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Changes Afoot for Australian Ski AreasMelbourne, Australia (Monday, July 17, 2006) - Australian ski areas are working hard to stay ahead of the curve, according to officials at the Australian Ski Areas Association. Following is a summary of what's new at ski and snowboard resorts across the country.
Advanced Reservations System In 2006, stage two of three will be implemented resulting in streamlining of the ticketing system across the entire ski area and external sales outlets. For the future this means one stop shopping. Thredbo Looking good at fifty. Thredbo is turning 50 in 2007 and planning is well underway to celebrate. Planning and negotiations are well underway in signing a new head lease for Thredbo. Snowmaking Thredbo has added to its snowmaking system. In 2005 the system covered 25% of the terrain, and now the summer upgrade means the system is capable of producing 50% more snow in the right conditions. In a three stage, AU$6 million process Thredbo is implementing a fully automated snowmaking system. The AU$2 million first stage is completed ready for winter 2006. This will mean up to three times as much snow by project completion. The significance of automation is that with a touch of a button in favorable temperatures the system can be up and running in just 10 minutes compared to the two hours taken by a manual system. The snowguns are adjusted every 15 seconds automatically to changing conditions which previously tooks two hours. To change the location of snowmaking operations, the remote operator just clicks on the desired area and it’s done automatically. The automated areas in 2006 are Walkabout at the Cruiser, Friday Flat, High Noon, Sundowner and the Supertrail. Free night skiing and boarding At Thredbo enjoy night skiing and boarding for three hours absolutely free. Friday Flat every Thursday night, or the Supertrail under lights on Saturday night for free. Night skiing and boarding from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. through July and August (weather permitting). Grooming The Thredbo Mountain Department have purchased another new AU$500,000 snow cat, a “Park Bully”, that will see more efficient grooming and shaping of the terrain parks. Thredbo now has five Winch Cats and two Park Bullys in the fleet. Accommodation By winter 2006 there will be 16 new apartments. Ranging in size from one to two bedrooms these are mainly around the Woodridge Stage 3 development next to the Thredbo Leisure Centre and Crackenback Ridge. Members of Gunyang Ski Club have a new home and the ten bed lodge is also located in Woodridge Stage 3 close to Friday Flat. Equipment rental Thredbo Sports has spent AU$500,000 upgrading its rental equipment. This includes 950 pairs of new skis across the kids, recreational and executive ranges. There’s 500 pairs of new ski boots for your riding comfort and 700 new pieces of hire clothing. For boarders there are 150 new boards and new for this year is a Miniboard, aimed at the skier crossover market. Basically the smaller board gets you up and going and building confidence quicker than the normal board. For those keen to explore the snow but not go downhill, Thredbo Sports also has a new style of snowshoes for hire. Skiers wanting to try before they buy can trial the demo range from the “Pure Mountain Store” that is located at the base of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift. Access control This winter guests will notice a new bar coded ticket system that offers guests greater ticket security. Your tickets will now be checked electronically every time you ride the lift, so with one quick zap you are on your way. Environmental Thredbo's ongoing commitment to the environment saw a further 2000 eucalyptus trees planted on the mountain this summer. The areas targeted this year were middle and lower sections of the Supertrail. Once again, the aim of the tree planting program is to promote snow retention through shading of runs, and to encourage fall-line riding by better delineation of the trails. Other mountain improvements There’s a new improved service area at the Friday Flat Bistro. Basically, the service areas are mirrored, so now there’s two of everything. The Denman now has a new spa facility, featuring luxurious “Thalgo” treatments by expertly trained masseurs and beauty therapists. Selwyn Snowfields Snowmaking & Slope Grooming Selwyn Snowfields has expanded its snowmaking system which currently covers 80% of skiable terrain on the mountain. More towers were installed over the summer for four of the existing Lenko Fan Guns. Mounting the guns on towers not only improves the coverage area, but it gives the snow crystal longer to form in the atmosphere which ultimately improves the quality of the snow. Selwyn Snowfields has also installed a new gun for exclusive use in the Gentle Annie Children’s Learning Area. This gun is a fully automatic Lenko Lance gun and is the latest snowmaking technology to come out of the Lenko factory in Sweden making it the first of its type in Australia. Extensive slope grooming has occurred over summer to improving slope drainage and help Selwyn's snow last longer through out the season. Selwyn Snowfields has expanded its grooming fleet for 2006 with the purchase of a Pisten Bully 300 Winch Cat. Snow Gums Café Snow Gums Café, the main Cafeteria located inside the Selwyn Centre has undergone extensive capital improvement to its kitchen, a reorganized layout to improve traffic flow and additional indoor seating for those cold days. Online Bookings Selwyn Snowfields holidays can be booked online through the reservation agents, Snowy Mountains Holiday Centre (SMHC). SMHC has upgraded their website, www.smhc.com.au, to enable customers to reserve and pay for their accommodation over the Internet. Fun Parks Selwyn Snowfields had introduced “Fun Parks.” Township Fun Park will contain a variety of terrain features including miniature boxes for wannabe jibbers, Coca-Cola Fun Park include the existing Toboggan Park and the new Bouncing Bogong Jumping Castle. Selwyn turns 40 2006 marks the 40th anniversary of skiing at Selwyn Snowfields. It was towards the end of the winter of 1966 that Colin and Marnie Myers, founders of Selwyn Snowfields, first set up a rope tow at “The Quarry” on the run now known as Township. Help Selwyn Snowfields celebrate this historic occasion by joining in on the festivities over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of August. Charlotte Pass Charlotte Pass has a new transport system for 2006 consisting of a fleet of three new 16-seater 4x4 Isuzu buses with the Mattracks system fitted. The buses were fafricated in WA and the tracks come from the USA. This is a first in Australia and will be useful in marginal snow conditions as thay run on snow, tar or slush with equal ease. VICTORIA & TASMANIA Falls Creek Ski Lifts The Mouse Trap moving carpet has been covered to enhance warmth, operation cost and protection from the elements. The lift is perfect for first time skiers, boarders and children. Monkey Bar is a newly upgraded and faster lift at Playground. creating increased carrying capacity to improved terrain. Snowmaking The snowmaking system on Wombat's Ramble, Australia's longest, undulating beginner run (2.2km) has been expanded. It will now open earlier and remain open longer each winter. Snow-farming With the use of snow fences, “snow-farming” has been expanded to 4km creating improved snow cover by collecting the snow during the big storms for use in high traffic or north facing runs. Terrain Parks A new, beginner-friendly terrain park has been located in the Drover's Dream area. As skills develop, there is an intermediate training ground at Ruined Castle. The purchase of a “Park Bully” Kassbohrer specifically manufactured for use in building features in a resort's terrain park will enhance the option for the free rider. Evenings in the Bowl For the kids, funky Pete the Snow Dragon will perform in the Village Bowl on selected nights throughout the season. This is part of the regular entertainment in the village bowl for the kids. A Bungy Trampoline for learning aerial manoeuvres, and tumbling tricks. This après ski action is to meet for the resort's growing number of vacationing families. Free skiing Sunday afternoon Any consecutive day ticket of 5 days or greater starting on a Monday may be collected and used from 1 p.m. the Sunday prior. If the product includes rental from Falls Creek Sports, equipment may also be collected from 1 p.m. subject to availability. The Sunday afternoon use is for lifts only, no lessons are included in the free half day. Mt. Buller Major Projects Buller Ski Lifts has spent more than AU$4 million in capital works this summer. AU$1 million to expand the resort’s snowmaking system and AU$1 million on the fourth stage of the Village Centre redevelopment that will bring a year-round supermarket to the Village. Grooming Other investments include equipment upgrades for Buller Sports’ ski and snowboard rental fleet, a new PB300 Park Bully groomer and the first stage of the Blue Bullet mid-station redevelopment that will provide a new home for the Snowboard School and Race Department. Snowmaking Buller Ski Lifts is making its first foray into snowmaking automation with the purchase of a AU$1 million automatic snowmaking system for the Shakey Knees. The new system, which will run from the top of the Emirates Discovery Chairlift to the bottom of Shakey Knees, is 30 percent more efficient than manual systems, meaning it produces more snow. It also creates a better quality of snow and is more environmentally friendly as it uses less power. Over summer, Buller Ski Lifts made slope improvements to the fall line in this area, creating 2.4 more hectares of beginner to intermediate skiable terrain. Further snowmaking guns will also be installed on Bourke Street. Mt. Buller’s multi-million dollar snowmaking system now covers more than 70 hectares of skiable terrain, including 17kms of groomed trails, creating fresh snow more often. Village Centre development In 2006, the Mt. Buller Village will feature an expanded range of retail outlets and guest facilities, with the completion of the fourth stage of the Village Centre development. The grandeur and visual appearance of the development has created a greater sense of arrival at the Mt. Buller Village. The expanded building at the bottom of Little Bourke Street will include the relocation of the main ticket office to a new covered ticket hall at the bottom of Bourke St., adjacent to Cattleman’s. There is now 500sqm additional retail space to the west of Buller Sports, remodelling and expanding their capacity while also including the new ‘Altitude’ retail outlet, with more tenancies to follow. A 300sqm year-round Foodworks supermarket will be housed in this new development, offering an increased range of goods. Bullnet In 2006, Buller's guests will find 10 large plasma screens in key locations around the resort, housing the new Mt. Buller Bullnet system. Bullnet is an information system developed and designed to provide real time information to resort guests and mountain staff. Bullnet will provide video streaming snow reports, current weather and forecast, lift status, grooming reports, up to date event information and promotions. Ski and Snowboard School In 2006, the completion of the Bernt Greber Building at Helicoptre Flat will increase the Mt. Buller’s Ski and Snowboard Schools’ capacity in the kids center, while also expanding the Buller Sports retail outlet. This development will include the relocation of the Mt. Buller Snowboard School and Race Department offices to the Bluff View Midstation area Terrain Parks: MBP – Mt Buller Park In 2006, Mt Buller’s Freeride facilities will be bigger and better, giving it a new edge in the industry following the purchase of a PB300 Park Bully groomer and the redesign of the park. Mt. Buller’s 100m earth formed half-pipe and Boardercross course, located on Skyline, are only two aspects of the three new extensive terrain parks, which make up the MBP. The three individual park layout is designed to facilitate all abilities creating an natural progression consistent with the international grading system of S to XL. The S beginner park is located at the Bluff View site, while M-L intermediate riders can build their skill set at the Baldy park and the L-XL experienced riders can tackle the advanced features and huge jumps that make up the Summit Terrain Park. Equipment Buller Sports have upgraded the extensive range of Snowsports equipment available for rent. With six on-mountain locations and an outlet in High Street, Mansfield, Buller Sports is a one-stop shop for all snowsports needs, including lift and lesson tickets, hire equipment and even purchase a resort gate entry pass as they drive through Mansfield. Hotham The Major Projects AU$8 million is being spent on a water re-use project and AU$1.5 million on the renovation of Hotham Central. A new AU$6 million facilities complex will open at Dinner Plain for the 2006 season. The new DP Central and Onsen High Country Spa Retreat is being developed on a 3000sqm site in the Village Circle, in the heart of DP Village. The single-level complex, designed by WA based Grounds Kent Architects, will include:
The center will also act as the reception center for DP Village. Snowmaking With the construction of a high level reservoir at the Mt. Loch parking lot, Hotham’s snowmaking capacity has been improved. Built at a cost of over AU$8 million, snowmaking will be extended to cover Mother Johnson’s Return in 2006, leading to the doubling of Hotham’s snowmaking capabilities by 2007. Grooming A new AU$500,000 dedicated terrain park groomer will work on Hotham’s terrain parks every night. The state-of-the-art “Park Bully” specializes in building jumps, tabletops, berms and a range of other terrain park features. Children The MILO Helmet program offers every child in a Hotham Kids Snowzone lesson free use of a helmet for the duration of their program. Lift Operating Times From Wednesday to Sunday the Heavenly Valley Quad Chair (accessing Hotham’s main ski area) will start spinning at 7:30 a.m. Other Improvements Hotham Central has undergone a significant renovation. The front entrance now features a wind-protected walkway with heated steps, and there will be a new deli style eatery as well as more seating for the public. New public toilets will also be built. Mt. Buffalo, Mt. Baw Baw, and Ben Lomond have also upgraded key facilities. |
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