Latest news with #EpicAustralia
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Australia's highest lift ready as ski resort rivalries heat up after snow
It's a debate as old as the ski industry in Australia – which snow resort is best? This winter, Perisher lands a fresh blow in the battle for alpine supremacy with a new chairlift that snatches a title long held by its NSW rival, Thredbo – the highest lifted point in the country. The $26 million high-speed, six-seater chairlift takes skiers and snowboarders to a height of 2042 metres above sea level. That's an important five metres above Thredbo's Karel's T-Bar, and the iconic bell marking its altitude. The upgrade reduces ride time to the top of Mount Perisher to just 5.6 minutes by replacing two nostalgic – though very dated – former chairlifts. One of those sported a chain you would loop across your lap as a 'safety bar', and the other had a knee-busting approach to the loading zone that shanked many unwitting riders. 'This is a history-making season at Perisher with our new Mount Perisher 6 chairlift spinning for the first time, almost halving lift times and opening up exciting terrain,' said Perisher's resort services director, Andrew King. A recent cold snap created the best start to ski season in years over the just-gone opening weekend. But the new lift will not spin until there's consistent natural snowfall – likely in July. Victorian resorts are making the most of the weekend's snowfall, helped by a timely forecast: a blizzard arrived on Saturday, building into a 90-centimetre dump over 10 days, with another storm front expected over the weekend. Mount Hotham has received two feet of snow since Friday. For commitment-phobes unsure of their travel dates, there's more flexibility around advance lift tickets this year. Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham are offering a new Epic Australia four-day season pass for $629, essentially dropping the per-day lift ticket cost from $264 (walk-up price) to $168. This pass must be bought before 18 June but can be used at any of the Epic Australia resorts, on any four days non-consecutively through the season.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia's highest lift ready as ski resort rivalries heat up after snow
It's a debate as old as the ski industry in Australia – which snow resort is best? This winter, Perisher lands a fresh blow in the battle for alpine supremacy with a new chairlift that snatches a title long held by its NSW rival, Thredbo – the highest lifted point in the country. The $26 million high-speed, six-seater chairlift takes skiers and snowboarders to a height of 2042 metres above sea level. That's an important five metres above Thredbo's Karel's T-Bar, and the iconic bell marking its altitude. The upgrade reduces ride time to the top of Mount Perisher to just 5.6 minutes by replacing two nostalgic – though very dated – former chairlifts. One of those sported a chain you would loop across your lap as a 'safety bar', and the other had a knee-busting approach to the loading zone that shanked many unwitting riders. 'This is a history-making season at Perisher with our new Mount Perisher 6 chairlift spinning for the first time, almost halving lift times and opening up exciting terrain,' said Perisher's resort services director, Andrew King. A recent cold snap created the best start to ski season in years over the just-gone opening weekend. But the new lift will not spin until there's consistent natural snowfall – likely in July. Victorian resorts are making the most of the weekend's snowfall, helped by a timely forecast: a blizzard arrived on Saturday, building into a 90-centimetre dump over 10 days, with another storm front expected over the weekend. Mount Hotham has received two feet of snow since Friday. For commitment-phobes unsure of their travel dates, there's more flexibility around advance lift tickets this year. Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham are offering a new Epic Australia four-day season pass for $629, essentially dropping the per-day lift ticket cost from $264 (walk-up price) to $168. This pass must be bought before 18 June but can be used at any of the Epic Australia resorts, on any four days non-consecutively through the season.
