Skiworld Ahrntal uses snow cannon in summer as rainbow machine and reaps online criticism

The idea for the summer operation arose during a maintenance session when the cannon had to be briefly switched on. A spokesperson explains: „Also haben wir uns gedacht: Schalten wir sie mal zwei Minuten ein, wenn es heiß ist.“ The response on social media is significantly worse.

Criticism from social media

Under a corresponding post by the operator, one user criticizes: „So kann man eine wertvolle Ressource auch sinnlos vergeuden.“ Another complains: „Wasserverschwendung deluxe.“ According to the spokesperson, the outrage is happening exclusively online; guests on site have never complained.

The operator rejects the accusations and points to concrete figures: in the two minutes, only 240 liters are sprayed—two liters per second, and thus the machine's minimum consumption. The water comes from spring, melt, or rainwater and flows into a natural water cycle in a water-rich valley. „Ein natürlicher Wasserkreislauf“, emphasizes the operator.

The operator's figures

Skiworld itself promotes the action as a summer attraction. „Ein Spaß für Groß und Klein!“, it calls the summer use of the system. A spokesperson describes the on-site reaction: „Dann sind alle Kinder heraufgerannt und hatten eine Freude am Wasser."

snowmaking systems like the one at Klausberg are used in winter to secure the snow conditions on the slopes. In summer, such devices have previously typically stood idle. In the Ahrntal, a side valley of the Adige Valley in the Alps, that has now changed.

Background: Snowmaking in the Ahrntal

The amount of 240 liters in two minutes corresponds roughly to the contents of a large bathtub. The operator also points out that the water is not consumed: „Wenn es nicht rausgespritzt wird, läuft es den Berg hinunter“, explains a spokesperson for Skiworld Ahrntal. It is therefore the same cycle as without the summer gag.

While the discussion continues on social media, Skiworld has so far not announced any changes to its summer program. The cannon is to continue operating daily at 2 p.m. for two minutes on hot days.