Who is responsible for the snow conditions at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics?

Davide Cerato, an Italian snowmaking expert, is responsible for perfecting the courses.

How much water is used for snowmaking at the Milan Cortina Olympics?

Approximately 946 million liters of water are estimated to be used for snowmaking.

What is 'technical snow' and why is it used in the Olympics?

Technical snow is manufactured snow that provides a compact, stable, and safer race surface, allowing organizers to control course quality.

Home / Sports / Olympics Snow Expert: Crafting Perfect Slopes for Athletes

Olympics Snow Expert: Crafting Perfect Slopes for Athletes

23 Jan

•

Summary

Snow expert Davide Cerato is preparing Olympic courses, not competing.
Advanced snowmaking uses 946 million liters of water for the Games.
Technology ensures safer, fairer courses for all athletes.

Olympics Snow Expert: Crafting Perfect Slopes for Athletes

Davide Cerato, an Italian snowmaking expert, is instrumental in preparing the courses for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, though he will not be competing. His focus is on ensuring athletes have the best possible conditions for their most important races.

Cerato oversees operations at venues like Bormio and Livigno, where new snowmaking systems have been installed. These systems require significant water resources, with an estimated 946 million liters needed for the Games, equivalent to nearly 380 Olympic swimming pools. New high-elevation reservoirs were constructed to store this water.

The Livigno Snow Park now boasts a basin holding 200 million liters, supported by over 50 snow guns. Similarly, Bormio features a lake at 2,300 meters holding 88 million liters, with 75 snow guns deployed for its slopes. This allows for precise control over slope quality and hardness.