Since 1995. #1 in Snow
Around 126,000 visitors enjoyed winter fun at Hotham in 2011, right on the 10 year average for visitation (Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council Statistics).
Mount Hotham Skiing Company's snowmaking system produced enough snow to cover the MCG with 11.4m of snow or fill 92.9 Olympic swimming pools!
Hotham got off to a great start with snow falling steadily throughout June and July to deliver 265cm of natural snow over the course of the season, just down from Hotham?s average fall of 300cm per season.
The plentiful natural snowfalls early in the season resulted in all 13 lifts operating by 9 July, a feat not achieved until 21 August in 2010. Unusually warm temperatures and limited natural snowfalls were the theme of August.
In addition to natural snowfalls and a highly successful snowmaking season, Hotham offered its guests greater value and resort accessibility in 2011. QantasLink's additional flight services from Sydney direct to Hotham Airport, with 300 more seats on offer from the previous year, provided interstate skiers and boarders with convenient resort access, while the introduction of the automated entry system provided for quicker and easier entry to the mountain. In addition, Hotham's new iPhone app allowed for on-mountain mobile users to be updated with the latest information direct from the resort, including snow reports, lift status updates, trail maps, activity updates, live webcams, event information and more. More than 20,000 downloads of the app have been made since the start of the season. A new mobile site was also developed.
Throughout the season, Hotham boasted a comprehensive calendar of events and entertainment both on and off the slopes including the FIS Australia New Zealand Continental Cup events (alpine, Ski-X and SBX), après evenings, sunset tours, winter dogsledding, Women?s Ski Week, Gay Ski Week and Learn to Ski Week to name a few. Hotham also celebrated the anniversary of 150 years skiing in Australia and looked at the history of Hotham and the Australian skifields.
Other 2011 snow season facts and figures include:
- Total natural snowfall of 265cm
- Average base snowdepth for the season was 65cm
- Highest snowfall in one day fell on August 11, 2011 with 29cm. Average snowdepth also peaked on this day at 109cm
- The snowmaking system of 81 guns fired up on 5 June and produced more than 232,000 cubic metres of snow
- All lifts were in operation by 9 July and ran for a combined total of more than 6000 hours during the season
- Hotham hosted 70 event days including national and international ski races
- Coldest recorded temperature during 2011 season was -7.9 degrees on 12 September.
To top off the numerous deals combined with charity fundraisers offered to guests in winter 2011, Hotham and Falls Creek recently announced the release of the 2012 Hero Pass allowing guests to hit the slopes all season long for the price of less than 7 days! For just $699 for adults and $399 for kids, you can ski or ride two resorts - Hotham and Falls Creek with no limits in 2012.
The management and staff of Hotham wish their guests a safe and happy summer. The winter season for 2012 will run from June 9 - September 30. For information on summer events at Hotham visit hotham.com.au.
