Thredbo local gives tourists 'grim' reality check about Aussie ski slopes

"And it's only August. What a joke."

As the Australian ski season winds down, a man has taken to social media to give a blunt 'reality check' about the current state of Thredbo's ski slopes. 

He shared a photo in the 'Snowy Mountains Uncensored' Facebook group, where locals and tourists exchange tips and experiences in the popular skiing area. 

The picture shows one of Thredbo's famous ski runs, Supertrail, but instead of being covered in thick, fresh powder, the mountain looks rather bleak, with large patches of exposed ground where snow once covered. 

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Image: Facebook

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"What a joke"

The post was captioned, "Thredbo reality check," and quickly went viral, with many group members sharing their disappointment at the lack of snow and the resort itself for still operating as usual. 

One person said: "Yep, even with no snow they’re still charging a ski pass to go for a ride on the gondola. No one was on it but it was running empty. You would think management would do this at a cheaper price for a scenic ride and get some money for it. Inside of it going round and round empty... it’s not rocket science. It's about $45 for a tourist ride."

"Time for the coast," one woman wrote, adding, "what a joke."

"It's been a very sad season," someone else claimed.

Then one person said that they'd booked a trip for this weekend and now want to get a refund but "can't." 

"It's so sh*t, I'm just going to have to wing it," they said.

"Gutted, thanks for the update," another skier shared.

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"This is not normal"

However, others said it wasn't as bad as the poster was making it out to be, with one pointing out that it's just "that time of the season!"

But someone replied: "No, it's not! It usually gets like this in late September, not August. This is not normal."

"Just means it's time to switch sports and go mountain biking," a different person added, trying to put a positive spin on the conversation.

But the author replied: "Mountain biking isn't starting early because of the lack of snow."

Image: Facebook

Someone else shared a photo of the snow in August 2022 and by comparison, the ground and trees are entirely saturated in snow.

"Those days are over," one person replied to the throwback photo. 

"This is our new norm," another echoed. 

"Yep, it should be peak season now, but it's about five weeks ahead of normal," someone else explained.

Thredbo responds

A Thredbo spokesperson told Kidspot: "Thredbo Resort is still open for skiing and snowboarding. The resort has offered incredible snow conditions over the past two months and while recent warmer weather and rainfall have now impacted the mountain, there is still a variety of lifts and trails open for guests to enjoy.

"Currently, Thredbo's specially built Friday Flat beginner area is open, offering the ultimate terrain for learning how to ski or snowboard. The Cruiser area remains open as well, providing access to a range of much-loved family-friendly trails including Walkabout, Ballroom, High Noon and two terrain parks. With more snowfall and colder temperatures in the forecast for the coming weeks, Thredbo is committed to opening as much terrain as possible if conditions allow.

"Plus, it's not all about the skiing and snowboarding in Thredbo! Guests visiting this spring can enjoy a jam-packed lineup of events, free entertainment and activities including thrilling rides on the new Alpine Coaster, a series of the resort's famous après events featuring headliners Bag Raiders, Stace Cadet and KLP, daily guided backcountry and snowshoe adventures, yoga, fireworks every Saturday night, live music everyday, unique dining experiences, free family flare runs and fireworks on Thursday nights, Kids Snow Festivals during school holidays, an action-packed series of skiing and snowboarding competitions and more."

The spokesperson also mentioned that Thredbo has a range of Special Deals for the remainder of the season to help guests save on lift passes, accommodation and rental equipment. 

Originally published as Thredbo local gives tourists 'grim' reality check about Aussie ski slopes