Industry News
It has been a rather sub-par season in Australian ski resorts, but the decision to close this coming weekend has still come as a shock for some Australian skiers. Mount Buller and Mount Baw Baw announced on August 29 that Sunday, September 1, will be the last day of lifted operations for the 2024 snow season. The writing had been on the wall for those in the resorts and those following the webcams or resort announcements closely. Buller announced last week that the FIS ABOM Moguls competition would be canceled as there was insufficient snow to host a FIS competition. ABOM typically attracts dozens of international mogul skiers. The Chinese and Japanese teams were in Australia planning to attend but had to suffice with the FIS ANC competition in Perisher, which was consolidated into one day, due to the weather forecast.
“Despite the heroic efforts of the mountain operations team who have been making and moving snow it has been decided skiing and snowboarding for the season will wrap up at 5pm Sunday.”
— Buller Ski Lifts
Resort Entry and parking charges at Mount Buller have been reduced to AUD 44 (USD 30) for the last days of the season. Likewise, Mount Baw Baw has discounted lift passes to AUD 44 (USD 30) until the end of the season, with toboggan park access free through to Sunday.
“Any guests with pre-purchased entry, lift passes or activity passes between the 2nd and 8th of September are advised to use the refund request form on our website if you do not hear from us in the coming days.”
— Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort
Vehicles will be free to enter the Mount Buller Village from noon on Friday, August 30, and the requirement to carry wheel chains will no longer be enforced. At Mount Baw Baw, entry fees will be waived from Monday, September 2, however snow chain carrying may still be declared if conditions require.
At Buller, only Bourke Street and Gliders carpet area are still operating while at Baw Baw Hut Run and the toboggan park will be operating, weather permitting.
“Like all skiers and snowboarders we were holding out hopes for season-saving snow in last night’s storm however the 1-2cms that fell was unfortunately too little, too late. I would like to thank everyone in our team who has tried valiantly to keep us sliding for as long as possible. It seems unfair to have had two challenging seasons in a row but I am immensely proud of everyone who have kept striving and smiling and will be doing so until Sunday afternoon.”
— Buller Ski Lifts
Mount Buller Resort Manager Alan Arthur shared: “I want to thank everyone for their hard work in what has been an incredibly challenging season. The lack of natural snow was not what we wanted for our 100th year of skiing, but the celebrations were a highlight I’m sure many of us won’t forget. We now look forward to the green season, and planning for winter 2025.”
It has been two seasons in a row now that Australian resorts experienced a below-average season. While climate change is on everyone’s mind, the fact is that the prevailing weather patterns never were favorable for a strong winter season. In addition, warm, strong winds have acted like hair dryers on the thin snow cover, eroding the thin snow cover in days. The country experienced a heatwave last week, which was the nail in the proverbial coffin of the Victorian ski season. Meanwhile, Perisher in New South Wales has announced that it will close Guthega and Smiggins from September 1. Skiing in Blue Cow and Perisher will continue for the time being, and the resort has not made any announcements about closing early.
In Australia, La Niña years are associated with increased precipitation but not necessarily increased snowfall, as oftentimes temperatures during La Niña can be too high, and hence precipitation may fall as rain even at higher elevations, which can decrease snow depths. Statistically, roughly 60% of La Niña years have had a lower maximum snow depth than average. This has happened more frequently in recent decades as a result of climate change, with seven of the past eight La Niña years having lower maximum snow depths.
