Rokytnice, Czech Republic
Located in the Krkonose Mountains on the border between Poland and the Czech Republic, Rokytnice needed a comprehensive, turnkey solution to retrofit pumping stations, install new communication networks, and expand its snowmaking fleet, ensuring quick startup and reliable performance amid increasingly warm early-season conditions.
Objectives and Solutions
Rokytnice is a resort located in the Krkonose Mountains of the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. SMI has worked hard with Rokytnice to finalize and guarantee a quick snowmaking startup on the main trails of the slopes.
After a few tests, and a long collaboration with SMI, the board of directors decided to invest in a two-year project in the summer of 2015. This project retrofits all of the pumping stations and adds a new fleet of snow machines and sticks.
Although Rokytnice has been able to invest in new equipment, they are still running a small fleet of PoleCats that are dated back to 1996.
The project was deemed a success when Rokytnice faced an extremely warm winter earlier this year. The resort was able to open half of its trails during the week of New Year’s due to the performance of the machines and the hard work done by the local crew. The result has been a customized system that fits perfectly with this beautiful part of the world.
SMI Infrastructure Installed
Pumping & Distribution:
Complete retrofit of all existing pumping stations
Automation & Control:
4.5 km hardwired communication link
42 new vaults to serve new trail coverage
Fiber-optic network to pump houses
SmartSnow 6.0 software with enhanced control covering all pump house parameters and 50 new machines
Snowmaking Equipment:
Phase 1 (Fall 2015):
35 Automatic Viking V2s with pneumatic valves
4 Puma 6-meter towers
Phase 2 (Summer 2016):
9 Automatic Viking V2s
1 Silent PoleCat
1 Puma carriage
1 Super Wizzard
Legacy Fleet Integration:
Existing PoleCat fleet (some units dating to 1996) integrated into new control system
Performance & Results
Successfully opened half the trails during New Year's week despite extremely warm winter conditions
Complete turnkey solution from pumping to communications to equipment
Legacy equipment (1996 PoleCats) demonstrates 20+ year SMI equipment longevity
