The Cattleman’s Rail Jam returns for the 6th year running!

Australia’s top snowboarders will compete under lights to be crowned 2011 champion. Giveaways, music and good times.

FREE ENTRY

4 wildcard positions available. Registration for the qualification event: Freeride in Mt Buller Village Square, 9am Sat July 16th. Qualifications: 12pm in the Mt Buller Park.

Official afterparty presented by MTV at Koororra back bar from 8:30pm

It’s year number 3 for the TTR 3-star jib event with an annually updated course set around a purpose built hut – offering up a huge array of tricks up close and personal. Representing 15 teams, 30 of Australia and New Zealand’s top snowboarders battle to take out a share in the $19,000 prize purse.

Rider Registration: Fri 29 July – 12-2pm
Practice 1 Fri 29 July – 2pm – 4pm
Practice 2 Sat 30 July – 12.30 -2.30pm

TEAMS
1. OAKLEY:
2. DESTYN.VIA
3. BILLABONG
4. DC
5. BURTON
6. RIDE
7. FORUM
8. NITRO
9. QUIKSILVER
10. LIB TECH
11. K2
12. FYVE
13. 3CS
14. STEP CHILD
15. COMPATRIOT

Prize money
Winning team = $12,000
Best trick – $3,000
Gatorade Rookie – $4,000

Check out what went down in the 2010 Event:

Mt Buller

Expect around 40cm with 4 lifts turning. Those being Holden, Blue Bullet, Bourke St Carpet and Wombat. Buller have been quoted offering “discount passes” but we don’t know exactly what. What we do know is you can ride a couple hours for FREE on Friday! On top of that expect live music, complimentary glühwein and hot chocolate, fireworks and the popular Barry Possum Show for the kids.

Hotham

30cm of natural snowfall plus snowmaking will see The Big D, Summit Trainer and Playground (to mid load) open on Saturday – with one day lift tickets at $49. Harry the Snowdragon will be out and about for the kids while The General Store have a huge lineup of music and DJ’s to welcome season 2011.

Falls Creek

Lift tickets will also be going for $49 at Falls this weekend and with some luck the guys are hoping for up to 50cm on the ground by then. Expect Towers and Falls Express to be turning as well as Mousetrap Carpet for the kiddies. I dare say everyones favorite Pete the Snow Dragon will be out and about as well as a bunch of parties as per usual for the social folk at Falls.

Mount Baw Baw

This little mountain was forecast to get the most snow throughout the week and so far have 35cm sitting on the ground with hopefully more overnight. No word on which will be going but I’m sure they’ll be enough to shred and it’s where I’m choosing to enjoy my season opener.. Oh and Denise Drysdale will be kicking around the resort too!

Thredbo

They’ve had 25cm fall this week and have been blasting the snow making, Thredders plans to kick things off on Friday as well with Easy Does It chair for riding and Kosciuszko Express only for sight-seeing. Saturday they’ll knock it up a notch with Easy Does It, High Noon, Cruiser Chairlift to ski and board on Walkabout and Ballroom, Merritts for access only and possible Gunbarrel Chairlift depending on snow and weather conditions over the next few days.

Perisher

Also a good natural base with solid snowmaking, Perisher is opening V8, Mitchell, Perisher Express and a few Carpets for beginners. Tickets will be discounted to $80 for Saturday but the real winner is Friday at $60. Oh and if that doesn’t suit your style then how about The Snowy Mountain Music Festival which is happening all long weekend? Yeah, thought so!

So there you have it folks, huge plans happening across all mountains and this above is just some of what is actually going down. So grab your friends, load the car and hit the mountains. Remember to drive safe, ride safe and have a great time. Welcome to season 2011!

Here are a bunch of pics courtesy of the respecting resorts’ Facebook pages. Get excited folks, one month to go!!

Falls Creek

Mt Buller

Mt Hotham

Thredbo

Perisher

For the 3rd year in a row now, Perisher, Hotham and Falls Creek are teaming up to deliver one season pass for access to all 3 resorts. The Superpass is now available for $1449 from all 3 Resorts, buys your from:

Mt Hotham
Falls Creek
Perisher

Want to hear the sucky part? Last year they offered an earlybird discount which made the pass cheaper than a single resort season pass. Seems they are not doing that this year. Instead, they are giving you the chance to win the pass back if you buy before June 19th. Each resort is giving one back so 3 are up for grabs.

If this doesn’t sit well with you then maybe the joint Falls/Hotham season pass is more your liking. It’s going at earlybird prices until 27 May for only $1199.

Either way get committed for 2011, lock in your season pass now and enjoy a stress-free season knowing your ride is paid.

All skiers and snowboarders sporting their favourite footy team colours to the snow will ride the lifts at Mt Buller for just $20 this Sunday.

“It’s our last day of the snow season and like most Victorians we have a touch of finals fever here at Mt Buller. Whichever team finally emerges victorious at the MCG on Saturday there will be fans who will want to wear their colours with pride,” said Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Laurie Blampied.

“We invite everyone to come and see out the season with a last hurrah in the spring snow this weekend.   If you wear your football jersey – whatever team you support -  on Sunday we have created a Mt Buller Footy Finals Ticket for just $20 to celebrate the last day of the ski season.”

Mt Buller Footy Finals Tickets will be available from all Mt Buller and Mansfield lift ticket outlets and will be provided at the special footy finals price for all skiers and boarders  - as long as they are dressed up in support their favourite footy team.  Lift tickets for those not in footy gear are also discounted down to $66 for adults and just $36 for children.

Proceeds from the $20 special season end tickets will be donated to the Royal Children’s’ Hospital.

Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort entry charges are also discounted by 50% to celebrate the final day of the snow season.

Mt Buller is enjoying very good late season conditions with 58-95cms of soft spring snow cover, extensive terrain open for skiing, snowboarding and snowplay and 10 lifts in operation.

For more information on snow and weather conditions and special end of season packages visit www.mtbuller.com.au

Steady late season snowfalls have been boosting already good snow cover with between 88-125cms sitting across Mt Buller and extensive terrain open for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

Ticket prices have been cut to herald the arrival of spring school holidays and make it even more affordable for visitors to access the terrific snow conditions this September. From Monday 20 September adult day passes drop to just $66 and children aged through to Year 12 can enjoy a day on the slopes for just $36.

“Everything has come together perfectly for a bumper final few weeks. We have plenty of very good snow cover, fine spring weather in the forecast and with discounted lift passes Mt Buller is an appealing and affordable family getaway these school holidays.”

“We are welcoming back many skiers and snowboarders who were up earlier in the winter and can’t believe how much snow and terrain is open so late in the year, so they have come back for more.  There is a great atmosphere around the mountain and the spring discounts are an added bonus.”

A special Spring Discover Ski/Snowboard package also starts from Monday 20 September including a day lift pass, 2 hour beginner lesson and a complete ski or snowboard rental package through Buller Sports from just $99 for adults and $54 for children.

Many accommodation houses are offering dramatically discounted packages with one night free for multi-day stays adding to the spring savings on offer.  For more information and bookings visit mtbuller.com.au or call Buller Holidays on 1800 810 200.

The current ski season at Mt Buller is scheduled to conclude on 3 October.  To find out more about Ski & Snowboard School packages, accommodation options, view live webcams and more visit mtbuller.com.au

Among items shared are the gateway plan for Horsehill which includes gondola access direct to the village (stoked!), the development plans for the village itself and most importantly the lift and snowmaking plans.

Check out some screen shots below or check out the full presentation here. Mt Buller would love to hear your feedback on this too, here is how to give it:

Any feedback submissions about the draft should be lodged with the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board by 6 October 2010. All comments can be emailed to masterplan@mtbuller.com.au or posted to:

Attn: Resort Master Plan
Resort Management Board
Buller Community Centre
Mt Buller VIC 3723

To view the Draft Resort Master Plan, please click here.

Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Laurie Blampied announced the new initiative this weekend as thousands of snow-lovers flocked to Mt Buller to experience the excellent skiing conditions, over 132cm snow cover and clear skies.

“There are terrific conditions on the mountain at the moment and spring promises some of the best skiing and boarding for the season.  Not that die-hard skiers need much motivation when conditions are this good, but with the Spring Season Pass the more you ski, the more you will save so it’s a nice late season bonus.”

Mt Buller’s new Spring Season Pass is the best value spring seasonal product in Australia, maintaining Mt Buller’s long held position of the most economically priced passes and tickets of all the major alpine resorts in the country.

“There is plenty of great snow up here on Mt Buller and this Spring pass will make it cost-effective for more skiers and boarders who may not already hold a season pass to make the most of it before the end of the season,” said Blampied.  “It’s a good way to bypass the ticket line each morning and get straight out onto the slopes where you want to be.”

Mt Buller Spring Season Pass
Adult                                                                                          $499
Tertiary student (full time student ID)                              $399
Child (aged 5 years to Yr 12)                                                $269

The new Spring Season Pass is available for purchase from 1 September, 2010 at the Season Pass office in the Village Square at Mt Buller and will be valid until the close of the 2010 season.

They have been experiencing ongoing reliability issues so great to see them making the responsible decision and closing it until they are satisfied in its condition. You can read the full article here.

Don’t let this stop you from a day’s shredding at Buller though, I was just there on Saturday and let me tell you the resort is simply magical at the moment, heaps of terrain is now open, the parks are looking the good and the snow quality on Saturday was fantastic! You won’t be disappointed.