Over the past two weeks at Perisher Blue low temps during the nights, and a weather pattern bringing a series of high pressure cells to the region have allowed snowmaking to kick off with a bang!

Early season falls in the past two weeks and a massive snowmaking effort has created just the right mix to allow skiing and boarding to kick off on Front Valley. The resort will offer free skiing and boarding for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, before opening three resort areas on the weekend.

Perisher Blue is looking to open more lifts this weekend � catering for beginners and lower intermediates.

�There�s a full cover of snow right across the resort, giving us an early base. The snowmaking has been in full swing building up so far quite nicely. I am raring to get out there, so I can see how eager other people must be� said Gary Grant, Manager of Marketing and Resort Services � Perisher Blue is happy to offer free skiing and boarding for three days this week it gives our guests a chance to get their snow legs back before the long weekend.�

The resort, which is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere � with 1250 ha at full opening capacity, and four different resorts. On Saturday there will be lifts in three of these four areas open. �There will be three separate resort areas open on Saturday, Perisher Valley, Blue Cow and Smiggin Holes, and we will open up more lifts as conditions allow.� Added Ashley Blondel, Chief Executive Officer.

All indicators point to a good ski season. Don White, Meteorologist, notes the patterns of snowfalls and temperatures have already brought a good omen for the months ahead.

�If early indications are to be trusted, the coming season is a good one.� He said.

The official snow depth as measured at Spencers Creek (between Perisher Valley and Charlotte�s Pass) was 43cm on Thursday 23rd May. This doesn�t take into account more recent falls, and does not reflect the snow levels in snowmaking areas.

Mr White said that you would need to look back 25 years to 1977 to see a greater snow depth in the third week of May. Citing the past 50 years of snow depth measurements he sees only nine other occasions when the snow cover at Spencers Creek was above 40cm at this time of year.

�In only one of those years did the cover decrease from the excellent start.� Mr White said. 50 years on there have been multitudes of changes in technology, in particular with snowmaking. Over the past two weeks at Perisher Blue low temps during the nights, and a weather pattern bringing a series of high pressure cells to the region have allowed snowmaking to kick off with a bang!

At it�s peak there were 57 snowguns blasting snow to three separate resort areas. Hovering around temps of minus 10 at times the snowmaking has giving these areas a head start, allowing them to open these areas on Saturday 8th June. Resort bookings have been up, temperatures have been down and the level of excitement surrounding the season has been rocketing!