HOTHAM 2010 - Live From the Mountain

Tambazz, i was watching the snow report on the hotham site today. Pippa said that hotham should only need another 30 cm till more lifts are opened, so i would say around the meter mark?

I really hope she means Orchard and Blue Ribbon lifts! and also i wouldn’t be suprised if the next few snow falls makes way for the opening of not just some lifts but the summit terrain park which we all have a sweet time on. Fingers crossed

PRESS RELEASE:

Big weekend at Hotham with the opening of Gotcha Chairlift today for the first time in season 2010. Gotcha Access, Greenline and Initiation are groomed and ready for action.

We’re serving up a smorgasbord of snowflakes and events over the next two days with the Hot Ham Banked Slalom presented by Capita, the ANZ Snowboarding Magazine Demo Days, the ADVANCE Dog Sled Challenge at Dinner Plain and yes, some more snow.

Today’s Banked Slalom event sees Vancouver Olympian Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin return to Hotham after a short break following his FIS ANC SBX victory at Hotham recently. Canada’s Critchlaw sisters, Jade and Tess who also won the SBX here will be competing whilst Mark Cowley, last year’s Banked Slalom winner returns to defend his title.

Light snowfalls are predicted throughout the day falling down to 1500m. Up to another 5cm is predicted to fall on Sunday. Hotham’s average natural snowdepth is now 75cm and the snowdepth in snowmaking areas is 122cm.

BDenny, Tambo & Azz - I’ll be gracing the mountain with my presence next weekend.

:D

Any news if orchard or the summit terrain park are opening up soon??

Awww, puppy!! That sledding looks like fun!
Bdenny - I’m most likely up 28th, then 4th for sure! Would be great to catch up!

Tobes - We are at Buller that weekend, catch you next time.

Summit park open, no rails, just a few booters, but I know the crew will have more up ASAP.

Gotcha was spinning Saturday, headed out for a look at Mary’s, was very sweet, return trail is a bit sad, but all fun though.

Banked slalom was epic fun, hopefully next year they have an Old farts category, so I can can come closer to the top of list rather than the bottom

It was one of the best days on the hill I have had this year, the course is super gnarly & super fun, highly recommend it to all.

Orchard is opening tomorrow.

KEOGH’S AND ORCHARD LIFTS TO OPEN TOMORROW AT HOTHAM

With 42cm of fresh snowfalls in the last week and a solid average natural snowdepth of 88cm, Hotham is excited to announce that Keogh’s and Orchard chairlifts will open tomorrow for the first time in 2010.

Belinda Trembath, Mount Hotham Skiing Company General Manager said, “The opening of these lifts will give access to a greater area of intermediate terrain for Hotham guests to enjoy including Mitchell’s, Bushwacker and Zirk’s at the Orchard, plus the popular Keogh’s Bash”.

More snow is predicted to fall from Wednesday through until the weekend to top up the snow cover.

This weekend will see a great lineup of events including the FIS Australian and New Zealand Ski X Weekend where world class competitors will race down Hotham’s purpose built rider cross course under the Road Runner Chairlift. The Biathlon Fun Sprints Weekend will also take place at Hotham’s Biathlon Range at Whiskey Flat and is the last ‘on snow’ biathlon event for 2010.

holy crap! This is the most lifts i’ve seen open all season

This is great news, especially seeming im going up with a mate in 2 weeks time!

Can’t wait to hit it up its gonna be off the hook

what gear comp?!?!

**EDIT**

OMFG SICK AS!!! Thanks for letting me now dude!

Sorry it’s been a week since my last posting…..but thanks to everybody for filling in the details so that we can keep on track.

I have had a house full of kids and relos over the last week so it’s been a little difficult - couple that with having to work and a sore throat and well…....

Managed to get out last Sunday which was not the best of days as it was raining and poor visibility for most of the time - hence no pics. However the snow was soft and after luch there was not so many people (all gone home I expect, or in the pub) and I managed to get a lot of turns in down Gun Barrell, Snake and Initiation - practicing my slushy mogul skills.

Monday was probably the pick of the day snow condition wise, but the visibility was poor and my throat was sore - so I stayed in bed all morning and listened to the stories of others as they returned in the early afternoon of how soft and fluffy the snow was….

TUESDAY 17th AUGUST:

I went out on my own in the morning - it was a gloriously sunny day, with a light (if any) breeze blowing and temps rose quite rappidly and at lunch time it was well above 0 degrees.
It was the first day that GOTCHA chair had opened and so I headed there straight off and must have been one of the first up there.
Initiation was immaculately groomed, but a little dodgy at the bottom.

Looking back at Initiation and Skating Rink form Gotcha Chair:

Looking towards Orchard from top of Gotcha:

I really wanted to try Mary’s Slide but I was on my own and had never done it before and a few guys I met up the top of the chair said that it was about a 100 - 200 metre walk out at the end as it was crappy at the bottom. Postponed for another day!

Now that the Orchard/Keoghs area is open it will be great to get out again - probably not until Sunday or Monday at this stage.
We ahd a bit of snow yesterday and then temp warmed up and it turned very quickly to rain throughout the evening and night.
Hopefylly there was not too much cover lost. The winds are strong and a few chairs have been on wind hold yesterday and today.

They are still assessing Blue Ribbon

sweet valley pic there bdenny!

Im really psyced up now for my annual snow trip upto hotham for the week. Only 9 days left till im up heading up YAY!

be awesome if we could meet up while im up there dude, you could show me and my mate some of the ropes of snowboarding

NEWS ALERT
20 August 2010
For Immediate Release

For the first time in season 2010, all 13 lifts at Hotham Alpine Resort are planned for full operation as of Saturday 21 August. The final lift to open tomorrow is one of Hotham’s favourite chairlifts, Blue Ribbon.

The snow continues to fall at Hotham with the last 24 hours seeing 10cm of fresh snowfalls and more is expected into next week. As of yesterday, the snowfall comparison charts showed August 2010 to be the best August snowfalls at Hotham since 2004 measuring 109cm (August 19 tally). That total is now 119cm as of today and has contributed to the average natural snowdepth reading of 97cm, almost hitting the one metre mark.

The fantastic natural snowfalls have fallen on a solid manmade base now measuring 122cm. Total snowmaking production this season has now reached 403,049 cubic metres – more than double last year’s total seasonal production of 198,042 of m3. That’s nearly 20m of snow covering the surface of the MCG or enough to fill 161 Olympic swimming pools.

This weekend sees Vancouver Olympians Scott Kneller, Katya Crema and Sarah Sauvey returning to Hotham to compete in the two day FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Ski Cross event.

With more than six weeks remaining of this snow season, there’s still plenty of time to book a great Hotham snow holiday package. Call the Hotham Holidays team on 1800 HOTHAM (1800 468426) or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The 2010 winter season officially closes on October 3, 2010.

I have a VERY SORE HEAD this morning…......compliments of the Dinner Plain Hotel which took too much of my money last night!
Playing pool and drinking shots until after midnight will do that to ya!

It would have been awesome out there today - just walking around DP with the dog through the trees at the top of the lift I was struggling in knee deep light fluffy powder. The groomer was out and about smoothing all the XC trails which I resorted to walking on at some points due to the impossibility of walking through the snow in some parts.
Many were on the small run at DP and having so much fun.

I hope to get out over the weekend and explore the many areas I have not gotten to yet…...Orchard, Blue Ribbon, Extreme
Hope the wind dies down and the visibility improves

LET IT KEEP SNOWING!!!!

Great to hear Barb. We are off to Buller this weekend, following weekend sounds like you & I need to hit the extreme zone!!!!!!!

Got a quick lap of Mary’s in last Saturday arvo, was sweet fun.