Observations and simulations of snow surface temperature on cross-country ski racing courses

Fast skis are essential for an Olympic cross-country skiing athlete. Accurate and timely estimates of the snow surface conditions on a race course are needed to prepare race skis. For training purposes prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics, snow surface and snowpack observations were collected on the cross-country racing track at the Whistler Olympic Park, British Columbia during February 2008 and 2009. During periods with clear skies, snow surface temperatures varied by more than 10 °C around the course while temperatures in the stadium area increased by more than 16 °C from morning to early afternoon. Simulations using the SNOWPACK model of snow surface temperature were within 1 °C of those measured during a four day observation period in the stadium area. Idealized simulations were completed varying cloud cover, slope and aspect. These simulations provided realistic appearing changes in snow surface temperature as a function of time of day.