Perisher Valley (NSW), Australia (Tuesday, May 11, 2004) - The Ridge has long been a popular run at Perisher Blue for advanced skiers and boarders. In fact the Swiss, Norwegian, German, Canadian, and Australian World Cup Ski Teams have trained on its terrain over the years. 2004 sees an expansion of the resort's snow making system to include the terrain on the Ridge, now ensuring it will open earlier than usual. Expert skiers and boarders will also benefit with the lengthening of time that Excelerator will remain open. The new snowmaking system comprises 15 new snow guns, extra pipe work, and an Atlas Copco 6000 cfm air compressor worth AUS$600,000.

Snowmaking on the Ridge is another in a string of key master plan improvements Perisher Blue continues to make across the resort.

SUPER PIPE
Perisher Blue’s first ever Super Halfpipe will be operational for the 2004 season with the resort's acquisition of a “Snow Turbo Half Pipe Grinder” (HPG) with specially fitted mangan steel bi-lateral blades to cut snow and ice and smooth finish the walls.

The Super Pipe will have walls 4.5 meters (15 feet) high with a transition radius of about 5.2 meters (17 feet). This is a much bigger transition area, creating a safer landing platform for everyday skier and boarder use and allowing experts the opportunity to generate more speed to launch huge maneuvers off the lip and above the pipe.

The HPG can also be used for the construction of international standard terrain parks. It can be adjusted to make spines, banks, quarter pipes and berms for skier and boarder cross enthusiasts.

INCREASING TERRAIN PARKS
A Kids Mini Terrain Park is proposed for Perisher Blue's Happy Valley area. Mini jumps and berms will allow kids the chance to advance their air skills and tricks and also develop their skills on the shorter, lower to the ground rails with the full feeling and balance required to rail slide without being intimidated by the sight of technically challenging adult versions.

The Experts Terrain Park known as the Slopestyle course and located within a fenced-off section on Perisher’s Front Valley will return in 2004 offering big hits specially designed for competition use.

The Terrain Park at Blue Cow and the Rail Park at Leichhardt return in 2004 with a mixture of hits, berms and rails designed to challenge the more experienced skiers and boarders.

THE HOME OF AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS
Perisher Blue has joined forces with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) to become the home resort for the Australian Olympic Snowboard half pipe program. The Australian Olympic Half Pipe Snowboard Teams and the NSW Institute of Sports as well as rising stars will now be able to train on world class facilities at Perisher Blue.

In addition Perisher Blue also hosts the OWIA programs for the Mogul Skiing Olympic Teams. A new Freestyle Mogul Course will be implemented this season at the lower part of the Ridge Chair and will be home to the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia’s mogul team. It will also be a great place for bump lovers to test their ability on a world class course.

SNOW DECK PARK
Opening on selected days and purpose-built especially for the newest form of snow riding, a park just for snow decks will be constructed on Perisher Blue’s Front Valley. Just like a skate board or a mini snow board without bindings each deck is fitted with a leash to ensure no boards get away from their riders. The dedicated park will allow enthusiasts to perform their tricks in a closed, safe environment.

AROUND THE RESORT
Perisher Blue's Mountain Operations staff has worked tirelessly on summer slope grooming for the upcoming season. Various trails across the resort have been cleared of rocks and other obstacles, with particular attention to rock removal in Blue Cow’s Ridge area for improved trail access.

Another 1 km of Snow Fencing will assist the resort in the capture and retention of snow. Groomers are able to collect snow caught by the strategically placed fences and push it into areas that need additional cover, such as traverse tracks, lift load and unloads.

Perisher Blue’s snow grooming fleet has been bolstered with the introduction of a new Bombardier MP275 grooming machine. Perisher Blue now has 20 snow groomers working in the resort, the biggest fleet in Australia.