2012 Australian Snow Season

[mickeylieu]

...continued from the 2011 thread.

News from the top of my head:

- Perisher have released their early season pricing with some new products (eg midweek tickets during the week): http://perisher.com.au/tickets-passe...ion/prices.php

- Both Perisher and Thredbo have begun looking for job applications for the season: http://www.perisherjobs.com.au/ and http://thredbo.com.au/about-thredbo/snow-jobs/

- Only one new chairlift is being built this year in Australia - at Mt Buller: http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Detail/Wi...atest-News/242

- New goggles to look out for: Zeal Optics Z3 GPS (Android meets googles!): http://www.zealoptics.com/z3.html


- With the awesome $USD, I can totally recommend a super cheap drop shipping company I've been using to get my gear from the US: http://www.shopbink.com/

- Travis Rice's Red Bull Supernatural just finished in BC: http://vimeo.com/36350014

- Shaun White's perfect score at the recent X-games:



And some good snow driving tips...

Originally Posted by PabloEscobar

Driving in/to the snow.

Cliffnotes - Drive Slow, let faster drivers past, don't be a dickhead, ICE is dangerous.


Yes! the roads are twisty, No! you are not Colin Mcrae (although if you insist in driving that way, you may end up like Possum Bourne).

Rules for Driving up hills to ski resorts.

1/Drive slowly. The snow will still be there if you arrive 10 minutes late, The amount of cars I've seen make dangerous overtakes on the road to Falls, only to have them come up behind a bus 2K's up the road is ridiculous.

2/Use turnouts. Every few K's there will be a wide shoulder, if someone comes up behind you, please pull into the shoulder and allow them to pass. The fact that they have come up behind you means that they want to travel faster than you up the hill. Pulling over to let them pass means theres less chance of them making a dangerous overtaking move and wiping out a family who is coming the other way.

3/Ice. I don't care how many wheel drive your car is or how much EST, ABS or GST its got... Drive as if you have NO traction (on ice, chances are you dont). This means doing EVERYTHING in slow motion. Accelerating, Turning, Stopping.

I remember during my first season, I'd taken the 4wd up to Hotham, It was a nice sunny day and I was heading home, Windows down, radio up. turned the gentlest corner on the hill, hit ice, quick as a flash, I was a passenger, The car had hit a patch of black ice (that you cant see) and was sliding towards the edge (no barriers). Jumped on the brakes... Nothing, Tried to accelerate out of it... Nothing. Tried sawing the wheel... Nothing... If the ice had gone all the way to the edge of the ridge, I'd have slid off. Luckily the dirt shoulder was not iced up, and I was able to regain control about 30 cm from the edge. Ever since then I have been uber careful on the roads up to the resorts.

4/ Drive a sensible car to the snow. Everyone mocks ricers for having 'snow plow' body kits on their cars.... If you have a car like this. Don't bring it to the snow. If your car is super low, leave it down the hill and catch a bus.

Chains must be carried by ALL vehicles headed to Victorian resorts, We have been checked a number of times. I've also heard stories of people being made to fit them (to make sure they know how, and the chains are the correct size for the car). Once again, if your car is super low, or has shiny chrome spinners that you don't want ruined by snow-chains... catch a bus.

5/ Allow ample time... 1hr from Mt Beauty to Falls, 1hr from Harrietville to Hotham. If I need to be up the hill by 9... I leave home at 8. Sometimes i'm up the hill by 8:20... but Its not worth the stress and hassle of having to overtake a Bus or Truck on a mountain pass.

6/ Leaving, Chances are you will be leaving the same time as most of the other guests on the mountain. (Sunday afternoon), the roads will be busy, just leave a good gap to the car in front, and cruise happily down the hill, there will be Buses everywhere, so speed isn't going to help.

If your lucky enough to have had a decent dump while your car was parked in the snow, DON'T DRIVE WITH 1 FOOT OF SNOW PILED ON YOUR ROOF. Its a hazard to yourself (can slide forward and block vision) and to others.

My steps when digging out a snowed in car

a/ Dig out the numberplate - Stories abound of people who have spent hours digging out their car, only to have their key not fit and discover they have dug out someone else's car.

b/ Dig out the radiator - Snow is a very effective insulator, and if you start your car with snow blocking the grill, you can overheat the car very quickly

c/ Dig out the door - Passenger or drivers side, whichever is easiest.

d/ Jump in and start the car, crank the front and rear demisters on full.

e/ Wait, take some pictures of the view down the Valley.

f/ By now, there will be thin film of water between your car and the snow. With a good push, the snow should come of easily. Make sure you push to the side, nothing worse than having the shovel the snow you've just cleared from the roof/windscreen/bonnet of your car because it landed in front.

g/ If there is a buildup of snow in front of your car, then dig 2 wheel tracks out, so you can can get some momentum, or be able to move the car to fit chains (if required).

h/ Drive out (some rocking may be required (forward/reverse)).

i/ Enjoy the drive home.

Later

[lythari]

Originally Posted by mickeylieu

- New goggles to look out for: Zeal Optics Z3 GPS (Android meets googles!): http://www.zealoptics.com/z3.html
movie

*DROOL* But it costs ~10 times more than a standard pair of goggles

[PabloEscobar]

Originally Posted by mickeylieu

- Only one new chairlift is being built this year in Australia - at Mt Buller: http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Detail/Wi...atest-News/242

Its not really new, Its just replacing one that was struck by lightning and written off by insurance . It doesn't open up any new Terrain.

- Mt Hotham Employment Opportunities - http://www.hothamjobs.com.au/

- Falls Creek Employment Opportunities - http://www.fallscreek.com.au/Careers

- Mt Buller Employment Opportunities - http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Listings/.../Mountain/Jobs

The $699 Season passes everyone (except buller) offered at the end of last season were crazy cheap.

Hotham/Falls Ticket Prices Released

1 Day $106
2 Day $212 (Weekend $185)
3 Day $270
4 Day $360
5 Day $424
6 Day $509
7 Day $557

Hopefully it's a good season.

[choppa]

Holy crap, it costs > $100 for a single day to go into the snow?

How much would it cost for 2 adults to go to the snow and hire equipment (skiing stuff) + get lessons over say 3 days?

[Comma]

Originally Posted by choppa

Holy crap, it costs > $100 for a single day to go into the snow?

How much would it cost for 2 adults to go to the snow and hire equipment (skiing stuff) + get lessons over say 3 days?

Probably like... $1000 for the whole dealio (Food/Accom) in somewhere reasonable.

Australia is expensive when it comes to snow. Part of the reason I've never shredded here.

[Nikoy]

its cheaper for me in perth to fly to QT to go boarding. Its also better.

[Jaff]

The missus and I were planning to go down to the Snowies after having spent a week down there a month or two back - would love to see what it's like when it's actually snow-covered. Having checked out potential accommodation costs and throw in a few activities for a week.... It'll be cheaper to go to Hawaii or NZ, and probably get to stay longer!

[dr1fta]

im planning on spending a week up in NSW this year, try and explore everything Australia has to offer.

Done NZ and JP so maybe finish with our own backyard before whistler

[Fraggle]

Thanks for the ShopBink link!

Using Shipito but their fees keep going up and up For smaller consolidations at least and orders from their store directory it's looking like worth switching business

Been to Thredbo about 6 or 7 times in as many years, but the ticket prices have really got me looking elsewhere this season. Got a full week in Queenstown for August so looking forward to broadening my horizons

[Nikoy]

I just spent a week in Morzine/Avoriaz/Port de sol and Les Gets

It was awesome so much better than NZ not only the snow but the amount of runs.. Epic it was.

One awesome powder day then the rest were sunny days.

I did buy boots in london and rented a board but now i am thinking I need my own board and bindings as the rental bindings just crushed my foot and boots. So wait till march and order from the states.

[Comma]

Originally Posted by Nikoy

I just spent a week in Morzine/Avoriaz/Port de sol and Les Gets

It was awesome so much better than NZ not only the snow but the amount of runs.. Epic it was.

One awesome powder day then the rest were sunny days.

I did buy boots in london and rented a board but now i am thinking I need my own board and bindings as the rental bindings just crushed my foot and boots. So wait till march and order from the states.

My friend grew up near a resort in the swiss alps. His mother and her sister, both seasoned skiiers of 20+ seasons decided to race one day. Forty five minutes was the quickest time top to bottom. These mountains are just so much bigger than the nearby ones.

Keep in mind that in both Japan and NZ, any mountain over 1800m is considered national park and you cannot build a ski lift on it...

In other news. No mid year trip for me, probably just going to go to a South East Asian country, get some suits made up and get my diver's license.

However I shall be doing probably 50 days between Norway (Hovden) and the Alps (Undecided)

[Nikoy]

Originally Posted by Comma

My friend grew up near a resort in the swiss alps. His mother and her sister, both seasoned skiiers of 20+ seasons decided to race one day. Forty five minutes was the quickest time top to bottom. These mountains are just so much bigger than the nearby ones.

Keep in mind that in both Japan and NZ, any mountain over 1800m is considered national park and you cannot build a ski lift on it...

In other news. No mid year trip for me, probably just going to go to a South East Asian country, get some suits made up and get my diver's license.

However I shall be doing probably 50 days between Norway (Hovden) and the Alps (Undecided)

Yes took at least an hour to get from the top of les gets to the super morzine lift home.

maddess.

I am looking at Queenstown in augest then Japan in Jan

So I can justify buying a board and some decent bindings.

[nordica-k2]

Originally Posted by Nikoy

its cheaper for me in perth to fly to QT to go boarding. Its also better.

That's exactly what we're doing this year Last 2 years were at perisher... time for a change :P

[Kore_5022]

I paid less for my time in switzerland to snowboard + accom than it costs to snowboard in Aust which is a joke considering the MASSIVE difference in quality >.>

Still i love the atmosphere and would kill to be able to work there again


Also shaun white is a freak... an amazing freak soooooo jelly of that guys talent.

[PabloEscobar]

Is my google FU failing me, or have Buller not released ticket prices yet.

When Everyone else was doing their $699 super early passes, Buller were getting lambasted on facebook. I wonder if this will continue when they release day ticket prices as well .