Italian Snowmaking Expert Davide Cerato's Crucial Role at 2026 Winter Olympics
While he won't be competing for medals, Italian snowmaking specialist Davide Cerato will play a pivotal role in the success of skiing and snowboarding events at the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The expert is responsible for perfecting several competition courses that will feature in the Games, approaching this critical task with the utmost seriousness and dedication.
The Importance of Perfect Conditions
"It's the most important race of their life," Cerato emphasised regarding the athletes who will compete on his prepared surfaces. "Our duty is to give them the best, to deliver the best courses where they can perform their best after training so hard." His extensive experience in the field dates back to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, having worked consistently with both the International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the International Olympic Committee over many years.
These days, manufactured snow – which Cerato prefers to call "technical snow" – has become absolutely fundamental to elite ski racing. It has become so prevalent that Olympic athletes now take competing on artificial surfaces completely for granted. Their primary concern is ensuring courses will endure multiple training runs and the actual races without deteriorating into mushy or rutted surfaces that could compromise performance or safety.
Climate Challenges and Technological Solutions
With climate change having a particularly pronounced impact on winter sports globally, the ability to produce reliable artificial snow has become absolutely essential for major international competitions. Mother Nature can no longer be relied upon to consistently provide the perfect conditions required for Olympic-level events.
The organising committee estimates that the 2026 Games will require approximately 946 million litres (250 million gallons) of water for snowmaking operations – a staggering quantity equivalent to nearly 380 Olympic swimming pools. Cerato has personally overseen significant engineering work involved in carving out new high-elevation water reservoirs specifically designed to store this crucial resource.
Major Infrastructure Projects
At the Livigno Snow Park, which will stage freestyle skiing and snowboarding events, a substantial basin has been constructed capable of holding about 200 million litres (53 million gallons) of water. Cerato notes this is now one of the largest reservoirs on the Italian side of the Alps. More than 50 snow guns have been added there with capacity to produce approximately 800 million litres (211 million gallons) of snow in roughly 300 hours of operation.
In Bormio, which will host Alpine ski racing and ski mountaineering events, Cerato confirmed construction of a lake at an elevation of 2,300 metres (2,515 yards) designed to hold 88 million litres (23 million gallons) of water. Additionally, 75 snow guns have been installed specifically for the Alpine skiing and ski mountaineering courses. "We brought the Bormio slope to a new level," he stated, vividly comparing the transformation to a "Ferrari with new gears."
Precision Control and Safety Benefits
By manufacturing snow, organisers gain precise control over a slope's quality and hardness. This allows them to prepare courses meticulously according to International Ski Federation requirements, ensuring consistent conditions for all competitors regardless of their starting position. Cerato explained that working with technical snow is inherently easier because of its compact nature, and it offers enhanced safety as it doesn't deteriorate as quickly as natural snow.
The process allows water to be injected deep into the snowpack, which then freezes to create a far more stable and durable race surface. "We can deliver better, safer and fair courses," he asserted. "That is the difference — a fair course from bib No. 1 to bib No. 50."
Advanced Monitoring Technology
Cerato and his team are leveraging state-of-the-art sensor technology to continuously monitor snow depth across all competition courses. If a gap in coverage is detected, snow guns automatically activate. Conversely, if there's excess snow, they promptly turn off. "It automatically adjusts everything, each snow gun, so you can control with just one person sitting in the office, all the mountain," Cerato explained, underscoring the remarkable efficiency of this automated system.
Furthermore, in Bormio, snow groomers have been equipped with advanced GPS systems that monitor snow quality and levels, leading to significant savings in time, energy, and precious water resources. The GPS-enabled equipment precisely identifies where to push snow and the exact quantity required, ensuring that "you produce the minimum amount of snow that you need," Cerato described, calling the technology "a powerful tool."
Personal Connection to Natural Snow
While his professional focus remains firmly on preparing slopes for elite competition – which differs significantly from commercial ski operations where natural snow is often considered precious – Cerato acknowledges his personal preference for skiing in natural powder conditions. "I was born on the mountain," he reflected. "I love snow." This personal connection to winter environments informs his professional dedication to creating the best possible conditions for athletes despite the technological interventions required in today's climate-challenged world.
