In the first week of December the chance of having snow on the banks of the Rhine is about 100%. The snow specialists from the ski hall JEVER SKIHALLE Neuss are in charge of preparing a perfect track for the FIS World Cup Cross Country.
The experienced track-technicians need more than 3000 cubic meters of snow to build the World Cup track. This amount of snow has to be ready for the first December weekend. But, how does the snow production work, and how is the snow prevented from melting throughout the World Cup weekend?
The answer to this question starts in the Düsseldorf old town, goes over the Rhine and continues a few kilometres further on to Neuss. Germany’s first ski hall, the JEVER SKIHALLE Neuss, has been located here since January 2001 and it was here when the idea for the FIS World Cup Cross Country Düsseldorf was born. Ski hall operator, allrounder, organizes the FIS Cross Country World Cup in Düsseldorf 2009 together with their business partners westdeutscher skiverband e.V. and sportAgentur Düsseldorf. The ski hall in Neuss oversees the entire Düsseldorf World Cup-organization. Moreover, the ski hall is the snow producer and supplier of the event.
Powder snow made only of pure tap water
The snow production for the World Cup starts in about 14 meters in height: All together twelve snow cannons, installed under the ceiling of the snow hall, produce fine fog by spraying pure drinking water without any chemical additives through a high-pressure injector. Ice cold air and pre–cooled water ensure this superfine spray. When the air inside the ski hall is regulated to -4 degrees, the fog crystallizes to form the finest snow from the ceiling down to the ground. When the slope in the ski hall is prepared, the snow has a temperature of -17 degrees. This temperature guarantees the ideal consistency of powder snow.
Snow transport to Düsseldorf
The snow transport to Düsseldorf’s old town is the most challenging organizational aspect of building the World Cup track. Through the entrance of the ski hall - that is only half as wide as a soccer goal - the snow is brought outside to be loaded on trucks. This gateway is the so-called eye of the needle. 3000 cubic meters snow are made from 1500 cubic meters of water. This is the same amount of water used to fill a 50m swimming pool. The arrival of the first snow at the promenade on Thursday December 3rd is the unofficial start of the snow event and the FIS World Cup Cross Country.
Handmade World Cup track
When the snow leaves the ski hall Neuss, it has a temperature of -10 to -14 degrees. Due to its temperature, its fine structure and the very high compression after the completion of the track, the snow isolates itself. The amount of snow, compressed into a 30 cm thick snow cover, supports this isolating effect: Even at high temperatures the snow would only melt slowly. FIS World Cup Cross Country is one of the few definite snow guarantee venues in the World Cup winter. Not every venue can guarantee such a high snow guarantee as proven in 2004: In that year, the second FIS World Cup Cross Country, after Düsseldorf, which took place in Östersund (Sweden) was rapidly transferred to Gaellivare (close to the arctic-circle) as there was no snow in Östersund. “The guarantee of snow in Düsseldorf is so high that a snow guarantee alternative venue was not added into the contract with the International Ski Federation (FIS). Actually this is always part of the FIS event-agreement” says August Pollen, head of the organizing committee for the FIS World Cup Cross Country in Düsseldorf. When the track is finished, the technicians and ski-instructors monitor the races intensely to ensure that the athletes and coaches are satisfied with the quality of the track. Compliments made by Germany´s national coach Jochen Behle and by international athletes are just reward for the many days and especially nights of hard work. Jochen Behle: “The track was even better than last year: very tight, very solid. There weren’t any slushy spots – and the athletes agreed as well”.
Know-how for a perfect track
When the snow leaves the ski dome Neuss, it has a temperature of -10 to -14 degrees. Because of its temperature, its fine structure and the very high compression after the completion of the track, the snow isolates itself. The amount of snow, compressed into a 30 cm thick snow cover, supports this isolating effect: Even at high temperatures the snow would only melt slowly. FIS World Cup Cross Country is one of the few definite snow guarantee venues in the World Cup winter. Not every venue can guarantee such a high snow guarantee as proven in 2004: Here, the second FIS World Cup Cross Country, after Düsseldorf, which took place in Östersund (Sweden was rapidly transferred to Gällivare (close to the arctic-circle) as there was no snow in Östersund. “The guarantee of snow in Düsseldorf is so high that a snow guarantee alternative venue was not added into the contract with the International Ski Federation (FIS). Actually this is always part of the FIS event-agreement” says August Pollen, head of the organization committee for the FIS World Cup Cross Country in Düsseldorf. When the track is finished, the technicians and ski-instructors monitor the races intensely to ensure the athletes and coaches are satisfied with the quality of the track. Compliments made by Germany´s national coach Jochen Behle and by international athletes are just reward for the many days and especially nights of hard work. Jochen Behle: “The track was even better than last year: very tight, very solid. There weren´t any slushy spots – and the athletes agreed as well”.
What happens to the snow after the World Cup?
On Sunday evening when the World Cup races and the snow events are over, the snow is piled up to melt on the lower promenade. The melting water remains absolutely chemical free, as the snow consists only of pure drinking water. The de-icing process is supported by the ploughing up of the compact snow cover, to reduce the effect of the snow lasting for several days.
Find more at: http://www.worldcup-duesseldorf.de
