HOTHAM 2010 - Live From the Mountain

All lifts open now and with more fresh snow being dumped on a daily basis i reckon its safe to say that the Snow season is hit a late peak and is at its absolute best about now, especially for Hotham, as from the reports i’ve been watching since the start of July, its definitely picked up rapidly over the last few weeks

Im so glad i saved my money for the snow trip for the end of august instead of the end of June, its turned out to be a very well time choice, that’s worked just as i hoped into my favor

Can’t wait to hit the slopes in a weeks time!!

MEDIA RELEASE
25 August 2010

Jimmy Blaze set to cause fireworks at Hotham!

International snowmobiling champion Jimmy Blaze will take flight at Hotham this Saturday evening showcasing his signature moves, in the air, on a snowmobile.

This free event will be held on Saturday 28 August from 5.45pm at the front of The Team Hotham Clubhouse at the base of Hotham’s Summit.

Hailing from Anchorage in Alaska, Jimmy brings with him a trail of records and achievements. Last year he set the new flip record at the Winter X Games – a backflip on a snowmobile at 121 feet in the air.

This year he has already competed in the Winter X Games, X Pilots in Mexico, Wexhou China Casino Show, Washington Super Speedway and the Hillcross Blackwidow in Minnesota.

Jimmy is a regular on the Discovery Channel’s Stunt Junkies show, showing off his distance backflips.

Fireworks (weather dependent) will follow the spectacular big air freestyle show, approx. 6.30pm, lighting up the skies over the Hotham’s Summit and Village.

Come on up for the weekend to enjoy the snowiest August since 2001, a natural snowdepth of 126cm and more weekend events such as the Pea Brain Soup Big Air (Saturday lunchtime) and the Beer Battered Rider X on Sunday. Nightskiing is on Saturday night at the Big D from 6.30pm with supervised sessions available for kids. Younger kids can join in the fun of Harry the Snowdragon’s live show, 4pm at The Big D.

For more information visit hotham.com.au.

SICK, can’t wait !!!!!!!

This photo was just sent to me from Gina at Hotham marketing. It is dumping!!

haha wow! That’s insane

This has to be the most snow in august for Hotham in a long time!

47cm fresh snow in the last 24 hours, mostly overnight. Biggest single dump since 2003 (when 70cm fell in 24 hours on 26 July).

202cm to date in August – officially now the snowiest August since 1992. This beats the snowiest year in the recording period I have access to today (since 1992) of 196cm falling in August Year 2000.

Currently -5.7 degrees

More snow forecast for today and tomorrow – up to another 30cm forecast to fall by the weekend

hahaha rider i just realized that they are cars under there!! WOW stuff that, imagine trying to dig them from their wintery graves

Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd August:

It was great to finally have Orchard open and be able to get out over there.
I was told that Saturday was a better day cos the snow was fresh(er).......but I still had a good morning.
It was a little icy in parts and some patchiness starting to show especially at the bottom half of runs like Zirks and Bushwacker.
Couple of pics from Sunday at Orchard:

Looking back at Keohs from Orchard Chair:

Under Orchard Chair - Big Slope and Russells Runway:

Top of Orchard Chair:

Orchard Trees at the side of Zirks:

Holy Cow! Holy Cow! Holy Cow!  DOTS

Did the weather come in or WHAT!!!!!!
Tuesday and Wednesday snowed and snowed and snowed…......it was awesome to see.
12cms Tuesday and 47cms Wednesday - AMAZING!

sooooooooo…..I was supposed to work all day today….BUT I chucked a half day sickie and got out there about 10am.
I simply could not help myself and I don’t feel guilty about it - especially after strapping in outside Zirkys and hitting Sun Run where there was fresh boot deep pow even there.
Slalom Gully onto the Heavenly Chair and up I went and hit Race Gully. The visability was next to nothing so it was challenging to say the least. Top of Race Gully was virtually untracked at that stage and was at time WAISTE DEEP. I have never ridden such POW before and I kinda struggled a little to keep my balance and to figure out how to turn my damn board - especially on the steeper slopes such as top of Race Gully, Cornice, Twilight Zone to the left of the Heavenly Chair (the ungroomed bit). But it was so much FUN even when I was falling over all the time - bit difficult to get out when you are burried DEEP DEEP in POW

Orchard area was closed until about 11am so I didn’t head there, but fluffed my way around Heavenly and then decided to head along the stupid trail to Blue Ribbon. There was nobody there! Then again the runs were pretty tracked and very very lumpy and bumpy. Managed to get down the bottom of Hogg’s Back where the POW moguls rivalled that of Slalom Gully on a slushy warm afternoon.
Sorry I have no mountain pics…..just too busy

Headed to Swindlers for a quick Sav Blanc before catching the bus back to DP.

Here is what Swindlers looks like…..the balcony is GOOORNE.

Doorway:

Poor Staff tring to dig the balcony out a little:

I’ll be back out again tomorrow morning….

OMG that’s sooo much snow! I dont think i’ve ever seen so much snow dump over a 24 hour period for years! Its gonna be the best week of the year for my mate and I starting on the 29th Being his first time ever upto the snow, this is looking to be perfect timing for our week trip upto hotham. Im so stoked and i bet we’ll have a killer time!

Awesome edit Wilding, really enjoyed it. Posted here: http://www.facebook.com/bwnews

Tambazz - 3min to 3:30 mark is that Blue rib? I can’t work out where on the hill it is?

Also 5:30 is that the run out from Mary’s?

Spot on Tobes.

Just uploading a bit of footage of the STUPID amount of rain that is falling here atm.

Mountain is closed, Village load has had a slide into it, rescue ops happening to get crew off, not such a great day.

Think the H’Ville road has been shut due to fallen trees and power lines.