Ski legend Vreni Schneider fights against the Greens in the Elm: “There is no future here without snowballs”

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Swiss ski legend Vreni Schneider (59) was skiing with her ski students on her hometown mountain in Elm GL when Blick reached her. As a young girl, Schneider strapped her skis under her feet on these slopes every afternoon she didn’t go to school, laying the foundation for her 55 World Cup victories. “I hope that kids can continue to learn to ski here in the future,” says Schneider, who runs a ski, snowboard and racing school in the town. But that’s exactly what’s at stake.

Climate change is affecting Elm sports tracks. Therefore, 130 new snow machines are intended to guarantee snow in the ski area. However, resistance to the project emerged. The Greens of the canton of Glarus held a referendum.

800,000 francs minus last winter

Schneider has no idea about this: “The project is so important for the region, the hotel industry, suppliers, all shops, bus companies, ski clubs, ski camps, ski schools and many other businesses that you cannot oppose it. He says and briefly summarizes his fears: “There is no future here without snowballs.”

This past winter showed how much Elm blooms without new snowmaking. Green meadows as far as the eye can see. Due to a severe lack of snow, the largest ski area in the canton of Glarus was only able to operate sporadically and with a reduced number of pistes over Christmas and New Year. At the end of winter, there was a gap of 800,000 francs left in the safe. “The Futuro snowmaking project is vital for our company,” says Stefan Elmer (50), manager of Elm sports railways.

Winter is vital for business

Mountain railroads have managed to double their summer sales over the past decade, as Elmer puts it: “But we need the money from the snowy winter to invest in the summer.” When we look at the numbers, we see this: Rail operations and restaurants still account for 85 percent of sales in the winter months.

On Wednesday, the Greens submitted a referendum against the special use plan required for the new snowmaking system. According to the Green Party, 927 signatures were collected in two weeks. Only 300 people were enough. For the Greens, this is evidence of the great unrest in the public. The municipality of Glarus Süd still needs to check whether enough signatures are valid.

Does the project need to be scaled down?

Now the people must have the final say. Given climate change, the Greens are particularly at a loss to understand the planned snowmaking in the valley, which extends to nearly 1,000 meters above sea level. The party announced a motion of disapproval for the community meeting, as well as an order to resize the snowmaking system.

The cost of the planned project is approximately 18 million francs. This will allow railroads to make snow on 35 percent of the slopes instead of the current 15 percent. The aim is to ensure operation at an altitude of 1000 to 2100 meters above sea level. The public is expected to decide on the project on June 27. “Sports tracks fought for the project for a very long time. I believe there is great support among the public,” says Vreni Schneider.

Source :Blick