Where to Ski And Snowboard - Australia extends ski season

Australia extends ski season

28th September 2012, by Abi Butcher

As Tignes prepares to open to skiers this weekend, ski resorts in Australia have extended their season and are hailing it as one of the best ever.

Thredbo and Perisher in New South Wales and Mt Buller in Victoria will remain stay open for skiers and snowboarders a week longer than usual thanks to good snowfall last month. Hotham (pictured) and Falls Creek, also in Victoria, will close as usual on Sunday.

Visitors to ski resorts in Victoria are up 12 per cent year on year, and spokesman for New South Wales resort Thredbo Susie Driver said: “this is the season that never stops!”

Australia had its best ever ski season in 2004, and Snow Australia chief executive Colin Hackworth said 2012 was “certainly up there”.

New Zealand is still enjoying fantastic spring conditions with new snow falling this week.

In Europe, cold and windy conditions across the Alps have meant many lifts have been closed this week, but more snow has fallen on the glaciers giving reportedly “excellent” conditions.

Tomorrow (29 September) the Grande Motte opens for skiers and snowboarders in Tignes, which received fresh snow on Thursday. In Saas Fee and Zermatt, now lifts have been partially reopened, skiing is improved thanks to new snow —15cm in Saas Fee.

Austria’s Stubai Glacier and Hintertux are reporting soft snow conditions but are expecting more snow this weekend.

More resorts in the Alps are due to open for skiers and snowboarders in November, including Cervinia in Italy and Les Deux Alps, France.