Trip Report: Thredbo - August 19/20/21
TRIP REPORT: THREDBO RESORT - AUGUST 19/20/21
After a slow start to the season, Mother Nature finally decided to deliver the goods. I was following the weather charts closely and it had been snowing for a couple of days now, with a lot more in the forecast. We packed our bags and left Sydney at 4:00am on Monday. I was stoked to be heading back to Thredbo for the first time in nearly two years. I drove down with my mate Benji, who hadn’t been snowboarding in three years!
Loved riding this setup. FYVE Mayhem 151 + Now IPO bindings
I was pleasantly surprised by the cover; the terrain had filled in nicely and there was a layer of fresh powder from overnight snowfalls. This prompted me to head straight up to one of my favourite freeriding spots, Michael’s Mistake off Antons T-bar. With barely anyone on the mountain, we ducked through the trees to Michael’s Mistake. This area usually stays quite sheltered from the strong winds, and the trees provide good visibility, even when visibility is low elsewhere. The terrain up there is really nice, with steeper terrain and natural hits all over the place. It’s such a super fun area to ride, and easy to lap quickly. You ride out and connect with the main run which takes you straight back to the T-bar. You can easily get a few laps in before most people even get there in the morning.
Fresh snow and natural hits off Antons
Antons
The temperature stayed low so the quality of the snow was just about as good as it gets. We ripped through the fresh snow and each lap we took a slightly different line, to be greeted with more untouched pow. We spent most the morning in this area, enjoying the natural features littered all through the terrain. There were some really nice pillows, rock drops and even a few gaps to ollie over.
Groomed and fast
We finished the day by bombing some High Noon runs. The trail is in very good shape, and I noticed the resort has installed a whole lot of snowmaking guns down lower High Noon. In addition to this, the run is now split at the bottom to make merging safer. I’m really stoked on these changes, as this area is usually the first area to suffer in spring from snowmelt. I believe this area will hold the snow a lot better now during springtime. Exhausted, we called it a day.
Our second day was one of the best days I’ve ever had in Australia. The temps stayed low and there was another 15cm of snowfall overnight. In the morning we caught up with Beth, one of our friends from Whistler. I was stoked to hear she won the Thredbo top-to-bottom race a earlier in the season. She rips, and it’s been four years since we went riding together. We headed up for first chair and again went straight to Antons. We were spoilt for choice. The sun would break out occasionally, exposing a beautiful playground of rocks and natural features covered in fresh snow.
Michael’s Mistake
Benji
Beth
Flowing terrain
Benji gets some air
A bit later in the morning we caught up with Ben and Tristan from Chimp Clothing, who joined us for the rest of the day. We did a few more runs through Michael’s Mistake, enjoying the natural hits, before traversing over to the Supertrail. We bombed down and went straight back up the chairlift. We did a few runs through the trees directly under the Snowgums chair. The trees were in perfect condition and there was still so much fresh snow to be enjoyed. Run after run, we found more fresh lines to take through the trees. We rode till the end of the day, thoroughly enjoying arguably the best day of the season so far.
Natural playground
Tristan
On Wednesday, I went as soon as the lifts opened and the first thing I noticed was the empty slopes and perfectly groomed corduroy. The terrain was super fast and the snow was just a dream to carve on. Big, fast carves from top to bottom; it was just fantastic. It was so nice to sink my edges hard into the snow, leaving a pencil line behind me. Nothing like fast carving in the morning to get the blood pumping. I spent the whole day carving around the mountain and riding the terrain parks.
Groomed Perfection - Antons
The parks are in great shape. Lower Merrits has a really nice jib line, with various options depending on your skill level. This is such a great area for beginners and intermediated to progress their freestyle skills in a safe environment. There is a variety of ride-on beginner boxes, plus more advanced features including a down box, flat-down box and wide round rail. There are no jumps in the lower park as they sometimes build, but they have built a sick mini jump line at the top of Merrits next to the chairlift. I’ve never seen the resort built jumps there, but it works really well. I saw a lot of classes and young kids giving it a go. The jump line is a really well thought out progression feature. The first hit is a small roller, the second is small (flat) jump approximately 4 feet in length. The final jump is a 10 foot kicker (maybe a bit smaller). You can drop in from the bottom of the jump line and ride Powder Bowl, which can be very nice when the conditions are good. From the same stop, you can alternatively drop into the boardercross course, which has come together nicely with all the fresh snow. I did a couple of runs through the boardercross course and it has excellent flow and built-up banks.
Flat-down box, Merrits
Down box
Jump line at the top of Merrits
10ft kicker
The High Noon park also has a jib line running through the park with good variations. The jib line is quite advanced with a street-type setup, so a high level of skill is required. There are two jumps; I estimate the first to be approximately 20 feet and the second to be approximately 25 feet. They are shaped well and there’s no problem getting the required speed.
High Noon Park
20ft jump
The jump line at Antons should be up and running by now. Given how much fresh snow they were pushing around, I can only imagine how nice these jumps are. This jump line should be a real treat from now until the end of the season.
Antons jumps coming soon
Fresh powder with Antons’ upcoming jump line in the background
It’s been two years since I’ve snowboarded at Thredbo. This trip reminded me just how good the freeriding terrain is. With fresh snow, it’s my honest opinion that Thredbo can’t be beat in Australia. Thredbo - It’s good to be home.
Lake Jindy
Reviews coming soon
great TR rider, cant wait to get back there for the shred 
looking forward to your write up on the mayhem aswell, im finding my DC great but in pow it could use abit more float when on flatter terrain, wondering if the camrock would be a better profile for japan
Thanks mate. Product reviews coming soon.
You’re riding the DC Ply, yeah?
Thanks mate. Product reviews coming soon.
You’re riding the DC Ply, yeah?
Yea DC Ply 150.5
Yo Jeremy, Sweet review dude. I have been riding Thredbo for well over 6 seasons. That Tuesday, the snow was as dry and fresh as i have ever seen it. Thanks for the shred dude, CANNOT WAIT till the shred week in two weeks. Its on 
nice TR Jez
hopefully be back on the slopes next year!!
Yo Jeremy, Sweet review dude. I have been riding Thredbo for well over 6 seasons. That Tuesday, the snow was as dry and fresh as i have ever seen it. Thanks for the shred dude, CANNOT WAIT till the shred week in two weeks. Its on
Don’t show up early… Shred is in 3 weeks!
4 years! WOW…Where do all the ski seasons go?
Thanks for the fast laps and props (pretty sure I don’t rip - just fluke not breaking anything 
Going hiking back of Kosci tomorrow..I’ll be sure to post some pics and give you an update..
Otherwise see you in 2 weeks!... Efterski!!!! Keen for some Pond Skimming action?
B .
Glad you made TR, I wondered how you went last week…
The condition of mountain looks so sweet, I’m really forward to shred there in a week time… 
Good job, Jez. Also looking forward to the gear report.
rad reporto big boss man!! Im really looking forward to riding thredbo at the shred. First NSW resort for me!
Nice Rap, Jeramiah!!!!!
I remember they had a jump line under the Cruiser one year, then a heap of fun features all the way through The Playground!!!!! It was sooooo fun, and still can’t work out why they never did it again?????
Looks like you had fun mate, nice way to start the season for ya!
Antons jumps coming soon
Fresh powder with Antons’ upcoming jump line in the background
Just in time for the shred!
Sweet write up Yamaguchi,