Aussie love affair with summer is cooling, new research shows

ARE we over summer? New research shows more and more Aussies are finding a warm spot in their hearts for winter chills and spills.

Winter’s so hot right now: The 2016 National Winter Report, commissioned by Thredbo Resort, suggests 40 per cent of Aussies actually prefer the cooler winter months to summer heat. Picture: Supplied

A GROWING number of Aussies — 40 per cent — prefer winter to summer, research commissioned by Thredbo Village and ski resort suggests. And it’s the Gen Y’s who think winter is so hot right now.

Although that might be debatable today, unless you’re out on the ski-fields, with large parts of the East Coast still reeling from the big chill which came in last Friday.

The 2016 National Winter Report, conducted by OmniPoll in April with 1200 respondents,

challenged the belief Australia is a country of sun-obsessed children of the summer.

The research found that 40 per cent of respondents now prefer winter to summer — up from 25 per cent in 2014, when the survey was last conducted.

And for 18 to 24 year olds, the love affair with summer may well and truly be over, with almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of respondents in that age group indicating they prefer winter over summer.

The report also found 41 per cent of the population has experienced a snow holiday and a total of 84 per cent of young adults respondents said they like or love winter, and more than a third (36 per cent) proclaim winter their favourite season.

Director of Brand Development Angus Thomson said it was exciting to see the growing popularity of snow holidays — the challenge now is to convert the other 60 per cent of summer lovers.

“We love research like this because it reaches people who have never been before. We know most people who’ve had a snow holiday want to come back, but it’s valuable to hear form those who dream of a winter holiday but haven’t tried it,” he said.

Mt Thomson said the fact 41 per cent of respondents had already enjoyed a snow holiday showed significant growth in winter’s popularity, despite Australians’ perceived penchant for summer.

He said two good ski seasons in Australian alpine areas may also have boosted interest.

And the big chill has set the scene — and the snow base — for another good skiing and snowboarding season. Falls since the big chill hit late last week have dumped up to 70cm of snow across commercial ski fields in Victoria and NSW, with more forecast later this week.

Originally published as Aussie love affair with summer is cooling, new research shows