PRICELESS WINTER EDITION ELEVEN FRIDAY 17TH AUGUST 2018 Welcome to all Hoppet Competitors and Spectators! • Top: Great start to the 2017 event! Pic – Ken Bell • Left: Last Friday’s BLT was a fabulous event. Pic - Lachy Keevers • Right: We love our Hoppet! Pic - Ken Bell FROM THE CEO The Evolution of Skiing of the après lexicon and fireside banter. This phenomenon of where people ski is having just as significant an impact on For anyone who didn’t grow up learning on what people ski. The boom in free-ski s an avid skier and backcountry ‘straight skis’ …trust me, learning to ski now and backcountry specific gear is another enthusiast, it has been interesting is so much easier. That’s not a ‘in my day’ 2017 GRAVITY ENDUROrevolution changing NATIONAL the market and SERIES to watch the progression of skiing comment, it’s a fact! sinceA the introduction of parabolic (or contributing to the growth in industry carving skis) and ‘fat’ skis and how that has WeRound can thank One the snowboard - Falls industry Creek for participationRound One ofand the product GE National development. Series All will be staged this weekend, beginning influenced industry participation too. leading hethe National charge, as Gravity the shaping Enduro of snow Series has lead to new ways of experiencing the boards and the use of new production lunacywith practice that is strappingsessions fromtwo planks, 11am Friday.or one, The first of the ‘shaped’ skis hit the shops acts as the qualifying series for the techniquesEnduro flowed World over Series. to ski Seemanufacturing. mention toDuring your feetthe andcourse hurtling of the yourself weekend, down several a around 1993, and the revolution began, ThenTin the throwarticle in with Shane Ben McIlroy.McConkey, a mountain.of the trails It’s will addictive. be closed to general riders thanks to the Elan SCX. By the late 90’s legend of the sport for so many reasons although Blue Dirt will have shuttles running Mountain Bike Australia in conjunction with This past week at Falls Creek, the resort there were all sorts of shapes and sizes with (not to mention Saucer Boy), but more on Friday from 11am to 6pm and again on Falls Creek Resort Management are pleased hosted the FIS Alpine ANC ski cross and fats, mid fats, carver shapes, the ‘learn to so for coining the term ‘free-skiing’ and Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Cost is $50 per carve’ shapes, etc… at which point old to present Round One of the 2017 Gravity slalomday or racing$90 for event. 2 days. What Go ato great www.bluedirt. spectacle introducingEnduro National the world Series. to The ‘fat series skis.’ is The Australia school straight skis were done for (hooray!). andcom.au post to watching book. On the Sunday Winter theOlympics trails will and latterwide withby mounting Round Two a set being of ski held bindings at Stromlo to (…and there went my old 203 Rossi’s! Ed) nowbe closed having to seenthe generalskier cross public, in person, but will it’s No time to be smelling the roses during this weekend’s waterForest skisACT and in May.trialling Round how Three they floated will be atin myprogressively new favourite open contact as the sport…different talk sections about Gravity Enduro. Pic - Jiri Cech. powderBalingup snow. WA inMcConkey June; Round was Four instrumental will go to Tip rocker, flat tail, side cut, reverse side cut, tough!of the event are completed. Pretty Valley sidewall, camber, reverse camber, rocker, inRockhampton launching, in in 2006, July and the the K2 final Pontoons, round willand Point on the Frying Pan Spur. The aim of the Road will also have closures and be subject to game is to ride each section no faster than the twin rocker, flip core… all entered the skier thebe held fat skion revolutionWoodford Island,took off. on the Clarence Continuing on from this week’s event, in delays should anyone be travelling back from fastest time allowed, and no slower than the set vocabulary and have become a necessary part River in northern NSW in August. resort this weekend, Ski & Snowboard Free-ski products and industry participation the horse yards or Pretty Valley Pondage. slowest time. Then they do the competitive bit, The popularity of mountain biking continues Australia, - through the SSA Futures - that is those skiers who identify as ‘free- Now this Gravity Enduro is a different sort before riding to the start of the next competitive to grow. From the great efforts of some Mount program - is running talent identification skiers’ represents half of the US downhill ski of mountain bike racing to what we know bit without beating or exceeding the times Beauty locals in the 90’s - to hosting the trainingas Downhill for up or andCross coming Country. park The rats Gravityand permitted. At the time of going to print, the industry.Nationals Manyin Feb of 2000 whom - to similarly the point identify where free-skiers,Enduro is both. such isThe the athletes ongoing will growth start inwith final course had not been set, but they look like withwe have having some participated of the best tracks in some in theform country of thesea warm disciplines. up ride from Slalom Plaza, out the taking in High Voltage and Wishing Well, then lift-accessed- both in Mount backcountry Beauty and skiing in Falls too Creek.(or Bogong High Plains Road, up the Pretty heading to Flowtown, completing that before perhapsThe growth a Steve and Leethe successBackcountry means Tour… we can to Whilst the popularity of traditional Follow the groomer live from Valley Road and then across to the Trig heading to Thunderbolt and then to Generator joincontinue them, to gohost to: fabulous www.fallscreek.com.au/ events. downhill is firmly entrenched, the your phone with XCY App listing/backcountry-tours-with-steve-lee/) generations of mogul riders, slope stylers, and Vortex before finishing in Slalom Plaza. Sound like a pretty easy day!! Sign up : The weekend’s program sort of goes like this. [email protected] OpenOpening by Hours Appointment Saturday: 9am to 16:00 is compulsory practice. 10am to 18:30 is rider registration and Info (03)57583408 For11am Groups, – 3pm Tuesday Clubs -etc Sunday Tent open. 17:00 to 17:30 is rider briefing. Always ski where the fresh From 18:00 on there is a social evening at Last Panabode Building, Slalom Street, Falls Creek Hoot Restaurant and Bar in Slalom Plaza. tracks are ! Phone:Map Ref: E4. Look 03 for the 5758 Harvey Kat. 1200 Sunday: 8am to 9am Rider Briefing and Timing PleaseFor Further try to Information:allow 24hours notice. Wb: www.fallscreekmuseum.com.au activation. 8:30am to 1430pm Trails Open for ForEm: further [email protected]: GE competition.1500 to 1630 Presentations. www.fallscreekmuseum.com.auFb: facebook.com/fallscreekmuseum If you’re into biking and would like to enjoy [email protected]: 03 5758 1200 some good action, be at Falls Creek this Facebook/fallscreekmuseum weekend. Further detail from 03 5758 1200. • Resort Entry Tickets FALLS CREEK Openmay also For be purchased Business on-line at www.fallscreek.com.au www.fallscreek.com.au QT Hotel Falls Creek Accommodation Rates Outdoor Activities Visitor Information Centre Child Care – Hours & Rates Apartment style luxury rooms, Pool & Jacuzzi, Sauna & Mountain biking, road cycling, hiking and all other Adult:Steam Room.One On-site Way $23 restaurant andReturn bar. Open $37 all year The Falls Creek Visitor Information Centre is located FallsAlpha Creek Child Lodge Care is located in the St Falls complex, activities, visit the Visitor Information Centre (above the Open 365 days a year. Self cater accommodation $56 Childround - availableOne Way for group $17 bookings Returnand functions. $23 in the Resort Management Office, up stairs on the at the base of the Halley’s Comet chairlift – open from Slalom Street Day Shelter) for maps and info. Open p/p p/n twin/dbl. $42 p/p p/n bunk room. Parallel Street. SeasonPh: 03 5732Pass: 8000 Wb: www.qtfallscreek.com.auAdult $200 corner of Slalom Street and Bogong High Plains Road. 8:30am to 5pm, seven days a week for children from 12 9am - 5pm weekdays. Ph: 03 5758 1202. Open 8am – 5pm daily for Visitor Information and Gym weeksPh: to5758 five 3488 years or old.visit: www.alphaskilodge.com.au KidsSnowski Under Five: Apartments Free Memberships. HoursAltitude & Rates Apartments LuggageSelf contained Allowance accommodation open all year round with Shopping Ph: 03 5758 1202. (Map Ref: E4) Morning:Spacious fully self-contained8:30am accommodation– 12:30pm open$85 all Twoon-site pieces management. of luggage, Located one pair in of the skis Village & boots Bowl. or snowboardPh: 5758 3356, & boots or visitand www.snowskiapartments.com.auone piece of hand luggage per Falls Creek Foodworks Resort Entry Afternoon:year round. Bike storage1:30pm and free– 5pm wi-fi. On site$60 bar & For all licensed supermarket lines - located in lower level, Fullrestaurant Day: - Be Foodstore.8:30am – 5pm $130 person. Resort Entry is located at Howman’s Gap, approx. 4km Summit Ridge Lodge St Falls West. Open 10am - 5pm daily. Ph: 03 5758 3009. Ph: 03 5758 3811 Wb: www.altitudefallscreek.com.au Excess Luggage: $7 per item. before reaching Falls Creek. Day and Night Passes are Bookings are strongly recommended as places are limited. Open for comfortable bed & breakfast accommodation. at $54 on arrival per day, (or $49.50 on line). If arriving Make your booking at: www.fallscreek.com.au/childcare. TicketFully licensed. Sales Schuss– On MountainStreet. Ph: 03 & 5758On Line3800. Child Care Attunga Lodge Falls Creek Child Care is open Mon - Fri and is located after 5pm and departing prior to midnight on the same AccommodationOpen for comfortable bed &Transfer breakfast accommodation.