All fired up for start of ski season

AUSTRALIA'S ski resorts are gearing up for their busiest season in years after flooding the market with deals to win snow lovers back.

Clicquot in the Snow Thredbo

AUSTRALIA'S ski resorts are gearing up for their busiest season in years after flooding the market with deals to win snow lovers back - and attract first timers.

They can't reveal the exact number sold, but with the major resorts offering earlybird season passes for prices not seen since the 1980s at the end of last season the slopes are set to be buzzing this year.

Resorts have also introduced a range of innovations for this season, which kicks off on the June long weekend.

Resorts in both NSW and Victoria have been blessed with good early season falls, with up to 30cm of snow falling at some resorts last weekend.

While some has melted in warmer temperatures, combined with snowmaking it has allowed Perisher in NSW to open Front Valley this weekend - one week early.

It is the second year in a row Perisher has decided to open early, with profits from ticket sales this weekend being donated to the local community.

The resort hopes to beat the $20,000 raised for charity last year.

Perisher has changed its pricing this year, with customers able to buy a five-day lift ticket that can be used over seven days, with the option of adding lessons to any days they wish, either over the counter or online.

It has also introduced an iPhone app with the latest information about snow conditions, lift status, events and deals.

The resort also has a new MyRide Dashboard competition, where you can compete with friends to see who has skied the most vertical metres and share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Nearby Thredbo also has a new iPhone app and has rolled out its radio frequency lift gates to every lift and T-Bar across the mountain.

Guests can also upload their MyThredbo passes with money credit which can be used at restaurants, bars and shops across the resort.

Charlotte Pass, which is accessible by over-snow vehicles from Perisher, has a new weekly night kids flare run, while the family-owned Selwyn Snowfields has upgraded its picnic and toboggan facilities.

Mt Buller, which is the closest major ski resort to Melbourne in Victoria, has a new quad chairflift on the northern slopes - its third new lift in seven years.

The 530m Bonzer Chairlift, which cuts a line down through the trees on Burnt Hut Spur, is part of a $5 million investment, including a new ticketing system and extra snowmaking.

The Howqua Chair also has comfortable new Poma chairs with kids safety bumpers.

Falls Creek and Hotham are rolling out a new electronic ticketing system which lets guests buy lift tickets and lessons, organise equpment hire and book ski lessons in advance.

Hotham, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of its first ski lift this year, has new savings on multiday lift passes and discounts on holidays in June and September.

But what do the snow gods have in store?

Snowatch.com.au forecaster Peter Taylor says it is normal to get some good early season falls, but resorts will be mostly reliant on snowmaking to get runs going, which is normal for early June.

With the wet La Nina pattern of 2011 broken down, he says we have entered a cycle called ENSO Neutral (El Nino/La Nina Southern Oscillation), which occurs roughly every five years.

During this period you will see warm sea surface temperatures and high pressure on one side of the Pacific Ocean and cool sea surface temperatures and low pressure on the other.

This means drier than normal conditions across the south east of Australia.

"Of course natural snowfalls will increase as we approach late June but at this stage I see a fairly average start to the season,'' he says.

"No major dumps for early June but plenty of snowmaking nights.

"You only need two or three decent dumps to set up the season.''

Over the ditch in New Zealand, competition for Australian skiers and snowboarders is as strong as ever.
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia are boosting direct flights between Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and Queenstown on the South Island to cater for an expected rise in demand.

The Remarkables has opened more terrain and two new buses have been bought to ease congestion to the resort and Coronet Peak.

The electronic mypass card lift ticket system introduced two years ago has been upgraded at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt, near Christchurch, so guests can preload money which can be spent on any transaction at all three resorts.

Mt Hutt and the gateway town of Methven have also formed a new partnership, with participating businesses allowing children 10 years and under to stay, eat and ski for free.

More safety barriers have also been put up along the Mt Hutt access road.

Treble Cone welcomes its first fun park this season, which will be located at the bottom of Bullet in the Saddle Basin and have entry level features aimed at children aged four to 13 years.

Cardrona has redeveloped it learner's slopes, making them bigger and more accessible with a new magic carpet surface conveyor.

Eight of New Zealand's independent ski fields have also joined forces to offer an interchangeable pass that gives skiers and snowboarders access to 2230ha of terrain.

Cardrona, Treble Cone, Snowpark, Snowfarm, Ohau, Mt Dobson, Roundhill and the Porters Ski Area are offering visitors the OnePassNZ.

And if the snow gods aren't playing ball, it can also be used at some of NZ's most popular off-snow attractions, including the Shotover Jet, Canyon Swing and Skyline Gondola in Queenstown.

2012 Events

June 16 - 22: Learn to ski week at Hotham Alpine Resort in Victoria

June 22 - July 1: Winterfest in Queenstown, New Zealand, which includes a parade, ice skating rink and sheep racing.

July 14: Burton Cattleman's Rail Jam at Mt Buller. Top riders gather to hit the famous Cattleman's staircase rail for huge cash and glory.

July 21, August 18 and September 8: Perisher PlayStation Slopestyle series for snowboarders and skiers.

July 31 - August 5: Clicquot in the Snow, Thredbo Village, where the village turns yellow with events including apres ski parties, exclusive dinners, tastings and picnics in the snow.

August 19 - 25: Charlotte Pass Winter Festival, Charlotte Pass, with flare runs, fireworks, free tubing, road gap jumping, a wine tasting lunch, live music and an outdoor ice bar.

September 6 - 7: Spring Carnival at The Remarkables in New Zealand with activities such as the annual Pond Skim.
 

Clicquot in the Snow Thredbo