Québec’s creative solutions to snowsports’ climate change conundrum

Only last week, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) was forced to cancel the Freestyle Moguls and Dual Moguls competitions due to sustained warm temperatures in Alpe d’Huez, France. 

It is not the first time that conditions have impacted the hosting of snowsports events. Several skiing weekends on the FIS Alpine World Cup Downhill schedule have previously been cancelled, including last season’s night slalom race in Zagreb, Croatia. It was axed due to warm temperatures and patchy snowfall, while other events were forced to take place on artificial snow. 

A perceived lack of action from snowsports’ governing body FIS prompted the publication of an Impact Programme, which provides stakeholders with a roadmap for “working together” on sustainability issues. 

A global issue

Warming temperatures and changes to snowfall are not limited to Europe.

A new study on the Alpine skiing system in the face of climate change in the Canadian province of Québec, Canada has recently been published by Ouranos with the aim of providing information on adapting to these changing conditions.

The collaborative innovation hub is focused on enabling the province to better adapt to an evolving climate. The study forms part of the 2020-2025 scientific programme of the Ouranos consortium, and was conducted due to a mandate granted by the Association des stations de ski du Québec (ASSQ).

The study is divided into three research projects and will offer users and decision-makers from a number of sectors the information necessary to adapt to climate change. It has also been supported by the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Delorme-Lajoie Consultation, the Ministry of Tourism (MTO) and around 30 ski resorts.

Three complementary research projects will see a portrait of ground snow indicators (PINS) created, which aims to take stock of natural snow conditions; a diagnosis of the vulnerability of the Alpine skiing system to climate change, in order to assess future impacts on the industry; and a sectoral resilience plan published, which proposes strategies to strengthen the adaptability of ski resorts and support their long-term sustainability.

The PINS project has resulted in the availability of climatic information on natural snow coverage on the ground for the Alpine skiing tourism sector.

While Québec is perhaps lesser known for its skiing culture internationally in comparison with other Canadian destinations like Whistler, Banff and Sunshine Village, there are a number of resorts located in the region. Mont Tremblant, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Le Massif de Charlevoix and Club Med are just some of the ski resorts on offer.

Much like Europe, the ski season traditionally runs from late November to late April – though this has been impacted by warmer temperatures.

“In my view, there is a significant difference between Québec and Europe when it comes to winter sports,” James Guilbaud, a project manager for Tourisme Montréal with a specific focus on the sports market, tells Global Sustainable Sport.

One element of Guilbaud’s work includes promoting the region as a destination for sporting events.

“While we lack towering mountains with high-altitude peaks, we benefit from extended periods of low temperatures,” he continues.

“These provide abundant snow across our hills and valleys for many months of the year. However, climate change has brought challenges. We increasingly experience a lack of snow at the start and end of the season, which shortens our winter sports seasons.”

Guilbaud explains that an increase of 1.7°C is expected between 2021 and 2050, with severe consequences for the winter sports industry. It is also predicted that there will be an additional four snowless days per year by 2050, and the Laurentians mountain range in the region could see its ski season fall from 104 to 97 days.

The Tremblant World Cup featuring female skiers scheduled for December 7-8 was cancelled due to insufficient cold weather conditions.

The 2023 Snowboard Cross World Cup at Mont-Sainte-Anne and the 2024 Ski World Cup in Mont-Tremblant were also cancelled. Other events will inevitably follow in the future.

Creative solutions

What does this mean for the ski and snowboard industry on the east coast of Canada?

Guilbaud says that the rise in temperature would result in higher costs, with additional funding required to maintain operational slopes through extra snow cannons and staffing. Worsening conditions could lead to a 20-30% decline in ski areas and a drop in attendance, further impacting finances.

“The winter sports sector must innovate to remain competitive while minimising its environmental footprint. Achieving this requires bold and timely decisions to adopt the most effective solutions,” comments Guilbaud.

Aside from alpine skiing, Québec offers further winter activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, outdoor ice skating, ice climbing and ice canoeing.

According to Guilbaud, there are several solutions that can be pursued by ski resorts in the region that are facing difficulties as a result of climate change.

Resorts can develop four-season offerings, meaning there are other income streams to fall back on if the winter season struggles. Investments need to be made in more efficient snow cannons that can operate at 0°C, while continuing to improve snow production efficiency to help reduce energy impact.

Another option, according to Guilbaud, could be the development of refrigerated rinks, though this would come with a hefty price tag and are often energy intensive.

More than just sport

While mountains, glaciers and snowy destinations provide the perfect backdrop for a range of activities, they are important to ecosystems, species and the human population as well.

Earlier this month, Protect Our Winters (POW) launched a joint science and film project that explores the impact of glacier loss.

The partnership was launched in partnership with Auckland-headquartered outdoor clothing brand Icebreaker and VF Foundation. It is called ‘Downstream’ and the documentary film follows hydro-ecologist Dr Juliette Becquet’s journey along three glacier-fed rivers – the Rhône (Europe), Snake (North America), and Waitaki (New Zealand).

A white paper accompanied the project and detailed a comprehensive look at glacier retreat’s impact on water resources, agriculture and biodiversity. Glaciers cover roughly 10% of the Earth’s land and store 75% of the world’s freshwater, which is essential to global water resources.

Guilbaud highlights Québec’s reliance on this freshwater, and the need to protect such a valuable resource.

“Here in Québec, we are fortunate to benefit from clean, affordable energy thanks to hydroelectric power. Additionally, we have abundant water resources, partly due to melting snow and glaciers,” he says.

“However, this does not mean we can afford to waste them; rather, it underscores the importance of managing these advantages responsibly.”

Images: René-Pierre Normandeau on Unsplash, Nikita Markov on Unsplash, Neil Rosenstech on Unsplash, Nunzio Guerrera on Unsplash

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