Last weekend, the annual Queen's Birthday holiday weekend, marked the official opening of the ski resorts in Australia. The three largest ski resorts in Victoria, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek, all started the season off with amazing blue skies and an exceptionally good coverage of snow. With more snow forecast for the coming days, the 2011 ski season in Victoria is really off to a good start.

MBP (Mt Buller Park) on June 16, 2011

Mt Buller celebrated a history-making opening weekend with thousands of people enjoying the fantastic weather, excellent early snow conditions plus the operation of the Wombat Chairlift for the first time ever on a season opening weekend. With 30cm of natural snow falling during the last week and around-the-clock work from the snowmaking team, the resort was able to open 5 lifts with a base of 50cm on man-made snow areas.

Mt Hotham, like Mt Buller had its best start to the season since the year 2000. Opening day saw 3 lifts running and guests enjoying beautifully groomed slopes in perfect weather conditions. The start to the season could not be better for a resort that is celebrating 150 years of skiing in Australia.

After 60+ hours of straight snowmaking and 20 cm of natural snowfalls in the 2 days preceding the week-end, Falls Creek was all set for a big start. Once the ski resort officially opened last Saturday, ski and snow lovers were able to enjoy many celebrations in perfect sunny conditions on a good base of snow (23 cm).

The two largest ski resorts in New South Wales, Threbo and Perisher, also enjoyed a great start to the season and are looking forward to a successful winter. In an unprecedented move for the resorts, Perisher and Thredbo have joined forces and launched a ticket that will allow skiers and snowboarders access to both resorts. In addition to offering greater flexibility and value for money, the new ‘Super Ski Ticket' opens a multitude of opportunities for skiers and snowboarders who now have access to over 1,700 skiable hectares, over 60 lifts.

With fantastic weather, a very good snow base and great initiatives like the new Super Ski Tickets, the 2011 ski season in Australia will hopefully be a very successful one.

Contributed by Edwina Fordyce
FIS news
15/06/2011

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