As climate change continues to challenge the reliability of snow as a resource, the recently concluded Erasmus + funded SIEPPUR project about Sustainable Snow Management in Nordic Snow Sports, marked a major milestone in the push for sustainable winter sport practices.

Launched to address the growing impact of warming temperatures on snow availability, SIEPPUR aimed to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of Nordic snow sports. With ten venues across Alpine, Low Mountain, and Scandinavian regions participating, the project collected solutions to one of the sport’s most pressing issues: how to manage snow sustainably in the face of climate change.

Key Achievements:

From Analysis to Action

The first step of the SIEPPUR project was a deep assessment of the current state of snow management. Field visits and data collection across the participating venues revealed both technological variety and common challenges including a growing reliance on resource-intensive snowmaking and storage as natural snowfall patterns shift.

Identifying Best Practices

To guide the way forward, the SIEPPUR team conducted interviews with industry leaders and compiled 35 best practices covering snow production, grooming, transport, and storage. These practices, organized to highlight real-world challenges and solutions, now form a practical knowledge base for venue operators across Europe.

Bridging the Gaps

Complementing the best practices was a comprehensive gap analysis. The study found that while many venues benefit from expert staff and robust infrastructure, they often lack systematic data collection, particularly regarding energy and water use. With climate, ecological, and socio-economic pressures mounting, the report stressed the need for improved documentation and decision-making tools to ensure long-term sustainability.

Tailored Roadmaps

One of the project’s most valuable outcomes was the creation of four roadmaps: a general roadmap for sustainable snow management, plus region-specific versions for Alpine, Mid-Mountain, and Scandinavian contexts. These documents provide climate-smart guidance adapted to local conditions, helping venues make informed, regionally relevant changes.

The roadmaps are further supported by governance-focused case studies, which highlight how policies and organizational frameworks can either enable, or hinder sustainable transitions.

Scientific Insight and Innovation

SIEPPUR research additionally explored key technical dimensions of snow management, from modeling snow production based on local climate data, to experimental snow storage methods using wind fences and green-field insulation. The results offer powerful tools for operators seeking to reduce energy and water use while maintaining snow quality.

Empowering Stakeholders

Ensuring that expertise reached those on the ground was a central pillar of the project, the project created a series of online webinars, national workshops in Sweden, Slovenia, and Poland, and four practical toolkits that quipped venue operators with actionable skills and tools to put sustainability into practice.

Reach beyond the project

SIEPPUR concluded with the Sustainable Snow Summit in Innsbruck, where project findings were presented to a global audience of sport organizers, researchers, and environmental experts. Held alongside the InterAlpin Messe, the Summit sparked vital conversations about snow sports' environmental responsibilities and their power to drive change.

SIEPPUR has laid the foundation for a new chapter in Nordic snow sports. With its comprehensive research, practical roadmaps, and toolkits for venue operator the project showcases how to build a climate resilient future for Nordic sports.