While enjoying ski slopes and the beautiful wintry atmosphere, most people have very little understanding about how these pathways are made not only for the wonderful athletic pastime of various winter sports but also for the safety of the people using the trails. A snow groomer is designed to make these passageways smooth and compressed, thus making for safe trails for the various winter sports that use them, such as skiing, snowmobiling and snowboarding.

Types of Groomers

Just like any other type of winter service vehicle, these groomers come in different types dependent upon its uses and on the machine’s manufacturer. The kind of machine used for trails is often different from those that are used to build slopes. Snowmobile trails are built more economically and frequently are fashioned to pull cultivation equipment. Groomers used for ski slopes are more modern with blades operated by hydraulic means and mechanized rotary tillers. In addition, groomers are not just for creating and managing these slopes but also have a specialized piece of shaping equipment that can build half-pipes, snow tube parks and even all-terrain parks.

Grooming a Trail

Anyone can learn the art of grooming with ample practice and the right grooming equipment. It is an expensive piece of equipment to purchase; the trade-off is the satisfaction of having created a beautiful yet safely groomed track that is more than worth the time and money invested in it. Following are instructions on how to properly groom a ski slope.

• Fresh Snow - There should be at least 6 inches deep of compact fresh snow. A compacting tool that is attached and dragged behind the groomer is needed to build a safe, smooth and even trail.

• Combed - The surface needs to be combed. Another tool used for combing snow can be attached behind the compaction tool to create a soft surface. With the compacted base, a soft surface will help the skiers to have better control with their skies.

• Tracks - Providing skiers smoother glides and optimum efficiency, classic-style skiing tracks should be set. Track-setting tools can be use to make two parallel grooves in the snow.

• Re-Grooming – The re-shaping of any trail is needed especially when there is heavy usage of this pathway. It also deserves attention if there has been thawing and refreezing or an ice storm hits the location. Depending upon the condition of the trail, the grooming tool can be set according to the needed touch-up of the trail.

Grooming and the Environment

Although there has not been a lot of research done about the environmental effects of snow grooming, some people feel that there are some studies that show negative effects resulting from grooming. They say that compaction causes detrimental effects on land and earth underneath the ski trails and suggest that marking of compacted areas are highly recommended. This would encourage trails being moved to other areas over time to decrease the hazardous effects of this activity on the area’s ecology.

Also, there were studies conducted in New Zealand about packing and manipulating of snow. The study resulted in a report stating that snow grooming has contributed significantly to the removal of native vegetation and further creates lower soil temperature which is said to affect the natural soil pH. Nutrients and the natural soil pH are both essential for plant growth.

Importance of Maintenance

Just as with any other of the winter service vehicles, snow groomers are used only during the winter months. Paying close attention to all regular preventative maintenance items will certainly prolong the usage of this machine so that it can stay around and work at making ski trail safe for any and all winter activity!