Utah testing snow storage approach at Soldier Hollow forward of 2034 Games

MIDWAY — Utah Olympic and Paralympic organizers are testing a brand new option to protect snow at Soldier Hollow, hoping it may present a backup plan for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games if hotter circumstances turn out to be a priority.

Members of the Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Committee, in addition to Utah venue operators, vacationer boards, transportation managers and others, not too long ago returned from Italy, the place they spent a number of weeks in Milan, Cortina, and different host websites for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

While there, one of many operations they studied was a snow storage approach already being utilized in elements of Europe.

Now, that idea is being examined for the primary time in Utah.

At Soldier Hollow, the venue for cross-country snowboarding and biathlon through the Salt Lake City 2002 Games, there’s a large pile of snow, roughly the dimensions of a soccer subject. That snow has been packed collectively and coated with massive insulating tarps.

The concept is easy: Try to maintain the snow from melting.

The testing comes as Utah has seen hotter temperatures this winter, with some ski resorts already closed for the season, which has raised considerations about what circumstances may appear like through the 2034 Games.

Organizers mentioned snow storage may function a safeguard.

“Most of the efforts are when it’s cold, make snow, and we’ve got the systems to do that,” Colin Hilton, CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, mentioned. “But this is one more layer of extra safety for us to be able to store snow in large quantities and use it as (an) early build-out base layer. Then, we would just bring the snow to our venues if it was needed.”

The approach has been utilized in Europe, together with at mountain venues tied to latest Olympic occasions. The hope is to make use of the approach once more at Soldier Hollow for the 2034 Games if wanted.

Utah 2034 organizers mentioned some venues they’ve studied declare this snow storage approach can protect about 80% of the snow.

“We’re testing that out,” Hilton mentioned. “We obviously have a lot of sun in Utah, but we’re going to see what sort of amount of snow we can retain by doing the snow storage system this coming summer.”

While it is inconceivable to foretell what climate circumstances will appear like through the 2034 Olympics and Paralympics, organizers mentioned testing concepts like this now may make a distinction later.