There’s an old skiers’ adage: “If it snows, we goes.”
Pack the car then, snow bunnies, as this week’s cold snap has turned our alpine regions white, just in time for the traditional Queens Birthday opening weekend of the snow season. With more snow on the way next week, resorts are anticipating a bumper season. Sadly, things will be more subdued in the southern state, at least at first.
Last year was an unmitigated disaster for Victoria’s resorts, with the midwinter lockdown and poor snow writing off the state’s $800m season. Falls Creek and Mount Hotham had lifts running on just four days. And now, as if on cue, history is repeating, with the latest Covid-19 outbreak locking out Melburnians (who make up about 80 per cent of alpine visitors) from opening weekend and beyond. On top of that, rain has washed away much of this week’s promising snowfalls in Mount Buller and Mount Baw Baw; the latter will not have lifts running on opening weekend.
Putting that aside, life will resemble normal on the slopes. Unlike last year there will be no caps on numbers at any resorts and you won’t have to pre-book specific days. Indoor venues will still have to comply with density quotas, and QR code check-ins will be mandatory everywhere…
Read the full story here
