Australia 2018 season preview
It's weeks away until the 2018 season down under kicks off, and with plenty of early snow the new season looks very promising.
Thredbo
The Sponars Traverse has been upgraded and realigned with earthworks and snowmaking to now provide an easier link between the two main resort areas for guests from Gunbarrel across the cat track and Supertrail. This makes life easier for all skiers and boarders, allowing for more continuous flow and less stop and go.
The Cruiser Terrain Park and the Easy Rider T-Bar have both had upgraded snowmaking facilities installed. This allows for more snow to be produced in these areas, offering an earlier opening of the terrain park, more consistent snow and overall quality of the terrain park and the opportunity for more park features.
Mt.Hotham
A new $26 million development, called Davenport Central, to be located near the General Store will replace and dramatically expand the 42 year old Asgaard Ski Lodge
The 6 level structure will feature restaurants and bars, with sweeping Alpine views, as well as accommodation for mountain staff, tourists and lodge members.
Four dedicated all-access apartments will cater for disabled visitors, who are a key target in expanding the market, through winter and summer. Four penthouses will add a luxury accommodation option.
The prefabricated structure will be trucked into the site, which has been assessed by geotechnic engineers to ensure the safety of the ridgetop build.
Work begins in October and will be done in between snow-seasons, with completion in May 2020.
New Davenport Central planned development
Baw Baw
Set to open on June 9th, they have installed Australia's Second TechnoAlpin Snow Factory. This bad boy can produce snow well above 0 degrees, so will pretty much guarantee that in the fickle Australia season, the resort will be able to operate all season long, at least in the ski bowl and beginner area anyway.
Falls Creek
The Eagle chair located in the Village Bowl precinct has been replaced with a new super fast 4-person quad costing AUD$9million. The new Eagle Express will shunt visitors up the hill at 2400 people per hour, significantly improving on the old lift which was installed back in 1979