La Plagne reduces Energy Needs
La Plagne reduces Energy Needs
Published : 10-Aug-2009 07:33
New Technology And Smart New Thinking Helps La Plagne Cut Power Use For Snow And Ice FunLa Plagne, part of the giant French Paradiski region, has re-thought how much snow and ice it needs for three of the popular attractions that help to make it a world leader.
The resort is cutting in half the amount of snow it needs for its pre-formed halfpipe, as well as rethinking the ice needs of its Olympic bobsleigh run – now a very popular visitor attraction and the ice climbing tower at Champagny.
Situated in Plagne Bellecote, La Plagne's pre formed Half Pipe allows the resort to welcome world-renowned official recognized competitions and offers the tourists an astonishing show.
The fact that the shape of the p[ipe is already in place, coupled with snow making facilities, means the pipe can open early in the season and close later, but this season a re-design means it will require 15,000 cubic metres of artificial snow to operate half the 30,000 cubic metres required previously. A smaller pipe is available for members of the public to build up their skills.
At La Plagne's popular bobsleigh run, which will open from 12th December to 20th March offering taxi-bob rides behind a professional driver in a competition bob sleigh, or in a slightly slower 'bob raft' a new ecologically sound refrigeration liquid [water treated with glycol] has replaced ammonia, at a cost of several million euros, enabling this facility to be opened earlier for longer as well as in a far more eco friendly way.
Finally La Plagne's five year old Ice Tower in Champagny le Haut has been moved this winter to the riverbank close to the campsite where it can be integrated into the ecosystem. It has been converted to a climbing frame with several potential uses including free climbing [2 to 3 m without a rope], wall style climbing with a rope and a long abseil on a spider's line.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc
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