The first Half Pipe of the 2003 Australian ski season opened for it�s ninth consecutive year on Perisher Blue�s Front Valley last weekend.

The Pipe, measuring approximately 100 metres long, 16 metres wides and 4 metres high, attracts extreme Adrenaline Junkies of all ages and genders, keen to try out their freestyling skiing or boarding moves.

There have been thrills and spills galore as daredevils �rip� up the sides of the pipe much to the delight of spectators. Some of the amazing manoeuvres you can expect to see in the Half Pipe include the Alley-oop and 360 degree spins, McTwist and Corkscrew flips and tricks referred to as a Talegrab or a Stalefish which is much more impressive in a Half Pipe than in a garbage can!

In preparation for the Pipe�s construction, Perisher Blue Snowmakers have pumped out 10,000 cubic metres of snow for groomers to cut and shape. Over the past seven years the latter has been the responsibility of resident Pipe specialist, Adam Galbraith who oversees the design, building and maintenance of the Half Pipe.

Galbraith, who has shaped pipes world-wide including the Squaw Valley Super Pipe at Lake Tahoe says, �Here at Perisher Blue we�ve had the top rating Half Pipe in Australia for the past three years, according to extreme sports website, boardtheworld.com�.

Cutting and shaping the pipe took Galbraith 50 arduous hours and involved specific calculations in order to make it the best possible design for riders.

According to Galbraith, the first step to building a pipe means you have to, �Pick your spot, measure it, picture where you�re going to push the snow, then just stick to that plan�.

�The sides are shaped at about 14 degrees and it�s relatively narrow assisting with the riders� speed. There�s about an 87 degree vertical at the top of the Pipe allowing skiers and boarders to �drop in� and �pop out� safely and effectively�, he added.

The Pipe is shaped with a special Half Pipe Grinder (or HPG), which is of Finnish design and purely for the purposes of Half Pipe construction.

�The HPG is the best machine for Australian conditions because it�s lighter than other grooming machines, allowing me to cut the pipe regardless of how wet or heavy the snow may be. It also lends itself to a much steeper cut which is better for the riders,� Galbraith said.

�After putting all this hard work in, it�s a great feeling watching the pure exhilaration on the faces of the pipe riders. That�s very satisfying for me�, he added.

In addition to the Half Pipe on Front Valley, Perisher Blue has other attractions of the extreme variety. The Leichhardt and Blue Cow Terrain Parks challenge skiers and boarders with a variety of different jumps and rails to grind.

Whilst the professionals make it look easy, extreme snowriding can actually be very precarious. Riders are reminded that extreme sports and taking extreme care go hand in hand, so wearing the right protective gear and using common sense is essential.

Extreme snowriding sports are becoming increasingly popular. For Perisher Blue, that means attractions such as the Half Pipe and Terrain Parks are here to stay with a very real possibility of expansion into bigger and better things for the future.

For now though, one thing�s certain, this season�s Half Pipe will be the source of much extreme enjoyment, action and entertainment for skiers, boarders and onlookers alike, so get out there and start carving it up with the best of them!