Perisher Valley (NSW), Australia (Wednesday, July 10, 2002) - Perisher Blue has opened the first halfpipe of the season in Australia. Perisher's pipe is 100 meters long, 18 meters wide and four meters high, with a 12 degree incline.

The pipe will ultimately be configured to comply with ISF World Pro Tour specifications, with the inclination short by only a couple of degrees of being a recognized and registered a world-class pipe. No resort in Australia has ever had an ISF class pipe. At the moment, Perisher Blue is closest to achieving that status. It was designed by US experts and is shaped daily by grooming machines equipped with Snow Turbo Grinders.

Catering for both skiers and snowboarders, Perisher Blue’s half pipe will this year feature a "Big Air Stick," allowing riders to measure just how much air they get. The Big Air Stick measures from the top of the lip up to 3.5 metres vertical.

Floodlighting happens again on the pipe Saturday Nights on Front Valley. This means that Perisher Blue will have the only Night Pipe Riding in Australia. A rope tow alongside the pipes means you can conserve energy, expending effort riding down the pipe rather than walking up it. Perisher Blue has also introduced a dedicated half-pipe pass. At AUD $50, the pass offers a saving of AUD $27 on a regular day pass, cutting costs for those interested only in riding the pipe.

The pipe is just the beginning of Perisher Blue’s commitment to freeride skiers and boarders. The resort hopes to soon open a beginners' pipe, which will allow riders to practice their tricks in the smaller pipe, before taking it to the next level in the master pipe.

The resort will also extend the master pipe by a further 20 meters, giving guests more room to perfect front and back side air moves, spins and grabs.

The two terrain parks located at Centre Valley and Blue Cow are also scheduled to open within the next two weeks, based on North American models and scheduled to include state-of-the-art rails, kickers and tabletops.

“Here at Perisher Blue we are always trying to improve, expand and increase our features,” Mountain Manager Mick Fernside said of the initiatives. “We are proud of our reputation as the forefront resort in halfpipe and terrain facilities and intend to continue that tradition.”

Adam Galbraith, who heads up the team dedicated to the halfpipes and terrain parks, said Perisher Blue’s facilities continue to improve.

“This halfpipe is probably the highest caliber in the Southern Hemisphere. Snow riders aren’t going to know what hit them,” he said.