AusLeisure

With Australia’s alpine resorts gearing up for the start of the ski season, cold weather across southern and eastern Australia has brought good snow falls across the region.

With the ski season set to start on 11th June, up to 50cm of snow has fallen over Monday and Tuesday ahead of the first day of winter on Wednesday.

While pre season predictions had suggested uncertain snow falls through winter as a result of the La Niña weather phenomenon, Snowatch forecaster, Pete Taylor “there’s a lot of moisture around the southern hemisphere (and) normally that would mean we’ll get more rainfall (than snow) but there’s been a shift in the high-pressure system moving to the south, which has allowed cold air to come up and hit the mountains.”

Taylor said the amount of snow expected to fall in the coming three weeks was “usual” for this time of year and might mean some slopes open early, noting “it’s looking like a strong start.”

Perisher, Thredbo and Charlotte Pass are all expected to see up to 94cm of snow in the next 15 days, with Falls Creek and Mount Buller in Victoria looking at more than 70cm.

With the last two ski seasons having been badly affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, alpine resort operators are hoping this year will be one of good snowfalls and high visitor numbers.

Looking back on the last two years, Thredbo retailer and editor of the mountainwatch website, Reggae Elliss, told the ABC “people were doing it tough. They were definitely on the brink of whether or not people went out of business.

"Last year we were excited about the season, and then Sydney went into that lockdown at the start of school holidays and occupancy down here in the Snowy Mountains dropped from 100% to 30%."

Looking forward to the season, Rhylla Morgan, Head of PR and Communications for Buller Ski lifts in the Victorian ski fields, commented "the idea that we can think about going skiing, and having a meal with friends and doing fun stuff, just because it's fun, and it's in a beautiful place, is extraordinary and more exciting than the normal for the beginning of a snow season.”

Image: Snowfall at Thredbo today. Credit: Thredbo Resort/Facebook.

Related Articles

17th May 2022 - Snow Australia launches its Emerging Talent Program for 2022/23

5th May 2022 - Snow flurries on Mt Kosciuszko a sign of approaching winter sports season

31st March 2022 - Mountain and Snow Tourism Summit charts course to sustainable future

29th March 2022 - Thredbo Interschools Championships attracts its largest number of mountain bike riders

16th March 2022 - 2022 Snow Australia awards to celebrate Olympic and Paralympic athletes

25th February 2022 - Thredbo Resort reveals winter 2022 offerings

2nd February 2022 - Peter Brulisauer leaves the snow industry to take on role of Hamilton Island’s Chief Executive

27th January 2022 - New research shows climate change threatening the future of Winter Olympics and all snow sports

16th December 2021 - First jumps taken on Olympic sized dry slope airbag at National Snowsports Training Centre

10th August 2021 - Mt Buller reopens for snow lovers from regional Victoria

27th July 2021 - Mt Buller and Mt Stirling resorts to reopen to snowlovers from midnight

30th June 2021 - Draft management plan proposes year-round tourism in the Snowy Mountains

10th June 2021 - Inspectors visiting on-snow licensed venues to ensure COVID and alcohol safety

8th June 2021 - NSW’s Selwyn Snow Resort set to reopen in 12 months

4th June 2021 - Vail Resorts opens Perisher early for 2021 snow season

19th May 2021 - Vail Resorts announces deadline to secure 2021 Epic Australia Pass

24th April 2021 - 50 days out from Queen’s birthday weekend season opening Mt Buller commences snowmaking

16th July 2020 - Victoria’s Mt Buller advises of ongoing ski operations

9th July 2020 - Vail Resorts suspend operations at Mt Hotham and Falls Creek due to latest COVID-19 outbreak

26th November 2020 - Court rules that Perisher Resort does not have to compensate injured skier

15th June 2020 - Perisher Resort to stagger online sales of lift tickets, lessons and rentals to avoid loading website

14th April 2020 - Construction advances on Thredbo’s new gondola

24th July 2018 - 10-year $10 million investment announced for Charlotte Pass ski area

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.