#USA #Boise #Ski Resort #winter tourism #Snow Secure

Snow Secure's Innovative Snow Storage System

Snow Secure is rapidly establishing itself as a game-changing force in the ski resort industry across North America, thanks to its revolutionary snow storage technology. Recently included in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, this innovation allows ski resorts to effectively manage snow storage, helping ensure reliable early-season openings that are crucial for both business and the local economy.

The concept behind Snow Secure is both straightforward and ingenious: create snow under optimal winter conditions, store it without any harmful chemicals or additives using specialized insulation blankets, and then reuse that snow at the beginning of the following season. This method not only maintains the quality of the snow but also preserves it against the typical summer heat, allowing resorts to kick off the ski season on a predetermined date, even when the fall temperatures deviate from the norm.

One remarkable pilot project took place at Bogus Basin, situated near Boise, Idaho, where the resort became the first in the U.S. to utilize Snow Secure technology for snow storage. Initially skeptical about the project's feasibility and cost-effectiveness, Nate Shake, the Director of Operations at Bogus Basin, expressed surprise at the successful outcome. A substantial snow pile—300 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 30 feet tall—was created and covered with insulation blankets. Remarkably, the project yielded an 80% retention rate for snow, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology, contrary to his initial doubts about losing 25-30% of the snow.

This positive result not only assured an early opening for Bogus Basin but also provided a strong financial incentive. The costs associated with the pilot program were unexpectedly economical, enabling the resort to open its ski area with acceptable snow coverage when many others were still unavailable or plagued with uncertainty.

In British Columbia, Canada, Sun Peaks Ski Resort also benefitted from this inventive snow storage technology. By employing the same method of snow preservation, Sun Peaks opened its season in early November, an entire month earlier than rival resorts. Duncan Currie, the Director of Operations at Sun Peaks, remarked on the effective results, noting only a 20% loss of the stored snow, significantly better than the anticipated loss.

Snow Secure’s technology provides resorts a vital competitive advantage, allowing them to attract eager skiers early in the season, thus bolstering regional tourism and supporting local businesses thriving on winter sports enthusiasts.

As ski resorts across the continent look toward the upcoming seasons, Snow Secure continues to gain traction, with operational implementations in various locations, including Tyrol Basin in Wisconsin. New projects are also in the pipeline for Ski Apache in New Mexico and Soldier Hollow in Utah by spring 2026. A typical pilot project has an investment of around $160,000, which guarantees a snow area approximately 1,500 feet long by 120 feet wide, ensuring sustainability and operational reliability for ski resorts.

In conclusion, as climate change continues to affect traditional snowfall patterns, solutions like those offered by Snow Secure will likely become essential infrastructure for ski resorts. This innovative technology is poised to reshape how winter resorts operate, creating not just an immediate advantage, but an opportunity for long-term growth in the winter tourism market. By combining Finnish engineering with hands-on mountain operational practices, Snow Secure is leading the charge towards a more sustainable, reliable winter sports experience. For further insights and resources, the company's media center can be accessed directly through their official website.