Skiing: Vantaa’s “snow mill” has been inactive on a weekly

Vantaa The Hakunila’s “snow factory” aroused amazement and delight in October -November, but in recent weeks there was only a surprise.

The reason is that the investment worth hundreds of thousands of euros has been inactive for most of the winter.

The price of a snowstorm known as Snow Factory is around € 800,000. The state supported the investment for EUR 150,000.

Vantaa Sports Director Veli-Matti Kallislahti Since October, the snow mill has been in use for a total of 2-3 weeks since October.

“After all, it is not meant for the use of it all the time that it is only according to the situation. We have an almost ‘blessed’ situation in Hakunila when there is a snow mill, a snowstorm and then a big artificial ice rink that all produces snow, ”says Kallislahti.

“The snow factory is used when nothing else is working anymore. It’s the last lock to ensure that the snow is. ”

Although Winter has been mild, according to Kallislahti, the snow situation in Hakunila is so good that snow -fired snow is likely to be enough until the end of the season. Thus, the snow factory is not expected to start off during the spring.

“The fact that it does not happen every day does not mean that there is any problem. It’s not just needed right now. If you really get really distress, then press the button and that stuff comes from there. ”

Kallislahti says that the snow factory is still in trial use. Officially, the transfer will not take place until 8-9. The week after the Finnish Championships in February and the Finnish Cup.

“It is still officially a construction site, and that’s why our use is not as direct as it is when it is completely handed over to us.”

Kallislahti compares the snow factory to the foundation of the house, on which the rest can be built. When talking about snow and skiing, construction means not only trails, in particular, a competition calendar.

According to Kallislahti, the snow mill guarantees that the season can start at a certain moment.

“It can be said that on Father’s Day, skiing and the Finnish Cup and Finnish Championships are skied, whatever the weather is.”

The investment of hundreds of thousands of euros for a few weeks annual use and the “last chain of snowfall” sounds pretty expensive.

How do you see Veli-Matti Kallislahti?

“The outside certainly looks like there. The core and the most important added value is that we can calendar the beginning of the ski season. ”

“It will surely knock the 20-40 years now, which it will take now, maybe 50 years. If the cost of purchasing is divided throughout the life cycle, then it will be 1-2 snowfall per year. It’s not an impossible price. ”

Of course, you don’t have to buy snow cannons every year, and they are cheaper than a snow mill. Snow could also be stored over the summer, as is done in Espoo.

But the less often the mercury sinks on the frost, the more the value of the factory rises as the cannons are silent.

“This way, we can make sure we have snow conditions for the race at any time. Someone can put it on zero euros, another big euros. ”

“We have come to the conclusion that Vantaa will be profiled as the most secure city in Finland, and here it is done.”