On Saturday 24 July 2004, Perisher Blue celebrates the opening of a new freestyle mogul course, Toppa�s Dream. The run was constructed during the summer of 2003-04 to the specifications of the International Ski Federation (FIS). The opening will be spectacular, with spectators able to watch some of Australia�s and the World�s finest freestyle mogul skiers in action, with lightening fast runs over the moguls together with inverted and off-axis aerial tricks thrown in.

Toppa�s Dream is located beside the Ridge Chairlift at Blue Cow, which means spectators can enjoy a sensational birds eye view of the action as they ride the lift. There are also plenty of vantage points beside and below the run to enjoy the action.

The new course is named after Peter � Toppa� Topalovic, who has been associated with Perisher Blue and mogul skiing in Australia for many years. He is now Head Coach of the NSW Institute of Sport�s Europa Cup freestyle mogul skiing program. Toppa said, �Having a FIS World Cup standard course at Perisher Blue is very significant for mogul freestyle skiing as it will give our Australian athletes an edge against international competitors at Europa and World Cup levels, and in the lead up to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Younger athletes will also benefit greatly from being able to watch and train beside some of the best mogul skiers in the World�.

One athlete that will be making regular use of Toppa�s Dream is local athlete Manuela Berchtold, a competitor at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics and a World Cup Freestyle Mogul Skier. Manuela said � Toppa�s Dream will be extraordinarily helpful in enhancing athletes chances in overseas competition, as the run will be similar to those we compete on in Europe and North America�. She concluded by saying �The course is steep, it�s going to be awesome!� Manuela will be one of the Olympic athletes in attendance for the opening of the course.

Also entertaining the crowd at the opening will be Salt Lake Winter Olympic silver medallist Travis Mayer from the USA. Travis will be training in Australia on the course for a month. Having an athlete of this calibre visit and train on the facility proves that it is of world class standard.

From an environmental and construction perspective, the creation of Toppa�s Dream is also something to celebrate. Recognising the steep and sensitive location of the run Perisher Blue constructed the run by hand, ensuring minimal environmental impact. This was a sensitive and difficult project carried out by Perisher Blue staff with great results.

Other resort improvements for the 2004 winter include top to bottom snowmaking on Excelerator and on Toppa�s Dream. Snowmaking will ensure better skiing and snowboarding on the Ridge area and on Toppa�s Dream, and will mean that they will be open earlier and for longer during the season.

Perisher Blue is committed to helping winter sport athletes achieve their Olympic dreams. Perisher Blue is proud to be the official training facility resort of the New South Wales Institute of Sport and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia�s mogul skiing programs. Thanks to the development of Toppa�s Dream, Australia�s best will be closer to winning medals at the Turin Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

Media Contact: Dave Kirwan E: dave.kirwan@perisher.com.au T: 02 64594419