How Good Is This!
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PRICELESS WINTER EDITION THREE FRIDAY 22ND JUNE 2018 How good is this! • Top: The SnowBow encapsulates the new Eagle Express Chairlift. Pic – Pete Sheridan. (Refer Fall Lines for detail) •Left: How we like it! Steep and deep! Pic – Courtesy FCSL • Right: New smiles from Taiwan – Akigo and Jen. Pic – Mike @ Top Shots FROM THE CEO Let the Records Show… nyone who’s been reading my columns will know I love a good statistic. Particularly when they workA in your favour. It looks like we’ll need to start following a new one, with #crabwatch2018 (read last week’s column) and the Blairgowrie crabs, Australia’s equivalent of Punxsutawney Phil (google it!). In any case, I’ve dusted off the snow depth data that Resort Management has going That looks suspiciously like the Inter Poma in the background – but when will it open? PS: That’s also great fresh back to 1988. The information provides snow!!! Pic – Lachy Keevers a day by day, week by week, year by year comparison of just about every statistic cumulative snow of 475cm, thanks to the A quick call out to all the teams across the imaginable compiled and managed by the “Blizzards of Oz Version 1.0-3.0”. mountain who managed to turn it on as quickly as possible. Going from zero snow Falls Creek Ski Patrol team. Whilst history is no predictor of the future, to hero snow in just under four days and let’s hope it’s a guide of what the season From the spreadsheet, it’s official… as at the getting all aspects of the resort firing, is no could lead to, as no snow season is ever the time of writing, the resort has an average easy feat. The challenges of such significant same. And no matter what, all snow seasons snow depth above any previously recorded snow in a very short period requires are excellent, just some more so than others. depth for the same time in the last 30 everything being in overdrive to exceed In any case, based on the above, we are years. 82cms is the average magic number, expectations. Well done to all. Now the certainly off to a record flying start. even though the snow stake on Summit ‘cobwebs’ are dusted off, it’s onwards and hit 90cms at the same time as the Summit With Summit and the Maze open, the upwards toward another great season tally. chair began spinning! “International Poma – Falls Creek – Should Foodie Tip of the Week: As has become be National Heritage Listed” Facebook page Only, 2004 and 2000 come close to customary in the early part of the season, is placing bets on when the Poma will start matching the current depth. Both had I start my ‘food journey’ at the top of the rolling. Early markers on the page are calling average depths of 68cm and 75cms hill. Summit Ridge was the perfect place it start June 30th…only time will tell! respectively for the week ending June 22nd. to settle in, try the new menu and peruse In 2000, it wasn’t until June 24th, before I did manage to get a quick cheeky opening Keith’s comprehensive (exceptional) wine we hit the same 82cm mark. session on Summit. To describe the snow list. It was the trifecta! The food, wine and In these comparable periods, from those quality as outstanding, is no exaggeration. the company were superb. Don’t just wait early dumps the resort got to a maximum It was ‘champagne’ powder as they say… for a special occasion to spoil yourself, of 226cm on August 15th in 2004, then in Pockets of knee deep fluffy stuff on skiers Summit Ridge is a “must eat” venue… any 2000 the resort hit a maximum of 224cm left out towards the Y’s where knee deep time. and as fluffy as you’d find anywhere… on August 31st. and in both seasons, Now, get out there, explore the mountain accumulation was constant throughout. Hopefully, as you read this, the forecast and have some fun! • won’t have changed too much, and the front As we all know, 2017 was also an Stuart Smythe, CEO extraordinary snow year, with the average predicted to hit this weekend will provide a depth just topping out above 217cms, and nice top up ahead of the school holidays. Falls Creek Resort Management Resort Entry Tickets may also be purchased on-line at www.fallscreek.com.au Visitor Information Centre Child Care – Hours & Rates Rates The Falls Creek Visitor Information Centre is located Falls Creek Child Care is located in the St Falls complex, Adult: One Way $23 Return $37 in the Resort Management Office, up stairs on the at the base of the Halley’s Comet chairlift – open from Child One Way $17 Return $23 corner of Slalom Street and Bogong High Plains Road. 8:30am to 5pm, seven days a week for children from 12 Season Pass: Adult $200 Open 8am – 5pm daily for Visitor Information and Gym weeks to five years old. Kids Under Five: Free Memberships. Hours & Rates Luggage Allowance Ph: -3 5758 1202. (Map Ref: E4) Morning: 8:30am – 12:30pm $85 Two pieces of luggage, one pair of skis & boots or Resort Entry Afternoon: 1:30pm – 5pm $60 snowboard & boots and one piece of hand luggage per Full Day: 8:30am – 5pm $130 person. Resort Entry is located at Howman’s Gap, approx. 4km Excess Luggage: $7 per item. before reaching Falls Creek. Day and Night Passes are Bookings are strongly recommended as places are limited. at $54 on arrival per day, (or $49.50 on line). If arriving Make your booking at: www.fallscreek.com.au/childcare. Ticket Sales – On Mountain & On Line after 5pm and departing prior to midnight on the same Accommodation Transfer Service From 28.06.18 until 10.09.18 all visitors will be required to day, entry is free. Visitors over 65 years of age receive use the Accommodation Transfer Service. Visitor vehicles Operating from the Terminal Building on the Bogong High will not be permitted into the village during this period. a discount. Plains Road, the Accommodatin Transfer Service will Season Passes are available at $525 (or $450 on line). move you, your family and your luggage comfortably to Falls Creek Resort Management An ‘All Resorts’ permit, valid at all Victorian Snow your lodge or apartment. General Enquiries: Ph: 03 5758 1200 Resorts is available for $740.00 Enquire at Visitor Hours of Operation Information desk. Mon – Thurs & Sat: 8am – 10pm Resort Entry Fees fund essential services of: Friday: 8am – 12 midnight • Ski patrol • Car Parking Sunday: 8am – 10pm • Snow Clearing • Water Supply A Taxi Service is available in the Village during these • Waste Management • Visitor Information Services hours. Ph: 03 5758 1203 2 Falls Creek & Mount Beauty THIS WEEK - Winter 2018 Edition THREE DISABLED WINTERSPORT AUSTRALIA Camps Coordinator volunteer run training camps and eleven weekend volunteer disability camps that en Payne is the new Disabled will allow all-abilities winter sport athletes Wintersport Australia Victorian to train and improve their skills while Camps Coordinator for Falls Creek. utilising the facilities at Howman’s Gap. KKen has been involved with Falls Creek for Volunteers are the key to the DWA success many years and until last year spent several to support the camps organised for disabled years working as a Ski Instructor at Falls skiers and boarders. Volunteers are critical Creek Snowsports Ski School. in the delivery of on-snow activities for Ken is proud of his many years at Falls people with a disability. DWA want Creek and with the skills he learned participants with a disability to equally as an instructor - assisting Skiers and participate in snow sport activities, to Snowboarders - those skills will now laugh, enjoy and learn how the freedom be transferred to an adaptive on-snow of being on the snow can deliver self- Victorian DWA Camps Coordinator, Ken Payne. experience. Giving participants the chance satisfaction. Pic – Mike @ Top Shots to be equal and involved in snowsports Falls Creek as a community always has support skiers and snowboarders with a activities and to fall in love the sport. and continues to help and support WDA disability. If you are interested in being This includes access to camps, services, members and volunteers. Without the a volunteer guide mid-week or at the specialised equipment, training and support of the Falls Creek community weekend, or if you want to have a great on- education programs. the ability to deliver the camps and snow experience and would like to know independent programs would not exist. The The establishment of Australia’s first more about DWA’s Camps, volunteering, WDA look forward in continuing to work dedicated alpine accessible accommodation or anything else contact Ken anytime at with the local community and all local for people with disability and athlete [email protected]. • businesses, delivering the best experience training at Howman’s Gap (4k from Falls Ken Payne, Victorian Camps Coordinator, possible. Creek) with a 36 bed facility has totally Disabled Wintersport Australia - Falls revolutionised our opportunities. “This is DWA has a range of DWA Camps and Creek. Mb: 0418 527 083. www. more than just beds and recreation in a Organisational Camps at Falls Creek to disabledwintersport.com.au. stunning location, this is an opportunity for us to change our practices and mindset with the whole community and all abilities in mind” said YMCA Victoria CEO Peter Burns. As the DWA Camps Coordinator this winter, Ken will be responsible for the Ex Demo Ski and Snowboard SALE – until June 30th Fantastic Discounts on K2, Völkl & Rossignol skis and Capita, K2 and Ride Falls Creek Alpine Association (Inc.) Snowboards! Call in and check out our fabulous range and variety of new stock.