The Snow Gauge: what’s new on the slopes
Your weekly ski and snowboard roundup.
FIRST TRACKS
A sombre note easing into the weekend with the 18th anniversary of the Thredbo landslide that tragically killed 18 people. A shout out to those family and friends of victims, many of whom are still living and working in the resort and nearby alpine communities.
PARK AND RIDE
With the link between the Utah resort of Park City and Canyons now all official The Snow Gauge is wondering what kind of effect it will have on the decisions Australian skiers and snowboarders make when heading overseas this northern hemisphere winter.
Aussies have always loaded up on Whistler-Blackcomb big time but the aforementioned resort merger will give people plenty of food for thought. At 2954ha it now becomes the biggest resort in the US (Whistler-Blackcomb is 3278ha). Perisher season pass holders, who can ski at the Vail-owned Park City/Canyons for free, must be sorely tempted to lock it in as their overseas destination of choice.
Its inland location makes for drier snow than its Canadian counterpart, but, thanks to relaxed alcohol laws in recent years, not drier in the drinking stakes if you like a bit of apres.
For the record, The Snow Gauge thinks the competition needs to play catch-up with passes here. The Mountain Collective deal which locks in Thredbo with other international destinations has too many limitations.
CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS
Shaun White was so 2010. If you want to see a couple of the world’s best snowboarders you’ll get your chance in Australia and New Zealand later this month and in September. Iouri Podladtchikov, the Swiss 2014 Winter Olympic halfpipe gold medal winner is a confirmed starter for the NZ Winter Games from August 21-30.
You’ll see the “iPod” doing his stuff in the Cardrona pipe, at least until the 23rd. Meanwhile we have it on good authority that the two-time defending halfpipe champion from the X Games, Danny Davis, will be `round Thredbo way early in September. We’ll keep you posted on the dates.
TOP GEAR
Rental as anything: it’s fair to say a high proportion of the skiing and snowboarding populace still hire some, if not all, of their gear. To save a dollar it’s not unreasonable to do this before you go, in the city or in one of the ski area feeder towns. But if something goes wrong?
“That’s when it’s money well spent hiring at the resort,” says Alice Chilcott, manager of Thredbo Sports. Money aside there are several other considerations when getting gear.
“Wear ski or snowboard socks when trying on boots,” she says. “Don’t try to share equipment amongst your group. It is fitted out for one person only. And when you get your gear, try to be accurate with your height, weight and ability, as that determines what you’ll be set-up with.”
Renting isn’t just for rookies either. Most resorts and many ski stores will offer demo skis on which you can get your money back if you make a purchase. Even better – Rossignol is offering completely free demos of all their skis in Thredbo this weekend as well as the 8th and 9th and 29th and 30th of August. Web: www.thredbo.com.au/passes-rentals/
DEALING WITH IT
Fact: On-snow accommodation is expensive in Australia. But the Falls Creek Country Club is offering some handy peak season getaway deals for families. Between August 16 – 22 they can offer a studio-style apartment on snow for four with full kitchen at $1,250. You’d struggle to get a double for that rate in a lot of places so it’s not bad going. To book call 03 5758 3391.
CONDITIONS APPLY – WITH WEATHER GURU PETE `THE FROG’ TAYLOR
After a lean start to the season the last three weeks of July have delivered for Australian resorts and that looks set to continue into August. “I see anywhere from 25-50cm from Sunday through to Tuesday,” says The Frog.
“Monday will be the coldest part of the system and we could see snow down as low as 500m.” There looks to be some more on the way the following week, too. However, there is a word of caution.
“When it arrives the next big high will shut (the systems) down,” warns The Frog who believes the El Nino cycle of reckoning won’t be that far away. The flipside is that New Zealand, which has eased up on the snow stakes in recent weeks, could then get a late winter/spring burst of snow as we dry out.
Expect the Southern Lakes resorts to get a top-up on Friday while it’s clear in Australia. For updated forecasts from The Frog go to: www.snowatch.com.au
LAST RESORT – A LOOK AT AUSTRALASIA’S FORGOTTEN ALPINE AREAS
Tiffindell, South Africa: OK, The Snow Gauge can get a little geographically challenged but I do realise South Africa does not form part of Australasia.
That said, as everything snow-wise in the southern hemisphere gets covered here, I thought it would be remiss not to include southern Africa’s only ski and snowboard area, Tiffindell. Located in the Eastern Cape town of Rhodes (and no, Sydney-types, there’s no Ikea there) it is about seven hours’ drive from Johannesburg.
South Africa has been seeing some pretty decent snow storms this season and Tiffindell has a base of about 50cm-90cm augmented with snowmaking. Let’s be honest: There’s no way you’d go there specifically to ski or snowboard from Australia as it only has a ropetow and two pomas with a longest run of 1.3km.
But short of heading about 13,000km north to Morocco, it’s the best place you’ll find on the continent. There’s ski and snowboard hire, accommodation and presumably some locals you can rib about losing to the Wallabies in the rugby. Web: www.tiffindell.co.za
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Twitter: @thesnowgauge
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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