Ski Areas Research Articles

Structural Reuse of Decommissioned Ski Lift Steel Trusses for Load-Bearing Applications

The ongoing effects of climate change have led to a rise in global temperature, significantly reducing snow cover and resulting in the abandonment of numerous ski areas across Switzerland. As a result, many ski lifts have been decommissioned and left to deteriorate due to lenient local regulations. To address this issue, this paper presents a case study approach to repurposing steel trusses from abandoned ski lifts for a new structural application within the building industry. The design, sourcing, and construction of a new load-supporting column are described, focusing on reusing the ski lift steel trusses as a whole, without dismantling them into their components. After collection, these elements are adapted to comply with current building standards. By pouring out the hollow structure with the recently developed building material Cleancrete ©, a new load-bearing structure is developed. A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates the environmental performance of the steel–Cleancrete hybrid construction, which achieves a global warming potential (GWP) of 536.58 kg CO2-eq. In comparison, alternative designs using wood and concrete exhibited GWP values of 679.45 kg CO2-eq, +26.6%, and 1593.72 kg CO2-eq, +197.02%, respectively. These findings suggest that repurposing abandoned ski lift structures can significantly contribute to sustainable building practices, waste reduction, and the promotion of circular economy principles. The process outlined in this paper holds potential for future applications, particularly in the reuse of other steel components, ensuring continued circularity even as the supply of ski lift structures may dwindle.

Ski slopes as an unrecognized source of human impact on vegetation

AbstractVarious anthropogenic activities, e.g. construction, soil disturbance, and introducing artificial plant mixtures on newly-created ski slopes after forest clearing are significant interventions in ecosystems. These drastic acts influence the species composition of vegetation cover in the landscape. Although synanthropic species are typically infrequent in mountainous areas, they tend to flourish in disturbed environments; ski slopes are no exception to this pattern. Here we assessed the composition of vascular plants in three distinct ski slope habitats across 30 Slovak ski resorts: the ski lift entrance areas, the ski lift exit areas, and the central areas of the ski slopes. To gain insights into the dynamics of the spreading of synanthropic species on ski slopes, we used selected species traits, synanthropization indices for both flora and vegetation, and considered specific disturbance criteria. The outcomes of our study confirmed that the highest richness of synanthropic species was observed in plots located at the ski lift entrance areas, while the lowest in the central areas of the ski slopes. This difference could be attributed to the proximity of anthropogenically-disturbed zones, which act as propagule sources for synanthropic species into these mountainous habitats. At the same time, elevation also plays an important role in limiting spread of synanthropic plants on ski slopes. The study of synanthropic plant species distribution on ski slopes provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between human activities and the environment.

Safety padding performances to protect from severe head injuries during alpine skiing

To protect skiers from the collisions with obstacles (CWOs), ski areas place padding on these obstacles. Padding behavior was previously experimentally investigated for few specific head impact conditions. The goal of this study is to numerically evaluate padding ability to reduce head injury risks in multiple scenarios of CWOs. A multibody model of a skier colliding with an obstacle was associated with a padding model, calibrated based on experimental tests. Different obstacle protections (unprotected, 15-, 20-, 30-cm thick padding), skier speeds, obstacle shapes and distances were investigated to model 3692 scenarios of CWOs. Head injury risks were evaluated based on HIC15 and maximal linear accelerations (Amax). Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to investigate the injury risks regarding the initial conditions, impact conditions and obstacle protection. These simulations resulted in high head impact speeds (30.4 ± 14.2 km/h). The padding modeled significantly reduced Amax (368 ± 275 g unprotected VS 215 ± 240 g with 15-cm thick padding) and severe injury risks ( p < 0.001). For low head impact speeds (<20 km/h), all pads were able to protect from severe injuries, whereas for moderate impact speeds (<40 km/h), the 30-cm thick padding offered better protection from severe injuries. However, even thick padding could not protect the skier model from high-speed impacts (>40 km/h). This study evaluated padding performances in various accident conditions and brought quantitative information for field evolutions regarding padding protection. These results constitute useful information to improve the padding standard and to design more efficient padding.

The development of ski areas and its relation to the Alpine economy in Switzerland

Cableways alleviate access to the Alps and were crucial in establishing the skiing tourism boom of the after-war years. Moreover, cableway operators employ a large share of residents, are complemented by tourism-related services and are therefore a key economic pillar in otherwise laggard regions. We exploit comprehensive historical data of all ever-built cableways in Switzerland linked to income and population data to show how much ski area access benefits the municipalities’ economy compared to similar municipalities without such access on their territory. Evaluating difference-in-differences, we find that opening a ski area between 1940 and 1980 is related to economic growth that persists until today. Particularly, it attracted new residents and created more productive employment opportunities in tourism-related services, thereby raising incomes and tax revenues. Our results contribute to the debate of what economic risks municipalities with access to ski areas face once the decreasing snowpack forces a ski area to close.

Seed dispersal limitation causes negative legacy effect on restoration of grassland plant diversity on ski slopes.

Past forest use often has a long-term negative impact on the recovery of the original plant composition of semi-natural grasslands, which is known as a legacy effect. This study investigates the impact of seed dispersal limitations on the restoration of grassland plant diversity on ski slopes with past forest use, highlighting the negative legacy effect on biodiversity recovery. Focusing on ski areas, our research contrasts the vegetation on ski slopes originally created on semi-natural grasslands such as pasture (pasture slopes) and constructed by clearing secondary forests or conifer plantations (forest slopes). We examined species richness and diversity, considering seed dispersal modes, grassland management history, and seed source proximity. We reveal that the proximity to species-rich grassland sources is pivotal for the restoration of native grassland vegetation. Particularly, wind-dispersed species show significant recovery on slopes with sustained management for more than 70 years and those with neighboring species-rich grasslands, suggesting that both the duration of management and the proximity to seed sources are critical for overcoming the legacy effects of past forest use. Meanwhile, gravity-dispersed species failed to recover their richness and diversity regardless of both the duration of management and the proximity to seed source grasslands, which their diversity recovered where seed sources neighbored. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering seed dispersal limitation and management history in the restoration and conservation of grasslands and their biodiversity, particularly in landscapes experiencing past human intervention.

Simulation of Downhill Skiing Areas

Based on video analysis of downhill skiing areas a model for ski traffic is developed. The video analysis uses PeTrack to determine the trajectories of individual skiers which are then statistically analysed. A stochastic cellular automaton model is proposed that can reproduce the basic observed features. The empirical data are used for validation and calibration of the model. In the future, the model may help to analyse comfort and safety on skiing slopes, especially the risk of collisions.

Die another day: explanations based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) for the survival and non-survival of isolated ski lifts in Switzerland

Abstract. In the form of an explorative empirical study, this paper deals with the reasons for the survival and demise of isolated Swiss ski lifts. For the first time, all isolated lifts documented in Switzerland have been recorded and coded according to a total of six conditions. Using a set-theoretical research method in the form of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), the study aims to identify the necessary conditions and configurations of sufficient conditions explaining (non-)survival. It transpires that closed isolated lifts tend to be outdated and have no technical snowmaking facilities. Moreover, it has become evident that the simultaneous occurrence of the lack of lift facility replacement, lack of technical snowmaking and high ski area competition has caused the closure of most isolated lifts. Low natural snow depth and low elevation difference, conversely, have not had a measurable impact. The causes for the survival of isolated lifts, by contrast, are extremely heterogeneous.

Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin ski area changes its marketing strategy: the Vail epic pass decision

Research methodology The case was developed from two 2-h interviews with the Chief Operating Officer of A-Basin, Alan Henceroth; there is no CEO of A-Basin. The second interview was recorded on a Zoom call to provide accuracy of quotations and information. A variety of secondary sources were used in terms of better understanding the current state of the ski industry, as well as its history. Case overview/synopsis Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) is a historic, moderately sized, ski area with proximity to metropolitan Denver, Colorado. For over 20 years A-Basin partnered with Vail, allowing skiers to use the Vail Epic Pass, for which A-Basin received some revenue from Vail for each skier visit. The Epic Pass allowed pass holders unlimited days of skiing at A-Basin. More and more skiers were buying the Epic Pass, thus increasing the customer traffic to A-Basin. However, the skier experience was compromised due inadequate parking, long lift lines and crowded restaurants. The renewal of the contract with Vail was coming due, and A-Basin had to consider whether to renew the contract with Vail. The case is framed primarily as a strategic marketing case. The authors use Porter’s five forces model to assess the external environment of A-Basin, and the authors use the resource-based view and the VRIO tool to assess A-Basin’s internal strengths. Both frameworks provide useful analysis in terms of deciding whether to continue A-Basin’s arrangement with Vail or end the contract and pursue a different strategy. In 2019, after consultation with the Canadian parent company Dream, A-Basin made the decision to disassociate itself from the Epic Pass and Vail to restore a quality ski experience for A-Basin’s customers. No other partner had ever left its relationship with Vail. An epilogue details some of A-Basin’s actions, as well as the outcomes for the ski area. Generally A-Basin’s decision produced positive results and solidified its competitive position among competitors. Other ski areas have since adopted a similar strategy as A-Basin. A-Basin’s success is reflected in a pending offer from Alterra, Inc., to purchase the ski area. Complexity academic level The A-Basin case can be used in both undergraduate and graduate strategic (or marketing) management courses. It is probably best considered during the middle of an academic term, as the case requires students to apply many of the theoretical concepts of strategy. One of the best books to enable students to use Porter’s five forces is Understanding Michael Porter by Joan Magretta (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2012). Magretta was a colleague of Porter for many years and was an Editor of the Harvard Business Review. For a discussion of the VRIN/VRIO concept, see Chapter 4 of Essentials of Strategic Management by Gamble, Peteraf and Thompson (New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2019).

Global reduction of snow cover in ski areas under climate change.

Ongoing climate change substantially alters snowfall patterns with severe but diverging consequences for global ski areas. A global assessment as well as the investigation of potential implications for mountain ecosystems is currently lacking. We quantify future trends in natural snow cover days under different climate change scenarios until 2100 in seven major global skiing regions and discuss implications for mountainous biodiversity by analysing how natural snow cover days relate to regional human population density. Within all major skiing regions, snow cover days are projected to decrease substantially under every assessed climate change scenario. Thirteen percent of all current ski areas are projected to completely lose natural annual snow cover and one fifth will experience a reduction of more than 50% by 2071-2100 relative to historic baselines. Future skiable areas will concentrate in less populated areas, towards continental regions and inner parts of the mountain ranges. As skiable areas will be located at greater distances to highly populated areas in the future, we expect an expansion of infrastructure and increasing intervening actions (i.e., artificial snowmaking, slope grooming) to prolong snow duration. Our results are concerning for both the recreational and economic value of skiing as well as for mountain biodiversity since vulnerable high-altitude species might be threatened by space reductions with ski area expansion.

Greenhouse gas production from an intermittently dosed cold-climate wastewater treatment wetland

This study explores the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from a two-stage, cold-climate vertical-flow treatment wetland (TW) treating ski area wastewater at 3 °C average water temperature. The system is designed like a modified Ludzack-Ettinger process with the first stage a partially saturated, denitrifying TW followed by an unsaturated nitrifying TW and recycle of nitrified effluent. An intermittent wastewater dosing scheme was established for both stages, with alternating carbon-rich wastewater and nitrate-rich recycle to the first stage. The system has demonstrated effective chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal in high-strength wastewater over seven years of winter operation. Following two closed-loop, intensive GHG winter sampling campaigns at the TW, the magnitude of N2O flux was 2.2 times higher for denitrification than nitrification. CH4 and N2O emissions were strongly correlated with hydraulic loading, whereas CO2 was correlated with surface temperature. GHG fluxes from each stage were related to both microbial activity and off-gassing of dissolved species during wastewater dosing, thus the time of sampling relative to dosing strongly influenced observed fluxes. These results suggest that estimates of GHG fluxes from TWs may be biased if mass transfer and mechanisms of wastewater application are not considered. Emission factors for N2O and CH4 were 0.27 % as kg-N2O-N/kg-TINremoved and 0.04 % kg-CH4-C/kg-CODremoved, respectively. The system had observed seasonal emissions of 600.5 kg CO2 equivalent of GHGs estimated over 130-days of operation. These results indicate a need for wastewater treatment processes to mitigate GHGs.

Climate Change and the Future of Ski Tourism in Canada’s Western Mountains

Winter, snow, and mountains, epitomized by the world-renowned Rocky Mountain range, are an integral part of Canada’s sport-culture identity and international tourism brand, yet the climate change risk posed to this important ski tourism region remains uncertain. This study used the ski operations model SkiSim 2.0 to analyze the climate risk for the region’s ski industry (26 ski areas in the province of Alberta and 40 in British Columbia) with advanced snowmaking, including changes in key performance metrics of ski season length, snowmaking requirements, holiday operations, and lift and terrain capacity. If Paris Climate Agreement targets are met, average seasons across all ski areas decline 14–18% by mid-century, while required snowmaking increases 108–161%. Regional average operational terrain declined only 4–9% in mid-century, as the largest ski areas were generally more climate resilient. More pronounced impacts are projected under late-century, high-emission scenarios and in low latitudes and coastal British Columbia regions. When compared with continental and international ski tourism markets, Western Canada has relatively lower climate change impacts, which could improve its competitiveness. The results inform further research on demand-side as well as the winter sport-tourism industry and destination-scale climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Terrain park injuries and risk factors in western Canadian resorts, 2008-2009 to 2017-2018: insights for risk management.

Terrain parks (TP) are popular attractors to snowsport resorts for both skiers and snowboarders, however there is some concern about the risk of severe injury. TP risk management needs to balance the business case against the human cost of injury. To inform effective TP risk management strategies, it essential to understand risk factors, and injury frequency and severity. To this end, a retrospective inductive analysis of Canada West Ski Areas Association's Accident Analyzer database (2008-2009 to 2017-2018). Inclusion criteria., (i) at least 8 seasons of matching injury and participation data, (ii) minimum of 10 TP injuries p.a., (iii) activity either skiing or snowboarding, and (iv) injury location was coded as terrain park/rail. Data was excluded for ticket type N/A. Anonymised and deidentified secondary data was entered into SPSS for analysis. Between group differences were explored via χ2 analysis with Yates' Continuity Correction for 2 × 2 tables and an inductive data driven approach to explore other factors. From this data, 12,602 injuries were in TPs across 28 resorts. 11,940 (94.7%) met the inclusion criteria (14.2% female; 86.5% <25 years; 73.0% snowboarders. 50.8% were male snowboarders <25 years). Higher levels of helmet use were not correlated with a decline in reported head injuries. Day-ticket holders were more likely to be injured on their first two uses of a run than season pass holders. More snowboarders injured in TPs (59.7%) went to hospital than skiers (51.0%). Thus, participants injured in TP are typically younger, male, and snowboarders with either a Season Pass or day ticket, thus potentially a distinct target group for injury mitigation and prevention strategies and communications. The application of other frameworks such as the hierarchy of control and socioecological framework reflects the complex multifactorial systems in which snowsports occur and from which more targeted risk management strategies may emerge to mitigate injury risk while maintaining TP appeal.

How climate change is damaging the US ski industry

ABSTRACT Since the mid-twentieth century, warming in mountain regions has outpaced the global rate, with important regional implications for snowpacks and the ski industry. Recent climate litigation by communities in the State of Colorado signals the need to assess how observed changes in climate may have damaged the ski industry. This study presents a novel application of the SkiSim2.0 ski operations model at 226 ski areas across 4 US regional ski markets to assess what the ski industry could have looked like if post-1970s anthropogenic climate change had not occurred. Relative to 1960–1979, modelled average ski seasons (with snowmaking) in the 2000–2019 period have shortened between 5.5 and 7.1 days. National direct economic losses associated with lost skier visits and increased snowmaking costs are estimated at US$252 million annually. For the 2050s, regional ski seasons are projected to shorten between 14–33 days (low emissions) and 27–62 days (high emissions). The associated national direct economic losses range from US$657 to 1352 million annually. Climate change is an evolving business reality for the US ski industry. The economic damage already done is clear and the extent of future damages is dependent on the success of Paris Climate Agreement.

Injuries in the Pamporovo and Borovets ski areas during the 2019-2020 season

In Bulgaria, while a sub-regulation of the Tourism Law addresses the safety and security of ski slope users, insufficient attention is given to understanding the causes of accidents, gathering feedback, and implementing injury prevention strategies for snow sports. This study aims to analyze the types of accidents and injuries reported at the Borovetz and Pamporovo ski zones during the 2019/2020 season. Various factors were considered, including the time of injury occurrence, slope difficulty, type of injury, and type of ski or snowboard equipment used. Methods that were used were frequency analysis, document analysis, and comparative analysis. Injuries were categorized into four groups: head, torso, legs, and arms. The highest number of injuries involved the legs, followed by the arms. Knee injuries were the most common type of trauma on the slopes, followed by shoulder and lower leg injuries. Among all injuries, fractures were identified as the most severe, with lower leg and collarbone fractures being the most frequently reported. The peak occurrence of severe injuries was after 12:00 PM in both ski areas. This trend can be attributed to deteriorating slope conditions due to weather factors such as sun, wind, and positive temperatures, as well as increased slope usage by other snow sports enthusiasts.

Rural mobility and socio-spatial impacts in Japan: A case study of Kutchan, Hokkaido

Counterurbanisation, a phenomenon signifying the urban exodus, primarily highlights certain aspects of rural mobility while often overlooking its diverse nature. With globalisation, a new wave of challenges has emerged in rural areas due to an increase in transnational mobility, complexities that have remained largely under-explored. This research paper addresses these gaps by examining the impact of rural mobility on Kutchan, Hokkaido, Japan, a rural town that has experienced significant social and spatial transformations due to an influx of domestic and transnational migrants, supplemented by increased investment. By analysing population data from 1959 to 2022, the study identifies the period when rural mobility emerged as the dominant demographic trend. Subsequently, it examines the impact of rural mobility on demographic changes, socio-economic shifts, and housing dynamics in both the ski and non-ski tourism areas of Kutchan during this period. The findings reveal that rural mobility has been the primary factor affecting Kutchan's demographic structure since 2000. From 2000 to 2010, highly educated foreign residents supplanted local Japanese residents with basic education, sparking a rise in housing prices and a transition from small entrepreneurs to large institutions in the ski tourism area. From 2015 to 2020, the influx of large institutions and capital associated with transnational migrants caused a significant rise in housing prices, thereby accelerating the displacement of Japanese residents throughout Kutchan. These social and spatial changes align with the patterns of gentrification. This empirical study contributes to existing scholarship by emphasising the significant temporal and spatial impact of rural mobility in Japan within the context of globalisation.

Manual vs Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest on a Ski Slope: A Pilot Study.

The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical in increasing the probability of survival with a good neurologic outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In an austere environment with a potentially salvageable patient, bystanders or first responders may need to provide chest compressions for a prolonged duration or during physically challenging transportation scenarios. Consequently, they may be at risk of fatigue or injury, and chest compression quality may deteriorate. The study sought to assess whether or not access to and utilization of a mechanical compression device (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) was feasible and not inferior to manual compressions while extricating and transporting a patient from a ski slope. Variable 3-person ski patrol teams responded to a simulated patient with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a nonshockable rhythm. Using a mannequin and CPR quality monitor, performance during manual CPR was compared with that of a mechanical compression device. This is a prospective, crossover analysis of CPR quality during extrication from a ski slope. Across 8 total runs, chest compression fraction, which is the proportion of time without spontaneous circulation during which compressions occurred, and high-quality CPR, as measured by appropriate rate and depth, were compared between the 2 groups. Extrication times between the 2 groups were also measured. There was no difference in compression fraction between the manual (91.4%; 95% CI [86.8-96.1]) and mechanical arms (92.8%; 95% CI [88.8-96.8]) (P=0.67). There was an increase in the time performing high-quality CPR in the mechanical group (58.5%; 95% CI [45.8-71.2]) vs that in the manual group (25.6%; 95% CI [13.5-37.8]) (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the extrication times between the 2 groups, 7.6 ± 0.5 min in the manual group vs 8.6 ± 0.4 min in the mechanical group (P=0.014). Mechanical CPR devices are noninferior for use in ski areas during initial resuscitation and transportation. Compared with manual CPR, mechanical CPR would likely improve the fraction of time performing high-quality CPR.

Sustainable consumption of services: willingness-to-pay for sustainable alpine skiing experience

ABSTRACT In this study, we examine sustainable consumption from a ski area perspective by using the exploratory sequential mixed-method approach. We apply a cross-national approach to investigate how customers’ preferences for sustainable service alternatives translate into willingness-to-pay, comparing results from Norway and Switzerland. The results show that alpine skiers in general report being willing to pay more for a day pass if the ski area is either environmentally-certified, carbon-neutral, or uses only natural snow. The positive effects are reported even stronger among environmentally-friendly skiers and skiers from Switzerland. We discuss the implications our results have for ski area managers wanting to incorporate sustainability in the overall pricing strategy.

The COVID-19 pandemic and leisure providers—Challenges, opportunities and adaptation strategies for ski area operators in Austria

The COVID-19 crisis and the related nationwide lockdowns reduced the available types of physical activity, especially in the winter season. Besides closed indoor sports facilities, some outdoor sports were also inaccessible because of curfews and/or the closure of outdoor sports facilities. However, in Austria, the operation of alpine ski areas was permitted even during the full lockdown in the winter season 2020/21, albeit under strict hygiene requirements and capacity restrictions. This posed a challenge for ski area operators, with those heavily dependent on foreign multi-day guests facing severe declines in demand due to closed accommodation and closed borders while others were challenged by demand pressures from nearby population centers. We therefore want to examine how Austrian ski area operators managed these challenges, how they evaluated this extraordinary season and whether these new experiences and established measures can be used to improve customer experience in the future. We used a mixed-methods approach with a quantitative survey (n = 65) and follow-up qualitative interviews with managers (n = 20) of Austrian ski areas. For 75% of respondents, the reason for keeping the ski areas open, despite the fact that 95 % suffered average revenue declines of 80%, was to provide an outlet for physical activity for the local population. Respondents noticed a lot of gratitude and growing trust from local customers that could be used to increase the approval of tourism in the local population. The COVID-19 pandemic has also advanced the spread of technological innovations in the cable car industry, such as online ticketing and dynamic pricing. Furthermore, the COVID-19 crisis has continued to drive the sustainability debate around ski resorts. Customers are seeking further deceleration resulting in a stronger focus on qualitative rather than quantitative development for Austrian ski area operators.

Reassembling more-than-human sustainability: Relations with snow

This article illuminates the importance of reassembling sustainability from a relational, more-than-human perspective in response to critical debates regarding sustainable development and its underlying managerial paradigms. Theoretically, the study develops the concept of more-than-human sustainability by building upon relational ontologies and feminist, new materialist work. Empirically, the study draws upon ethnographic fieldwork of shadowing snow in ski areas in the Tyrolean Alps. Integrating more-than-human relations in winter tourism through speculative storytelling, the findings uncover the hidden relations of waiting-for, connecting-to, and thriving-with snow, examining how these perspectives disrupt capitalist modes of operation and open alternative approaches to sustainability in future winter tourism. The study concludes by examining alternative approaches to sustainable world-making by critically engaging with more-than-human relations in tourism.

Sustainability of snowmaking as climate change (mal)adaptation: an assessment of water, energy, and emissions in Canada’s ski industry

ABSTRACT As climate change continues to impact the snowpack in ski areas globally, operators rely increasingly on snowmaking to maintain ski seasons and visitor experience. Increased reliance on machine-made snow has implications for the sustainability of ski tourism. This study provides the first national estimate of water, energy, and CO2 emissions and projected changes under low (RCP2.6), mid (RCP4.5), and high emission (RCP8.5) climate futures by the 2050s. A central estimates of snowmaking efficiency found Canada currently uses 478,000 megawatts (MWh) of electricity (with 130,095 tonnes of associated CO2 emission) and 43.4 million m3 of water to produce over 42 million m3 of technical snow. With snowmaking production requirements projected to increase between 55% and 97% by 2050 across low to high-emission climate futures, energy, and water use will increase proportionally. In contrast, future emissions associated with increased snowmaking would nonetheless decline substantially as provincial electricity grids are decarbonized under current policy targets. Regional differences in snowmaking requirements and emissions caused by provincial electricity-grid emission intensity and their important implications for ski tourism sustainability and snowmaking as (mal)adaptation are discussed.