Ryan Knutson

What curriculum should they use? How many teachers should they hire? Neom's consultants had gotten a head start on some of those questions, like figuring out how big Neom's student population would be. But Tony didn't find much use for their work.

What curriculum should they use? How many teachers should they hire? Neom's consultants had gotten a head start on some of those questions, like figuring out how big Neom's student population would be. But Tony didn't find much use for their work.

What curriculum should they use? How many teachers should they hire? Neom's consultants had gotten a head start on some of those questions, like figuring out how big Neom's student population would be. But Tony didn't find much use for their work.

Elsewhere at Neom, Andy was also busy problem solving. Given the lack of snow, Neom's consultants had suggested using a kind of synthetic material to ski on. It almost looked like carpet that could be rolled out along Neom's slopes.

Elsewhere at Neom, Andy was also busy problem solving. Given the lack of snow, Neom's consultants had suggested using a kind of synthetic material to ski on. It almost looked like carpet that could be rolled out along Neom's slopes.

Elsewhere at Neom, Andy was also busy problem solving. Given the lack of snow, Neom's consultants had suggested using a kind of synthetic material to ski on. It almost looked like carpet that could be rolled out along Neom's slopes.

But to figure out if this could work, Andy would need data. Data he didn't have.

But to figure out if this could work, Andy would need data. Data he didn't have.

But to figure out if this could work, Andy would need data. Data he didn't have.

And so Andy threw on his hiking boots to see what he could learn about the region he'd been tasked with developing.

And so Andy threw on his hiking boots to see what he could learn about the region he'd been tasked with developing.

And so Andy threw on his hiking boots to see what he could learn about the region he'd been tasked with developing.

On one of those hikes, Andy stopped by a small radar station operated by the Saudi Air Force. Turns out the staff there collected weather data.

On one of those hikes, Andy stopped by a small radar station operated by the Saudi Air Force. Turns out the staff there collected weather data.

On one of those hikes, Andy stopped by a small radar station operated by the Saudi Air Force. Turns out the staff there collected weather data.

As far as snowmaking went, that data was actually encouraging. There were weeks during the winter when temperatures in Neom's mountains regularly dropped below freezing, at least for part of the day.

As far as snowmaking went, that data was actually encouraging. There were weeks during the winter when temperatures in Neom's mountains regularly dropped below freezing, at least for part of the day.

As far as snowmaking went, that data was actually encouraging. There were weeks during the winter when temperatures in Neom's mountains regularly dropped below freezing, at least for part of the day.

Tell people you're building a ski resort in Saudi Arabia, and the eyebrows go up pretty fast. But here was evidence that it could actually work.

Tell people you're building a ski resort in Saudi Arabia, and the eyebrows go up pretty fast. But here was evidence that it could actually work.