Manufacturers of the giant tractors – variously known as “snow groomers” or “piste bashers” – that are used to smooth the pistes are making great efforts to make their machines more eco-friendly by creating versions that run on bio-diesel or event electricity and carry ground radar systems so they don’t groom thin areas and risk damaging the ground beneath.
But now, Sunkid, the company most famous for its conveyor lift systems, has created an all-wooden piste basher – so, presumably, completely eco-friendly – but one that’s not designed to move, just to be played on by children!
Measuring just under 10m long, 4m wide and 4.8m high, it includes an operator’s compartment with two seats, a movable control joystick, a crawl tunnel made from varnished plastic and a 4.6m high snow blade designed as a climbing wall. There’s also a wide slide made of fibreglass and a cable winch used as a slackline as well as a crane boom with a rope.
The first of Sunkid’s play groomer was purchased by Arosa ski area in Switzerland but the company is happy to produce more on demand. If you’d like one, they cost €45,000 (about £38,000) ex works and will be delivered in kit form.
