New England — If you follow the weather, you may have heard that an El Niño pattern will likely be in play for the 2026-27 season. This typically means New England will have warmer-than-average temperatures.
While this wasn’t the defining reason ski racing schools are testing out snow storage systems, the timing could prove critical for training purposes.
Over at Proctor Ski Area in New Hampshire, the short yet steep hill is the racing venue for Proctor Academy’s racing programs and for other colleges (like Boston College) and schools in the region. It also serves as a training spot for Nordic skiers, ski jumpers, and terrain park skiers.
This spring, Proctor installed snow blankets that are covering the snow from this past winter. The goal is to open it in the fall and then open the ski area in early November, whether they have the weather for snowmaking or not.
Burke Mountain Academy
The other testing spot is occurring at the home school for Mikaela Shiffrin.
Vermont Public Radio reports that Burke Mountain Academy received Act 250 approval to install its own snow farming tarps. This system will cover Lower Warren’s Way, which is the racing trail for Burke. The pile could be up to 20 feet tall and 300 feet wide. The pile prevents most of the snow from melting; the goal is to have it ready for early-season training. Since the Academy’s campus is right next to the ski resort, it’ll be a valuable asset in recruiting new skiers. Based on Proctor’s video, it appears that Burke Mountain also installed its snow blanket this spring.
What Are Snow Blankets?
Popularized in Europe, snow blankets (also known as snow storage systems) have helped protect glaciers and also allow ski resorts like Levi and Ruka in Finland to open early. These systems cover the snow, keeping it near or below freezing temperatures. Typically, it allows most of the snow to be preserved.
More American ski resorts are investing in these products. Other recent examples of snow storage systems in use include Ski Apache in New Mexico, Bogus Basin in Idaho, Ski Martock in Nova Scotia, Soldier Hollow (technically Nordic but still relevant) in Utah, Sun Peaks in British Columbia, and Tyrol Basin in Wisconsin.
The surge of snow storage systems being used in North America shows how quickly the ski industry can evolve. The future is now, old man.
Image/Video Credits: Proctor Academy, WMUR, Burke Mountain Resort
