Thredbo is the most renowned ski area in Australia's Snowy Mountains. Thredbo's height and location make it perfect for heaps of natural snow. The elevation means the snow starts earlier and stays long. But like all ski resorts we are at the mercy of the elements and to compensate Thredbo have invested heavily in a large snowmaking system, making the trip to the resort a safe bet even in the most marginal of seasons.

Thredbo now boasts a whopping 65 hectares of snowmaking, covering trails for all levels. This year $1.5 million was spent on adding snowmaking to the World Cup run that runs parallel to the mighty Supertrail. This enhancement will also see improved coverage of the run-out of Little Beauty and True Blue.

The three stage automation process has seen close to $6 million invested and the results of this upgrade are staggering, close to triple the amount of snow can now be produced over pre-automated days.

Thredbo's snowmaking system produced:

• 2005 Pre-automated (before the upgrade) - 180,000 m3
• 2006 Stage 1 automation - 330,000 m3
• 2007 Stage 2 automation - 430,000 m3
• 2008 Stage 3 automation - anticipated production 480,000 - 500,000 m3

Come season 2008, Thredbo's system will have the ability to have 155 guns on-line at any one time, that is double the amount from pre automated days. Thredbo now has snowmaking on runs for every level of snow rider, so even when Mother Nature hits the snooze button you can still enjoy good snow riding conditions.

Thredbo Resort Statisitics

Riding terrain: 480 hectares
Vertical drop: 672 metres
Base elevation: 1365 metres
Summit elevation: 2037 metres
Day ticket: $97
Beginner/novice: 16%
Intermediate: 67%
Advanced/expert: 17%
Longest run: 5.9kilometres (Karel’s T-bar to Friday Flat.)
Lifts: 14
Average Snowfall*: 203cm
2007 top snow depth*: 164.4cm
Snowmaking: 25% of the resort

THREDBO THE MOUNTAIN

Thredbo has terrain to suit all standards of skiers and boarders. Ranging from gentle first timer runs on a purpose built beginners area, to long wide Supertrails, intermediate blue runs and some of the most advanced black diamond terrain in the country.
Beginners
Your first time on the snow is filled with all kinds of emotions, kicking off with WOW then moving into woooooohhhh. Friday Flat is a great spot to start, it was specially designed with beginners in mind, the slope is gentle, the lifts are easy to use and the lift attendants are specially trained for nurturing new skiers and boarders. Very conveniently the Snow Sports School also meet here so getting to your lesson is hassle free. Yes, a lesson is highly recommended so you can pick up the skills to progress.
Intermediates
Intermediates love Thredbo. This is the level when you are comfortably cruising runs that are marked blue and green on the trail map. The majority of people who hit the slopes are intermediates. Thredbo’s intermediate haven is the Cruiser area, the trails are long wide and tree-lined and its accessed by a super quick quad chair so you get
more runs in your day (and get better quicker). It is such a great feeling when the runs you nervously rode at the start are now being carved with confidence, next step the Olympics, well, maybe the Supertrail and High Noon!
All Mountain
Experienced skiers rate Thredbo’s terrain as the best in the country. Thredbo has everything an advanced rider is looking for - long runs with a great pitch, natural hits, wind lips, powder bowls, smooth on-piste (groomed trails) and hectares of off piste to explore…Thredbo is a stand out. Whether you are, taking on the rollers and kickers off Karels, pumping the boards in the powder off the Bluff or laying them over on the early corduroy of the Supertrail you’ll have a blast in Thredbo.

We love to stop for refreshments on the way down. Black Sallees, Eagles Nest and the legendary Kareela Hut provide the sustenance to continue to the bottom. Of the advanced runs Funnel Web, Cannonball and Michael's Mistake are the pick of the bunch. Intermediates have a great range of terrain to choose from in the Merritts area with highlights being Exhibition and The Falls. The annual Thredbo Top to Bottom, for both Boarders and skiers, provides some amazing scenes with its Le Mans style start.

There are great prizes, such as trips to the US, so if you think you can beat some of the best get to Thredbo for the big race. Also Carnival week in mid September is another great time in a resort thats never short of a good time. There is a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants in Thredbo Village so you can enjoy Thredbo regardless of your budget. The village itself has the best atmosphere of all the Australian resorts, which adds to the experience. If you haven't skied Thredbo then you've really missed out on some great skiing and boarding, not to mention the nightlife ... so get up there and see what all the fuss is about.