At Jay Peak, we’re widely expected to provide the best snow conditions for our guests. We’ve always received a generous amount of natural snow, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll begin testing and reviewing options to upgrade elements of our snow making network. This would be a significant upgrade to our snowmaking capabilities with the addition of several fully automated fan guns that will allow us to make snow more efficiently, even in marginal temperatures. These new guns will represent a leap forward in both performance and environmental sustainability—ensuring more snow, while using less energy. Let’s dive into what makes these fan guns so special.
One of the standout features of these new fan guns is their fully automated technology, which would help us to make more snow even when temperatures aren’t ideal for traditional snowmaking. As the guns reach maximum capacity, they’re capable of flowing up to 200 gallons of water per minute—which would allow us to efficiently cover more terrain with high-quality snow, even in marginal conditions.
With several of these advanced fan guns strategically placed around the base areas of the resort, we will be poised to significantly improve the snowmaking process, allowing for more beginner and intermediate terrain to start the season. These guns are more efficient, faster, and capable of producing better snow, which means longer seasons and better coverage across the mountain for our skiers and riders.
We’ve already received two of our new fan guns this week: a Demaclenko Titan and an SMI Super PoleCat. These two machines come from different manufacturers, offering us a range of capabilities to suit various weather conditions and terrain needs. A third fan gun, from TechnoAlpin, is expected to arrive next week, and we might even have a fourth from HKD in the future. The diversity in technology means we’ll have the flexibility to adapt our snowmaking efforts to optimize performance in a variety of conditions. These three (and potentially four) new fans guns will work in tandem with our existing snowmaking infrastructure to provide consistent and high-quality coverage across the resort.
At Jay Peak, we’re committed to sustainability and reducing our environmental footprint. These new fan guns feature onboard air compressors that require less compressed air than traditional air/water guns, making them more energy efficient. Their efficiency doesn’t stop there—they also come equipped with onboard weather stations that automatically adjust their operation based on real-time temperature and humidity data.
By automatically adjusting water flow based on these conditions, the guns can maximize snow production while using the least amount of resources possible. This means more snow when conditions are favorable and less waste when they aren’t. We expect the result will be both a better experience for our guests and a positive impact on the environment.
With these state-of-the-art fan guns soon to be in place, we’re excited to see them come online for this season and start contributing to even better snow conditions. Whether you’re here for Opening Day or enjoying our slopes during the more winter-forward months, you’ll be able to enjoy the results of this cutting-edge snowmaking technology.
Following our review of the various fan guns this season, we’ll put in place a plan to add more to our snow making fleet for continued improvements to our overall snow making in seasons to come.
