Presenting 3 disciplines during a World Cup event means massive work for mountain operation teams at the Stoneham Mountain Resort. Constructing the runs and snow structures necessary to the competition is an art by itself. Veritable construction site, the work begun on January 28th! Here is a quick look at what such a projects means:
For the construction of the boardercross track:
• 5 snow guns ran for more than 100 hours to create the volume needed for all the jumps and bankings;
• 3 Bombardier BR groomers where used to sculpt the track;
• 6 operators relayed themselves during 160 hours to sculpt and finalize the track ;
• Demolition will need an additional 30 hours.
Construction of the GS run needed:
• 5 snow guns during over 75 hours to ensure that both paths where identical;
• 1 groomer for more than 20 hours to guarantee optimal descent conditions.
Finally, construction of the half-pipe will have been to most difficult of all :
• 6 snow guns shot snow for more than 250 hours to produce the necessary volume for production of the pipe;
• Sculpting the shape was done with a Bombardier BR groomer and a Zaugg Pipe Monster 22, only equipment able to shape such an oversized tank. The Pipe Monster was purchased last season by the resort for the amount of 130000$;
• 1 specialised operator will have worked more than 125 hours to finish the half-pipe, wchich opened last February 2nd;
• The half-pipe needs an average 15 hours of maintenance a week .
What is a Zaugg?
The Pipe Monster 22 Zaugg (22 feet) is the only piece of equipment able to sculpt a half-pipe with the necessary height to present FIS sanctioned competitions. Propulsed by a hydraulic technology, it can shape 500 to 800 meters an hour. It is attached to a moving vehicule, a BR 250 by Bombardier. The average weight of such equipment is approximately 1500kg.