Östersund, Sweden
Östersund hosts the first Biathlon World Cup of the season each November. To be ready for the competition, the city faces the challenge of preparing its infrastructure to produce large volumes of snow under optimal cold conditions. Additionally, they need to transport water across 1,700 meters through complex urban terrain.
Objectives and Solutions
Östersund is the host of the first Biathlon World Cup of the season. To secure top quality tracks regardless of weather condition they store 60.000m3 of snow under a layer of saw dust from February to November over summer. During the first week of November, trucks are bringing all the snow out to lay out 5km of XC tracks.
Making two such big piles take a lot of cold water. Water is taken from The Great Lake next to Östersund city.
Snow Makers has installed a feeding pump station by the lake and a 1.700 meter long pipeline, crossing under 3 rail ways and 6 big roads, moves the water up to the XC-stadium. A fully automated pump system, controlled by SMI Smart Snow, allows the staff to start and run both pump stations and guns on remote.
For the 2022 summer season Snow Makers will extend the snow system with a 3,0km fully automated pipeline with SMI Axis sticks.
SMI Infrastructure Installed
Water Transport & Pumping:
Feeding pump station at The Great Lake
1,700 meter pipeline crossing under 3 railways and 6 major roads
300 m³/h pumping capacity with future capacity of 800 m³/h
Fully automated pump system
Automation & Control:
SMI SmartSnow software and control system for remote operation of pump stations and snowmakers
Snowmaking Equipment:
20 Pumas and PoleCats
80 Axis Sticks
The system has also been extended with a 3.0km fully automated pipeline with additional SMI Axis sticks
Performance & Results:
60,000m³ of snow stored from February to November under sawdust insulation
Opens the first week of November every year, regardless ofthe temperature
5km of cross-country tracks deployed from stored snow using truck transport
