Observing and Forecasting Snow Surface Temperatures for Nordic Ski Race Courses at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC

Fast skis play an essential role in a nordic athlete's Olympic performance. Using the right combination of ski wax depends on accurate forecasts of the snow surface conditions on the race course with sufficient lead time to prepare race skis. Snow surface observations are used to develop procedures for forecasting snow surface conditions. Infrared surface temperature measurements sampled every few meters around the Callaghan Valley Nordic course are used to examine the spatial variations in snow surface temperature as a function of synoptic weather conditions. Applications of these thermal maps for use by the VANOC Weather Support Team are discussed.