KarunaNews Story

As global warming threatens ski holidays, some resorts are reviving an ancient trick: saving snow over the summer. At Ruka, Finland, five of its 22 chairlifts are punctuated by two mounds of snow covered in white polystyrene blankets. Each mound will hold about 30,000 cubic metres (1.05 million cubic ft) of snow throughout the summer - enough to spread across three or four downhill slopes, plus the snow park. "About 10 years ago, we could guarantee good snow conditions from early December until April. Now, with snow farming, we can guarantee good ski conditions from early October until the second week of May," says Antti Karava, CEO of Ruka and Pyha Ski Resorts.