Do slope groomers grind up ice?

[SWriverstone]

Okay, this may sound like a dumb question...but...I'm curious to know exactly what a grooming machine does to the slopes.

Does it just smooth and evenly distribute the loose stuff and "comb" it into corduroy? Or (and this is what I really want to know) does it actually grind frozen surfaces down to a certain depth and then smooth it out and comb it?

I've never seen one in action up-close. Our local resort tonight sucked because it was like a titanium surface (ice) with a light dusting of artificial snow over top.

So I was wondering if the groomers can grind up that titanium and turn it back into loose granular stuff?

Scott

[Pat Donnelly]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_grooming

[bobdea]

Different Amonts of down preassure and the speed they move as well as strategic use of the blade can clean up glare ice to sometimg useable and decent overnight

[Pat Donnelly]

My local hill has a seldom used attachment to bust ice. The implement mounts on the front and consists of a series of 2" diameter bars mounted vertically which drop in sequence to bust up heavy ice. Then the tillers grind up aft. Makes for snow cone on top of boiler plate.

[Fastskiguy]

I just hate it when they till just the top 1/2" over brick hard ice. But I guess it's better than not tilling at all.... I think the best is when they shoot a little fresh stuff on top then till the mix.