic systems start to overheat,” Nenneman explained.

Hydraulic systems will overheat because you don’t have a long enough duration in one direction for them to cool off. “Another one of the issues that arises is getting a lot of air into these hydraulic systems,” Nenneman warned. “If a pickup tube is in the center of the bottom of the hydraulic tank and then you tip that machine at a forty-five-degree angle, especially with all the implements on board, there’s the possibility that you’re going to suck in air. When you get air in the hydraulic fluid, it stops being effective in the motors, so they start taking on more heat, and it doesn’t take long before the fluid reaches its shear temp.”

Essentially, your fluid will actually thin out, which will add more problems to your system. Nenneman recommends that you check your fluids after running

Nenneman recommends that you check your fluids after running your machine with all the implements you will be using.

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If you can make a conscious decision to choose the same oils, you won’t be creating hybrid fluids, and you’re sticking to a quality perspective across the board. your machine with all the implements you will be using (such as a grooming broom). “If you’re in a hurry and that machine’s got a 100-gallon tank on it, and you throw an implement on it that it doesn’t typically have on a regular basis, that will pull enough fluid out of the tank so that you’re actually running on low oil to start with. You have to make sure you start them up and run them because just starting up isn’t going to make the fluid circulate.”

Secondly, when working on a terrain or snowpark, you can run into drivemotor issues since your machine is never in a neutral position, especially when you’re working in a half pipe. One solution to overheating oil, without

adding additional cooling systems, is to simply go with a thinner oil. “Thinner oil is going to expel heat as quickly as it accumulates heat, and that’s what you want it to do. It needs to be able to absorb heat and expel heat as quickly as possible before it returns. If it’s supposed to be an ISO 46, try a 32 or a 22 that has the right additive pack with no foam in it,” Nenneman recommends.

Finally, an overall preventative measure for fluid-related issues in your machinery is to be mindful of the manufacturer that you’re using across your entire fleet. “When it comes down to it, hydraulic fluids, engine oils, each one of them is a recipe – it’s one part base oil and three or four parts additives

cooked at 175 degrees for four hours,” Nenneman explains. That recipe is essentially the same across brands, but each brand will have small differences.

And those differences can add up if you start mixing fluids. The best way to avoid this, Nenneman suggests, is to “streamline to one manufacturer of fluids, so that you’re not inter-mingling, because there are slight differences between them. If you can make a conscious decision to choose the same oils, you won’t be creating hybrid fluids, and you’re sticking to a quality perspective across the board. That way there’s no question: the quality is even from one machine to the next.” ❃

MORE ONLINE!

For more information on Hydraulic fluid specifications, visit snowgroomingmag.com/ hydraulicfluids

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SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

They’ve got your mountain covered MND Group has the solutions and innovations for your recreational snow based needs By: Jessica Antony

A

major player in the field of mountain infrastructure, MND Group, with three offices in the U.S., is one of the few companies worldwide to provide a range of products and services dedicated to the development, equipping and protection of ski resorts, leisure areas and other mountain infrastructure. MND is your go-to for safety, leisure, ropeways and snowmaking. We spoke with Jay Bristow, MND Group’s General Manager, to get the scoop on their contribution to and influence in the snow grooming industry.

In August 2011, MND America began as a distribution subsidiary of the MND Group that sold TAS (Natural Hazards Control Solutions) and MBS (Mountain innovation and safety design) products to a growing market. Within that first year, Bristow explains, the MND Group became involved in snowmaking and

lift manufacturing by purchasing existing companies. Growing even further, MND Group soon formed TechFun, a company that designs and installs high-adrenaline aerial and downhill leisure facilities, and absorbed a few other existing summer leisure companies. Bristow explains, “for the first two years there was only one technician and I in the U.S. Now we have a manufacturing facility, office and warehouse in Eagle, Colorado; an office and warehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah; and an office and warehouse in New Milford, Pennsylvania. We have nine employees in the U.S. and about four consultants working at any one time.”

MND Group provides solutions and innovations in four major areas of the mountain leisure industry. First, in safety: “we are the world leader in safety equipment for ski areas and ski competitions, and the world leader in

MND Group provides solutions and innovations in four major areas of the mountain leisure industry: safety, leisure, ropeways, and snowmaking. remote avalanche-release systems,” Bristow explains. “We also provide of a full range of rock-fall and avalanche protection systems.” Second, MND Group is a specialist when it comes to outdoor leisure: TechFun provides “turnkey solutions for creating adventure parks” such as zipriders, climbing schools, all-terrain scooters, outdoor urban adventure trails, and aerial ad-

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The key products that SUFAG offers are the Taurus 2.0 Stick Gun, the Street Stick Gun, the Peak 2.0 Fan Gun, and the Access Fan Gun.

venture parks. Third, they lead the market in ropeways: “LST Ropeway Systems are experts in ski lifts and cable transport systems.” Finally, MND Group is a key player in the snowmaking industry: SUFAG, MND’s newest acquisition, provides “the largest range of innovative snowmaking solutions on the market today.” With five manufacturing plants in Europe (France, Germany, and Sweden), eight distribution subsidiaries and fifty distributors worldwide, the MND Group has 300 employees and almost 3,000 customers in forty-nine countries.

Despite their seemingly all-encompassing reach when it comes to the snow grooming industry, MND Group knows their product, knows their customers, and provides the necessary knowledge, expertise, and product. “We offer some of the most efficient and bestdesigned snowmaking machines available today,” Bristow explains. “When an operation efficiently produces quality snow they save time and money. Both of

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these commodities can be used toward slope surface improvements like better grooming equipment. We think operational efficiency effects all snow industries from within, especially the snow grooming industry.”

SUFAG is MND Group’s newest line of products, which was born from the merging of three brands acquired by MND: Snowstar, Areco and Sufag. “We are now offering the widest and most efficient range of snowmaking equipment in the market,” explains Vincent Douillet, SUFAG’s General Manager.

“For each slope, variety of terrain, weather condition, operation conditions and habits, customers will find the rights products to fit their needs.”

The key products that SUFAG offers are the Taurus 2.0 Stick Gun, the Street Stick Gun, the Peak 2.0 Fan Gun, and the Access Fan Gun. The Taurus is the only air/water external mixing snow gun with eight water stages, which allow it to optimize production at any temperature and produce 30% more snow than a regular four-stage stick gun, drastically reduc-

ing snowmaking time. This also makes it an excellent gun for marginal temperatures, as its flow changes by degrees (2 to 9 degrees) instead of steps.

The Taurus is available in a number of versions according to the slope it is to be used on and will produce 56m3/h of snow. With a 360-degree adjustable bracket, the Taurus requires 0.15kW. The Street is the only central jet external-mixing lance with automatic flow modulation, suitable for trails and narrow slopes. Rather than wasting snow outside of the slope, one hundred

percent of the snow produced by the Street can be groomed and used for slope preparation. With three nucleator nozzles and nine central nozzles, the Street produces up to 26m3/h. This stick gun measures five meters tall, with a 360-degree adjustable bracket and requires 0.07kW. The Peak Fan Gun is the most efficient fan gun on the market, with low noise and low energy consumption – it is 15% more efficient than any other compact fan gun out there. It produces massive quantities at even marginal

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temperatures, which allows you to start grooming early in the season to be sure that the slopes are opened on the very first day. With 355 nozzles, this compact, 360-degree adjustable fan gun will produce up to 96m3/h of snow, with an average throw distance of 40 meters.

The Access is a very affordable, lowenergy consumption and low maintenance fan gun, available with 32 nozzles and designed for those situations in which you are working with poor water quality. With the lowest energy

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consumption, yet highest possible performance in snowmaking, the Access will produce up to 55m3/h of snow with an average throw distance of 30 meters, all from a 1450 rpm fan.

But, no matter what your needs, SUFAG ensures that each and every one of their snowmaking machines will meet the highest standards. “All of our fan guns are built with high quality and durable materials,” Douillet explains.

“Rings and drums are manufactured from solid steel, which makes them last virtually forever. Low overhaul

is required, which helps to bring the maintenance costs down.”

The MND Group has five manufacturing companies, eight distribution subsidiaries and a strong presence in all the mountain ranges of the ski world – working with them ensures that you are working with the best. And despite their size, mountain leisure is a passion, not just a job. “We staff all of our offices with proven experts from within the ski industry,” explains Bristow. “MND Group employees consistently offer counsel to our partners looking to improve what

K S I R 1 RISK ent m e g a n RISK Management SoLUTIONS

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SNOW GROOMING | Issue 6 | snowgroomingmag.com

S N O I T SoLU

“ All of our fan guns are built with high quality and durable materials. Rings and drums are manufactured from solid steel, which makes them last virtually forever.

Low overhaul is required, which helps to bring the maintenance costs down.”

– Vincent Douillet SUFAG’s General Manager

they are doing out there. It is what we do best because it is what we know and what we love.” It’s this love for the industry that has really made MND a key player in the field. “We do what we like and we do it well. We all love our work and we enjoy helping industry folks realize the full potential of their operations. Personally, it is very satisfying to put together deals that have everyone leaving the table feeling good and knowing they’ve gotten what they asked for: a fair deal.” ❃

SNOW BUSINESS...IS OUR BUSINESS Track is the Midwest’s source for competitively priced, reliable, new and used snow grooming equipment and vehicles. We offer a wide range of versatile groomers and trail maintenance equipment from top manufactures. We have brought safe and fun, groomed snow trails to thousands of snow sport enthusiasts, including snowmobilers, alpine and cross-country skiers and snowboarders. Whether you have thin snow, hard snow, soft snow, wide trails or narrow trails, we can help you find the snow trail equipment to help you produce a superior trail.

Call 952.888.7372 www.trackinc.com

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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 1RISK...................................................... 50

PIM......................................................... 25

American Track Truck............................ 49

Prinoth................................................... 33

Gilbert Snowgrooming Equipment...... IFC

Red Giant Oils........................................ 44

Hans Hall................................................ 32

Ski Hill Mulcher..................................... 45

Lite Trax................................................. 13

Ski Mountain Supply............................. 11

Lif-Tech................................................... 45

Soucy International............................... 17

Kimpex Commander............................. 27

The Shop Industrial............................... 37

Mattracks............................................... 41

Track Inc................................................. 51

Maxey Manufacturing........................... 28

Tucker Sno-Cat....................................... 45

MND America Group............................IBC

Yellowstone Track.................................. 21

PistenBully.....................................12/OBC

Walker Equipment................................. 22

- © MND Group / Semaphore- -©03MND / 2014 Group / Semaphore - 03 / 2014

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