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New Automated Snowmaking System To Be Used on Iconic Birds of Prey World Cup Course
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- New Automated Snowmaking System To Be Used on Iconic Birds of Prey World Cup Course
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One of the most iconic World Cup courses is getting a serious infrastructure update ahead of the 2026/27 race.
The Vail Valley Foundation, which helps to organize Beaver Creek's Birds of Prey race each December, announced the implementation of new snowmaking equipment to build the course on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
A new, automated snowmaking system will be used to build the lower third of the Birds of Prey race course. The system was specifically designed to produce a more consistent race course surface while being more energy- and water-efficient.
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10 SMI Grizzly stick guns with onboard air compressors, six SMI Super Puma fan guns, 10 metal shelters, a new weather station, 4,500 feet of trenched power, and hard-lined communications make up the new system and allow each gun to be monitored and operated remotely.
By targeting the parts of the race course that are most susceptible to disruption by early season conditions, the updated snowmaking system removes the need for manual set up and allows snowmaking crews to take full advantage of temperature windows. During parts of the year where temperature inversions are more frequent, such as the fall and early winter, this vastly increases snowmaking efficiency and reduces the amount of water and energy used to create race ready snowpack.
The 2026 Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup will take place from December 3-13 and host seven ski races over two weekends. The updated snowmaking system was installed this fall and will soon be put to use as Beaver Creek begins snowmaking ahead of their November 25 opening date.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle during the STIFEL Birds of Prey race in 2025.
Dustin Satloff/US Ski Team
"As we prepare for our biggest Birds of Prey festival ever, with seven competitions across two weekends of men's and women's racing, there is no better time to invest in the future of this event," said Mike Imhof, President and CEO of the Vail Valley Foundation in a press release , "We are deeply grateful to John and Karen Arnold, whose generosity and belief in this event continues to improve the festival year after year, and to Beaver Creek Resort, which has been an exceptional partner in bringing this project to life. This is more than a snowmaking upgrade: it's a long-term investment in our community's ski racing legacy, in our athletes, and in ski racing fans around the globe."
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The new system was made possible by the John and Karen Arnold Ski Racing Legacy Fund, which is part of a $74 million capital campaign investing in arts, athletics, education, and community support in the Eagle River Valley. The most recent in a number of projects made possible by the John and Karen Arnold Ski Racing Legacy Fund, the new system is another initiative that has helped ensure the longevity of ski racing in the Vail Valley and the ability to keep the Birds of Prey race a free event.
Birds of Prey has been a staple course in world cup alpine racing since 1997. The 2026 edition of the race will see the most World Cup races on the course in its 30 year history as well as a two week festival including free live music, athlete autographing sessions, sponsor activations, and more. Men's Donwhill, Super-G, and Giant Slalom races will take place from December 3-6 and women's Downhill and Super-G races will take place from December 11-13.
The 2026/27 print issue of POWDER Magazine is here. Click here to have a copy shipped to your front door. Copies can also be found on newsstands at major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and more .
This story was originally published by POWDER on Oct 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add POWDER as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
