Australian skiers are enjoying one of the best starts to the ski season for years with regular heavy dry snowfalls over the last several weeks. The recorded snow depths are the best since 1990 for early skiing.
Last week’s independent Snowy Hydro reading at Perisher Blue, New South Wales, of 136.6cm confirmed that this is the best start to the season since 1990, surpassing the oft-referred to 2000 and 2004 bumper years. Other Australian resorts are reporting similar snow depths. Hotham in Victoria claimed to be the first resort in the country to pass the meter mark last week with 125cm following a 68cm snowfall in a week.
For a taste of Aussie cross country skiing, check out this YouTube video, made by Duane Butcher, an athlete on the Aus ski team in 2006.
South America is enjoying excellent early snow conditions this year as well. Bariloche and Las Lenas in Argentina as well as at least Portillo, El Colorado, La Parva, Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillan in Chile are all reporting more than a meter of snow on the mountain this early in the season.
Source: FIS
