• Big D ski area to become a dedicated progression-focused freestyle and terrain park zone that will also be home to night terrain park sessions and events
• Big D buildings to be repurposed with the view to expand indoor facilities and services to benefit both guests and staff 
• Kids Snowsports School to move from the Big D to Hotham Central, and surface lifts to be relocated to support the learning experience for both Kids and Adults, bringing snowsports together at Hotham

Hotham is excited to share plans for the 2025 snow season, which will see the Big D terrain evolve into a dedicated progression focused freestyle and terrain park to include a huge variety of jump and rail lines, a permanent mogul course and a mini boarder x course. It will also become home to night freestyle events, with night skiing and boarding also remaining at the Big D, offering both terrain park features as well as a regular ski run option.

“We are so excited to bring this new offering to life at Hotham. We’re creating something unique to Australia that will really appeal to Hotham guests and families, who we know are progression focused and always up for adventure,” says Tina Burford, Hotham’s Vice President and General Manager. “We thank our staff and stakeholders for coming on this journey with us and helping us to provide leadership and innovation in the Australian snow industry.”

These changes will allow for exciting new opportunities for the Big D building, which will be developed over the next few years, for both staff and guest use, as well as space for development programs and camps. It will be an exciting multiyear journey to fully develop and recognise the potential for this space.

“Terrain parks are ever popular with skiers and snowboarders,” says Briony Johnson, Hotham’s Terrain Park Supervisor. “Not only are they a great place to learn skills in a controlled environment but they also create a social hub for riders. We are looking forward to putting our creativity to the test and creating fun and exciting lines for skiers and riders of all abilities. Watch this space as we bring this new part of Hotham to life!”

This progression focused park will also provide the perfect development opportunities for Hotham’s more challenging terrain and the bigger features of the Summit Terrain Park.

Currently located at Big D, the Kids Snowsports School will be relocating to Hotham Central with Mighty Mites (3–6-year-olds) meeting indoors downstairs at Hotham Central and Kids Club (7-14-year-olds) meeting on snow at the back of Hotham Central. 

“Based on both guest and staff feedback around the challenges of Big D being separate to the rest of the resort, we are bringing both adult and children’s snowsports together at Hotham Central to create a seamless experience for guests,” said Chris Lewczynski, Hotham Snowsports School Senior Manager.

Centralising the snowsports offering will improve the guest experience by reducing the amount of bus trips required, increasing the time on snow for both children in lessons and parents heading out on the slopes, while increasing safety by removing the need for kids in lessons to frequently travel on a bus with their instructors or reach the carpets mid-mountain on the Big D.

To support this change, a number of surface lifts will be relocated over the next two years and a new indoor space will be created in Hotham Central for Hotham’s youngest learners. For the 2025 season, the Bunderool carpet will be used exclusively for kids lessons and the Pup’s Playground carpet lift will be moved as an additional lift for the Kids Snowsports School. The Summit Trainer Poma will be removed and replaced with Harry’s, the longer Big D carpet, to better support Hotham’s adult learners. This will significantly improve their learning experience, particularly for snowboarders. Future plans include the potential to relocate the current Summit Trainer lift to the skiers right of the Sun Run, to provide a good intermediate run option when upper lifts are wind affected.

The post Hotham reveals plans for new progression focused freestyle and terrain park zone appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

It is a season like no other, so how is Covid Season 2020 looking?

(posted: 04/06/20 – 4pm)

2020 had been a year unlike no other, not just for Australia but the world. Australian’s have had to endure, drought, bushfires, floods and then came the COVID-19 global pandemic. Businesses and families in the mountains were already hurting economically well before any thoughts of an upcoming snow season that may well have helped to get things back on track. The devastating news for any regulars of Selwyn Snow Resort was that the resort was completely burnt to the ground and was never going to be open in 2020 (photos below show the destruction).

COVID-19 spreading across Australia in March and increased dramatically in cases during April which had it looking like any thoughts of snow season was a pipe dream at best. The Australian public and businesses did a great job in flattening the curve to an extent that the Federal and State governments of NSW and Victoria have given the OK to run a snow season that will commence from the 22nd of June.

All resorts came together with heads of industry and govt to work on how season 2020 would work with social distancing still to continue until a covid cure can be found. It was never going to be easy work out and there were always going to be plenty of unhappy people. Reduced numbers on the slopes, accommodation to open that doesn’t have communal use facilities, reduced numbers on lifts and the inevitable increase in lift ticket prices to counter any losses selected by ‘click frenzy’ style online selling. To many the only positive is that at least the resorts will be open and there will be skiing and boarding.

Many of course will elect just to give 2020 a miss altogether due to costs and not being guaranteed lifts tickets, others will wait to see if the Trans Tasman bubble opens in July and head over to the South Island skifields of New Zealand. There will also be plenty who are ready and willing to hit the Australian slopes and work with the social distancing protocols that we have come accustomed to.

My job now is to inform on what I think the slightly delayed start to Season 2020 will be like. Will we have plenty of natural snow, no snow at all or enough man made stuff to have limited lifts running.

Early signs were good with some decent snow falling in May and then the first day of Winter produced another drop of natural snow that had everyone hyped for a good season with the usual media outlets dropping the tag that I personally dislike ‘bumper season’. What’s quite normal so early on is that the snow doesn’t hang around long due to warmish temperatures.

This week we have seen some resorts begin to make snow thanks to some cold clear nights. What’s good about this is that the ground was already cool thanks to the thin layer of snow from Monday 1st of June. Weather permitting the snow makers can now work on building a base leading into the season opening.

Now we have good and bad news in regards to what’s coming up leading into the opening weekend. I’ll start with the bad news which is that currently it looks like we will see very little in the way of natural snow falling in the resorts over the next couple of weeks. The southern hemisphere is being dominated by strong high pressure systems that are forcing any potential snow systems to the south under the mainland. And whilst this is not good news for the Australian resorts it is good news for those in the south of New Zealand with the kiwis picking up what we miss. There is a little snow likely in our resorts on the 6th (which will only be a dusting), the 14th to 16th should see some snowfalls mixed in with some showers at the beginning. Opening weekend looks like we might snow some snow around the 23rd-24th and fingers crossed this one brings something decent.

Whilst we don’t look like seeing any really big natural falls for a little while yet we have the next best thing and that is a lot of cold clear nights with light winds coming up that will allow the snow guns to fire for long periods and at least create enough of a base to make sure we do have some runs open and lifts spinning come season opening. Another positive is that we shouldn’t see much of that ugly wet stuff that washes snow away.

OK, we have established that we are likely to start the season with mostly man made snow and a little natural stuff thrown in, but when will be see a season starter dump to really get things moving. On average June is a bit of a write off in regards to natural cover and things usually get going early July. At the moment it looks like that trend will continue. There is a nice cold system due to arrive in the first week of July that looks to have enough juice in it to deliver a cold blast to the mountains that will give us a decent fall of snow. It has a long way to travel, it’s only just passing NZ and still has to revolve around the entire southern hemisphere to reach us, but the size and position looks better than anything coming before it.

Most resorts are still to announce the details of their Covid affected seasons, although Thredbo did come out this week with their plan and copped a bit of a hammering on social media mainly because of the increase in lift tickets and season ticket holders only getting a discount on day tickets. Just remember the resorts would open everything if possible and continue as normal if they could, but unfortunately they still have to pay the same amount of staff to operate lifts, do maintenance, make snow, groom slopes, pay for power etc but have the number of paying customers capped well below normal capacity.

Keep an eye on the Snowatch long range forecast for daily updates on what’s coming over the next month and also the daily 15 day forecasts for each resort. Remember the Snowatch forecasts are the only ones done manually by a human (me) without the use of computer algorithms spitting out amounts that never occur. One tip I will give for those that follow the algorithms, ignore the afternoon updates they give as they inflate the predicted amounts by a lot, stick to the morning run of numbers as they are much closer to the mark. I’ll be keeping an eye out for these high pressure systems to weaken, once they do then it’s game on and the snow systems will head up to the mountains rather than slip under and over the NZ.

Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor

www.snowatch.com.au

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By Pete ‘The Frog’ Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

A look at the coming snow season for Australia

(posted: 06/05/19 – 10pm)

As per usual at this time of year everyone wants to know what the coming season has in store, and I’m no different. We would all love to see a couple of early dumps before the opening weekend and then consistent top ups each week through to September, but that’s not realistic. So what is?

An average June is considered a bit of a write off, and only for the desperate who don’t mind skiing on mostly man made snow. Most resorts know this and have early season festivals and events planned to fill the void. The resorts have pumped millions of dollars into snowmaking infrastructure over the last 20+ years and it has meant that June can actually have decent skiing and boarding even without natural snow, we just need cold clear nights. I remember below average snowfalls seasons at Thredbo that have seen top to bottom skiing on the Crackenback/Kosi Supertrail from June through to closing weekend in October because of extended periods of cold clear nights from large blocking high pressure systems. 2017 was one of the worst starts to a season on record. Warm early temps and some rain meant there was little to no snowmaking and virtually no natural snow for the whole of June. July saw three dumps and another in early August and the season was in full swing. The snow kept on falling and peaked in late September (much later that the usual mid August peak). Last year the first decent snow was a bit earlier in mid June and peaked early August.

Now to season 2019. The coming snow season will start to get a lot of traction in the media later this week with some decent snow likely to fall in the mountains, but with it still being a month before the season starts it’s unlikely the snow is going to hang around for long. It may help Mt Buller add a bit to their already quite large stockpile of snow thanks to their snow factory technology that makes snow at temps well above zero. This pretty much guarantees them to have at least Bourke Street running for the opening weekend.

Most resorts start to make snow in the third week of May, weather permitting and Perisher a little before that. It wouldn’t surprise me if Perisher was to make an early move and turn on the guns with cold nights forecast for next week after the snowfalls clear, but we will just have to wait and see for that one.

Current weather patterns suggest a drier than average start to the season and also daytime maximum temperatures to be higher than average. This is both good and bad. It means we are not likely get a lot of natural snow but we are likely to see large blocking high pressure systems dominating over the SE of the country. This is fairly normal for this time and year and it should also mean that we should get extended periods of cold night for the snow guns to fire up. With not a lot of rain on the cards early on then it’s quite likely we should see skiing and boarding on the slopes with snowmaking.

The BOM says there is a 70% chance of an El Nino forming towards the end of the season with warm ocean surface temps in the North Pacific, although cool temps at lower depths suggest if El Nino does happen it will be short lived. This shouldn’t really have too much to do with the snow season if it does happen as it will be quite late and probably only weak anyway.

The next month

Early snow this week will increase interest in the coming season but probably won’t have any real bearing on it. Some light snow is possible around the 22nd but it could also be just light showers with some snow up top. At the moment most low pressure systems will slip south just under the mountains. The last week of May is showing some promise for snow, but at this stage I’d say only around 5cm or so, which would be a nice help for the snowmakers to work with.

Early June should see snow around the 3rd-5th with around 5-10cm (fingers crossed for a bit more than that). Following this I see a period of not much snow and unfortunately warmer temps with the occasional shower. So the start of the season from what I can see is that we will be pretty much relying on the snowmakers to fire up to to get runs open.

The high pressure systems look to dominate during mid June and unless we can get a freak dump from somewhere we may be looking at another late start. I see July being another decent one as will August. The highs should weaken early July and let the cold fronts move a bit further north into the mountains and resorts, hopefully early enough for the school holidays, but it may be touch and go.

I do see a lot of similarities with 2017 and 2018 (apart from the mid June first dump last year), although I wouldn’t expect to hit such great heights or also for the snow to keep falling well into late September but I do see it being a bit above average as far as peak depth goes. I’d be looking at around 180-190cm at Spencer’s Creek.

With all that being said, just remember the weather is a fickle thing and we could easily see a cold front slip north and hit the mountains early, it only takes one dump to get things going, it’s just that it’s not very likely looking at the current patterns, charts and previous seasons data.

Keep an eye on the Snowatch long range forecast for daily updates on what coming over the next month and also the daily 15 day forecasts for the resorts.

Here’s to a good season!

The Frog

The post Snowatch 2019 Season Outlook appeared first on Snowatch.

Delicious gastronomy, all-inclusive activities and world-renowned locations drive record occupancy rates for Club Med’s memorable snow holidays

Aussies are seeking holistic snow holidays with unique experiences and cultural immersion alongside thrilling snow sports, according to sales insights released by Club Med, in-line with the all-inclusive provider’s ski season opening.

An increased number of Australians are signing up for the emotions that you can only experience on a snow holiday, such as the liveliness that comes with fresh mountain air on your face, the freedom of smooth ski runs, the wonder during après ski adventures, and the content from feasting on delicious, well-earned, mountain fare.

Almost all rooms in Club Med’s newest Japanese resort, Tomamu Hokkaido, have been booked through to March 2019, with a huge 37% of those Aussies who skied Japan with Club Med last year returning for 2018. And with Club Med’s European resorts more than 75% full at the start of ski season, the brand has had to create a pre-registration process to keep up with the demand of Australian travellers.

“Our guests continue to book Club Med resorts for their snow holidays because of the exclusive snow community we’ve cultivated with our full-mountain experience,” says General Manager of Club Med Australia, Rachael Harding.

“Our research show that guests are looking for off-mountain activities that wow them just as much as ski does, and Club Med truly delivers this in our premium package. Our winter offering welcomes guests to become part of the Club Med snow community, where the mountains are world-class, the activities are never-ending, and they leave their holiday transformed.”

It’s a sentiment Australian and Club Med Beidahu snowboard instructor, Brandon Creighton, agrees with. He says the increase in Australians investing in premium Club Med ski holidays is because of the transformative nature of their stay: “Some of the experiences I’ve had while teaching guests how to snowboard will stay with me forever. There’s a moment and you can see it, when snowboarding gets into someone’s blood. All of a sudden they start wanting to push their limit, and finish runs with attitude! At Club Med, you can have a blast on the slopes, meet new people all the time during lunch and dinner at the in-resort restaurants, and then enjoy the après-ski activities to wind down.”

Beyond a standard snow holiday

With recent research* showing snow holidays bring families closer together, Club Med fills the gap during Australia’s own off-season, offering a truly international snow experience. Snow enthusiasts and their families can experience a whole new world of passion at Club Med resorts, through immersive cultural experiences in some of the world’s best locations.

For example, guests at Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido in Japan can savour award-winning locally-brewed spirits and Wagyu beef in-resort, while those at the brand new Club Med Les Arcs Panorama in France dive into Turkish baths and incredible slopes in one of the world’s biggest ski areas, Paradiski©.

“With bulky gear to manage, hidden additional costs and the complexity of travel, the research* shows that international snow holidays can often be daunting for Australian families,” says Harding. “However, Club Med’s all-inclusive packages and premium service make the booking and experience of a snow holiday truly easy.”

Club Med guests receive as part of their all-inclusive snow holiday:

• Accommodation with a wide-choice of room types, in the world’s best locations
• All gourmet meals in-resort and in selected altitude restaurants
• Premium open bar, including beer, wine, spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages
• Kids Clubs for guests from 4 years old.^
• Evening entertainment and shows by the Club Med GO team
• Easy Arrival: Club Med’s infamous offering where ski/snowboard gear is available in guests’ private lockers upon arrival so they can hit the slopes as soon as they check-in (available in European ski resorts)
• Ski lift passes to access the slopes
• Group lessons tailored to all levels and ages, with English-speaking professional instructors
• An array of non-ski activities, from snowshoe walking and sledding to après-ski treats including hot-tubs, saunas or indoor heated swimming pools

Australia’s best Winter Olympic program athletes join the Club Med snow community

Club Med resorts across Europe and Asia opened last week with some of Australia’s best winter sportspeople in-residence, with thanks to the brand’s recent partnership with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA). Two-time Olympian Samantha Kennedy-Sim is amongst the Ski Cross athletes training and recovering within Club Med’s expertly-appointed resorts this snow season.

“The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia chose to partner with Club Med in the lead up to the 2022 Winter Olympics so that our talented young athletes could train on the best powder with the best runs, and enjoy some ideal R&R when they’re not training,” says Chief Executive Officer of OWIA, Geoff Lipshut.
“Club Med shares our passion for the snow and our inclusive community values, making them a great partner for the OWIA and its athletes ahead of the next Winter Olympic Games.”

OWIA athletes will be on the ground in Club Med Val Thorens this snow season, and travelling to other Club Med European and Asian ski resorts in the lead-up to 2022.

A new generation of ski holidays at Club Med

Continually innovating their snow offering, Club Med is pleased to open this season with a bang in both Europe and Asia.

Leading the snow season with unprecedented interest is Club Med’s new European resort, Les Arcs Panorama in France. Guests will be immersed in the modern architecture and wide-open views upon arrival at the family-friendly Arcs 1600 ski resort. Families can make the most of Club Med’s infamous Kid’s Clubs from 4-months to 17-years old and enjoy the unique Bread & Co family restaurant, where the kids take their parents out to dinner. For something a little more indulgent, Club Med Les Arcs Panorama offers a Wellness area with Cinq Mondes spa, heated indoor and outdoor pools, Turkish baths and more.

For guests after a shorter travel time to their immersive on-snow holiday, Club Med’s recently upgraded Japanese resort, Club Med Sahoro Hokkaido enchants and delights with its breathtaking landscapes in one of Asia’s best travel destinations. The resort’s cultural experiences have expanded to include Hokkaido Soba and Temari Sushi cooking lessons, indoor rock-climbing with augmented reality, adult beginner magic carpets, and more. Those looking for Japanese culinary delights after skiing some of the world’s best powder can also enjoy the new wine list and Pierrade & Hokkaido cheese fondue or healthy Japanese buffet, all before laying their head in one of the 177 newly refurbished rooms and suites.

Join the exclusive Club Med snow community

If you’re ready to pack your bags and hit the slopes for a premium, no-hassle snow holiday, last minute bookings are still available for this season.

Pre-registration for 2019-20 ski season opens 12 December, 2018.

For further information and to book your transformative ski holiday,
visit www.clubmed.com.au.

The post Aussies seek more than only ‘ski’ snow holidays this season appeared first on Snowatch.

By Pete Taylor
Snow Forecastor & Owner
snowatch.com.au

A comprehensive review of the new Club Med Grand Massif Samoen’s Morillon resort in France

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to be invited by Club Med to review their brand new snow resort in the French Alps at Grand Massif Samoens Morillon. I’d never been to a Club Med snow resort before, but had been to three of their summer resorts (Malaysia, Bali and Mauritius) and was a big fan of the all inclusive holiday. It was on my bucket list due to the great time I had with the family during our Club Med stays over the last few years (see article on our previous Club Med trips). Knowing that Club Med resorts cater so well for families I simply had to take the family along to be able to review all angles.

It took my wife Adele all of a second or two to agree to come, the two boys Zane 13 and Kalan 9 (nearly 10) were not so enthusiastic as I had told them if we head to France then we most likely wouldn’t be going to interschools in Thredbo this year. I was gobsmacked when they whinged and complained saying they would prefer a week in Thredbo racing rather than a week in the French Alps with another week in Paris tacked onto the end of the trip.

Once they saw the photos of the resort, including the indoor and outdoor pools and spa they changed their minds and totally bought in (although I’m still kept getting the “we want to go to Interschools” line). They also remembered that all Club Med’s are ‘all inclusive’ so pretty much everything is included, including accommodation, food and snacks, drinks including beer, wine, cocktails and most spirits. Being a snow resort lift tickets and lessons are also included as well as kids clubs, pools, spa and sauna’s.

We booked in for the last week of the season Club Med Grand Massif Samoens Morillon. Now usually at this time of year the snow would be a little dodgy but France and most of The Alps were having an exceptional season and there was a full deep cover of snow right up til seasons end.

We flew from Sydney to Geneva via Abhu Dhabi on Emirates. It’s a 15 hour flight to Abu Dhabi and then another 7 on to Geneva, which is not easy especially as the kids like to lay all over you to get some sleep, which means you don’t get any. The plane was good with what looked like new tv screens which was very welcome considering I wasn’t going to get much if any sleep and movies would be keeping me occupied for the next day.

Flying into Geneva was spectacular, the views were simply amazing. Imagine a flat city on the edge of a lake surrounded by steep, snow covered mountains, not that I got to see much as dad never gets the window seat. The airport itself was quite small, it kinda reminded me of a regional airport not much bigger than the Gold Coast. Once we cleared customs and gathered our bags we walked out to see our Club Med driver waiting to take us up to the resort which was just over an hour away (can take up to an hour and a half if there is snow on the roads heading up). Club Med can organise transfers to and from either the airport or train station where many Europeans access the very fast train.

We were very excited as none of us had been to Europe before, it was eyes wide open for the drive up. It seemed like only 10 minutes, if that, when we crossed the border from Switzerland into France. We then drove up very green valley with mountains on either side and small villages that looked hundreds of years old, it was just what we had hoped to see. Being late in the season and a warm sunny day we didn’t have to worry about snow on the roads so the drive easy.

The resort sits at around 1600m, if you aren’t staying on mountain you can easily get the gondola up from Samonens Village below. When we arrived at the resort we were greeted at the mini bus by smiling staff as we disembarked. All the Club Med’s we had been to had started on a positive note with warm greetings and this was no different. We were asked to walk straight in and grab a refreshment as we were briefed on everything to do with the resort. Our bags were taken to our room whilst our skis and boots were taken to our lockers, ready for tomorrow.

Our first impressions were that the resort obviously had a very new, fresh look and feel. It was modern, clean and aesthetically pleasing. I’d read some reviews prior to our trip and a few had complained that it didn’t have the wooden log cabin feel, but this isn’t that type of place, it’s more high end snow chic.

We headed to our rooms to check them out. We were in the club rooms which are the basic/club level and they were both more than adequate with balcony’s with a fantastic view or the mountains and pool area. There was plenty of storage space in each room, which meant we didn’t have any clutter around. The kids pretty much dived straight onto the wifi and their ipads as they must have had withdrawals after the long trip. The resort has free wifi but it’s fairly slow so we took up the paid extra boost for the week which was around A$50 and well worth it.

It was just about time for lunch so we headed up to the restaurant to try the buffet which Club Med’s are famous for. Upon entry to lunch we couldn’t but notice the breathtaking views on both sides out to the Alps. Apart from the views all I could notice was the what seemed an endless line of breads, pastries and cheeses…Wow! Walk past that and you had the hot food, cold foods, western , French, middle eastern and Asian styles. Further up and around the corner were desserts, and ice cream bar. There are also self serve outlets for soft drinks, juices, coffee, hot chocolate and beer. You can also order wine if you feel like a tipple….and yes all is included.

After filling up we headed back to our room to relax. Although tired from pretty much no sleep on the trip over we stayed awake to try to acclimatise to the new timezone. The boys wanted to check out the pool so we headed off for a swim. The kids had a ball changing from the indoor pool to the outdoor spa and back again. Some reviews I had read said the pool was cold but it was not at all, the indoor pool was 26C and the outdoor spa 32C. The outdoor pool was still closed as there was around half to a metre of snow around it and it was still fairly cool outside. We were lucky that later in the week due to the very warm weather the outdoor pool area was cleared and the pool was the place to be in the afternoon Spring sunshine as fresh fruit and snacks were brought out to the poolside guests.

After the pool we headed back to our rooms to freshen up. Our arrival day was on a Sunday and on Sunday afternoons you need to book your ski lessons in for the week. We were a little apprehensive as what level class we should put ourselves in as we were from Australia and these mountains looked so much bigger and steeper, so we assumed everyone was going to be of a high standard. Myself, Adele and Zane were advanced skiers back home and Kalan was upper intermediate. Kalan being under 11 (nearly 10) was booked in with the kids club, and was in the second highest level. We decided to try the second highest adult level, we thought if it was too hard we would just drop down the next day.

After some pre dinner drinks at the bar, we headed upstairs for an early dinner. The kids wanted to sit in the gondolas for something different. We decided to give the nightly show a miss and have an early night due to our jetlag, we wanted to be fresh for skiing in the morning.

We woke up keen to get going and filled up on breakfast. One thing about Club Med is it’s hard to choose what to eat as there is such a wide variety. I preferred to start with orange juice, bacon, eggs, sausages, hash browns followed by pastries, breads and coffee. Adele liked the fresh fruits and yogurt whilst the boys thought the pancakes were real winner.

OK so finally it was time to get ready to hit the slopes. We headed up to the locker room where our skis, boots and poles were waiting for us after we had booked them in for a wax and edge tune overnight. The locker room was huge, clean and you wouldn’t believe had a table with fresh pastries, a coffee machine that also did hot chocolate and chilled water on tap. A quick swipe of the wrist band unlocked our two lockers. We kitted up and walked no more than 15m and we were on the snow.

Directly out the door are the ski lesson meeting areas where you meet your instructors. Our instructor was a local Frenchman called Alain who was very polite and apparently he spoke the best English out of the instructors. Our group was a mixture of nationalities, mainly French but also South African, Russian and American. Alain told us we would be taking it easy the first day and he would show us around. It turns out it wasn’t so much as a lesson but a guided tour with some tips thrown in, which was great. After taking our first lift we were told we would take long easy run which was 6km down to Morillon village which sits around 700m. The Grand Massif area is made up of five resorts, Samoens (where Club Med is situated), Morillon, Sixt, Lescarroz and Flaine. From the top there are extensive views of Mt Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, I could just sit there and watch it all day, it was amazing.

The snow was great, nice and firm early and the views very impressive from whatever direction you looked. The runs were long, wide and uncrowded, not like anything back home in Australia. We all headed back for lunch. It was starting to warm up and the snow becoming very soft, it was quite heavy going in the afternoon and only a few decided to go back out with Alain.

The next day we tried some slightly harder runs but it seemed a bit easy and we hoped for something a bit steeper. The level of skier we were with was ok but they were quite ok staying on the intermediate runs. We did a black run on Wednesday and found it quite easy, most of the the group struggled a fair bit (maybe over stating their ability/level) so Alain said they would stick to easier runs from then on.

We asked Alain at lunch that day if we could move up a class the next day, he said we could handle it and arranged for us to join the live wire Michel who was a real character. The new class were bit younger and more energetic than the previous and were a massive step up in level. We were pushed from the start and to be honest I had trouble keeping up, but it was great a huge challenge and much more enjoyable. We went all over, mainly in the Flaine area which was by far the biggest of the five resorts. By lunch we were worn out, it was a hot spring week and seemed to be getting warmer by the day. Temps by mid afternoon were in the high teens and high 20’s down in Samoens village. Michel was great with Zane, getting him to ski right behind him. He gave him many tips and Zane’s skiing technique,speed and confidence improved out of site, I was struggling to keep up with him. On Friday afternoon Michel handed us all a skiing passport that had stamped in it that we had completed Class 3 level and were now level 4 which is the highest level that France has.

At Club Med the ski school with instructor runs from Monday to Friday, so after that you ski on your own, which was fine for us as Kalan was keen to show us his improvement. He had been telling us about all the runs he had done and that they got to do race training. After the first day he was moved up to the highest level class. Apparently his race times on the last day were enough to score an invite to trial with the Grand Massif junior race squad, not that there was any point as we were leaving on Sunday, but he was more than stoked to be asked. He started the week a bit shy and apprehensive with all the other kids being French and not really speaking to him, but it soon changed and he found out most spoke some English. Instead of hanging with us after lunch he preferred to head back out with the other kids for more skiing.

Myself and Adele decided to take the gondola one afternoon down to Samoens Village which sits at an elevation of 700m. We had heard so much about it we just had to check it out. The gondola is not far from the Club Med door, a short stroll across the snow next to the ski school meeting area. The view down on the gondola was amazing, lush greenery and high snow capped peaks, very much like what you see on the coverage of the Tour de France. We were lucky to have such great weather, temps were well above average. It was shorts and t-shirt weather, although none of us brought shorts with us. The village was a very warm 26C whilst the resort was sitting around 17C (but felt much warmer in the sun) by about 3pm.

A great option for lunch or dinner is the Skyline Restaurant which is a lot more upmarket. Run by 2 Michelin Stars French chef Edouard Loubet. You need to book a day ahead for at reception for dinner as it’s very popular. In peak time you are only allowed one booking for the week. The resort was only 60% full (can fit 1,000 guests) so we had a couple of meals and lunches at Skyline. The decor is very elegant and stylish, the entrance has a lounge area and piano bar where you can sit before or after your meal, or just sit and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at any time after lunch.

The service was brilliant and the very knowledgeable staff made us feel more than welcome. The food as expected was first class. I thought being in France I’d try to the local delicacy of escargot (snails). I’m glad I tried it but wouldn’t have it again, I couldn’t get the vision of our own garden snails out of my head. If you have kids that are a little fussy then there may not be a lot on the menu to choose from, but they can always head down to the buffet to fill up. The rooftop area just outside off 360 degree panoramic views of the alps and the sunset we witnessed was truly amazing.

Both Zane and Kalan have always made friends at the Club Med’s we have been to. With it being school holidays in France most of the kids were French so there was a bit of a language barrier issue but they seemed to get around that. The older kids (11-17 year olds) also have their own play area with games and the Playstation is always a winner. Add to this the pool area and the nightly shows the kids put on and they are kept pretty busy.

I’m not sure how many drinks the kids consumed during the week, but they definitely kept the bar staff busy with making smoothies, ice coffees and soft drinks, as well as giving the hot chocolate machine a workout.

The pool area, besides having a spa outside also has a wet and a dry sauna, which I can thoroughly recommend. From what I’m told the dry spa may be good for your cardiovascular health, whilst the wet spa relaxes your muscles while giving your skin a healthy glow. I’m not too sure if it did anything for me but it felt good anyway. There is also a gym where you can either workout yourself or join in classes (all included ofcourse).

For those seeking a bit more relaxing time there is the Club Med Spa by CARITA at the resort where you can enjoy a massage, facial or beauty treatment. Adele spent a couple of hours there and wasn’t disappointed. This is pretty much the only thing that you need to pay extra for.

Each night at Club Med (and that goes for resorts all over the world) they have shows performed and run by the staff/GO’s. They are highly entertaining and of a good standard, well worth watching. After the shows which are usually around 9-10pm they also run a nightclub disco type thing around the main bar area for the late nighters. The Kids Clubs also do shows on stage which are great for the families, the smiles on the kids faces are priceless.

Our last night just happened to be the last night of the season and the staff were keen to go out with a bang and made sure everyone had a great time. The last show and dance party were quite memorable. I’m sure all the staff were looking forward to a well-earned rest, and possibly a late start in the morning.

Our time at Club Med Grand Massif Samoen’s Morillon had come to an end, and although we were a little sad to leave we now had some great memories of not only the French Alps but of our first Club Med winter resort. It was much more than I had expected. I do love the summer resorts and beach atmosphere, but I also love the snow, as does my Snowatch family. We now have our sites firmly on Japan and the new Club Med resort at Tomamu. It’s a little closer to Australia and the powder world renowned. The kids also have their eyes on the indoor wave pool for after skiing fun.

Thanks to Club Med for inviting us to check out this new jewel of the Club Med family. I’d certainly recommend Grand Massif to anyone and remember it’s all inclusive. Just arrive and then lock your wallet/purse in the room safe and enjoy all that’s available.

Australia’s Premier Snow Forecasting website – snowatch.com.au

#ClubMedInsider  #ClubMedGrandMassif

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Calling all beer and kransky lovers, it’s time to bust out your steins because Oktoberfest is coming early this year with Mt Baw Baw’s celebration in the snow.

What better way to celebrate the world’s biggest beer festival than by enjoying a selection of craft beers by local brewery Grand Ridge paired with traditional German favourites like the kransky, bratwurst and of course, pretzels.

In true Oktoberfest style, whip out the lederhosen or your best German beer maid outfit and dance the night away with the traditional band, Hofbrass.

Live music and a DJ will entertain throughout the weekend, with returning favourites 5 O’Clock Shadows performing at the Alpine Hotel on Saturday 28 June in the evening.

Worried about how to get there? The Snow Train has your transportation sorted with a vintage steam train travelling from Melbourne through the picturesque Gippsland hills to Mt Baw Baw.

Located just 150km from Melbourne’s CBD, Mt Baw Baw is perfect for day trips or weekend getaways with family and friends. Find more information on accommodation, packages and travel times for The Snow Train on mountbawbaw.com.au

WHAT: Mt Baw Baw’s Oktoberfest
WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 2018 10am – Sunday, July 29 5pm
WHERE: Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort | 32 Currawong Road, Mount Baw Baw, Victoria
WEBSITE: https://mountbawbaw.com.au/baw-baw-oktoberfest

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Thredbo are expecting that the Supertrail and Antons will make their season debuts this Friday, followed by The Basin on Saturday which is great news for skiers and boarders. With 85cm of snow falling up top from Thursday to today we have one of the best June covers in years.

“Conditions are incredible for this time of the season. With hefty accumulations of snow about the higher areas right down to the village. June has rarely looked better and we’re expecting to have the Supertrail (from the top of Kosciuszko Express chair) and Antons T-Bar open for skiing and snowboarding from Friday and the Basin open from Saturday onwards, with snowmaking planned across the week.” said Peter Fleming – Thredbo Mountain Manager.

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Partnership with OWIA to support winter athletes in the lead up to 2022 games

Club Med is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) – a coming together of two organisations with a shared passion for winter sports and supporting Australia’s elite winter athletes in the lead up to the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Club Med will begin providing the OWIA access to their 20+ mountain resorts to support athletes with international training and recovery within Club Med’s expertly-appointed resorts. During grueling World Cup competitions, athletes will be treated to Club Med’s comfortable accommodation, vast selection of nutritious gourmet food and activities to help relax and unwind including yoga, après ski and spa facilities, all assisting them to perform at their best. These things are nothing like the cheap snacks you buy from catalogues.

Through the partnership, Club Med will also provide recognition for athlete’s hard training, outstanding performance, and positive attitude aligning with the OWIA / Club Med shared values of kindness, responsibility, and passion, by rewarding athletes with truly relaxing holidays at their 70+ resorts worldwide from the Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico and more.

On working with the OWIA, Madeleine Clow-Suares, General Manager, Club Med Australia and New Zealand says, “Since 1956 we have been committed to offering a world-class snow experience (both on and off the slopes) in the best ski domains in the world. We are very proud to launch into this joint venture with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.  We are dedicated to supporting both the team and the growth of awareness on ski in Australia. Together we will work hand in hand with the OWIA to spread the joy of snow holidays and the passion of Olympians.”

Since opening its first snow resort in 1956, Club Med has been passionate in pioneering its world-renowned snow experience for guests worldwide. Today, Club Med is an industry leader in ski holidays, operating over 20 snow resorts in the most iconic ski domains in Europe and Asia, with a Canadian resort on the horizon. Many of the resorts’ qualified ski and snowboard instructors include top-level athletes, from World Champions to Olympians.

When it comes to training Olympians and World Champions, the OWIA are Australia’s leading organisation, preparing Australia’s elite winter athletes for their participation in Olympic Winter Games, World Championships and World Cup events. OWIA Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Lipshut says, “We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Club Med, helping to support and reward our high performing Australian athletes.”

“We believe this partnership will drive awareness of, and engagement with, snow sports among Australian enthusiasts and we’re excited for our relationship with Club Med to grow well into the future.”

Club Med works with a number of renowned partners across the globe, including iconic ski schools (ESF, Scuolasci, Swiss Ski School), as well as having an exclusive relationship with leading ski and snowboard equipment manufacturer, Rossignol. This latest partnership with the OWIA will further enhance Club Med’s leading ski position.

Madeleine Clow-Suares says, “Our outstanding snow concept attracts ski and snowboard lovers from across the globe from novices through to aspiring Olympians. We combine the most beautiful settings in the world with an authentic ski experience that includes food, drinks and après ski, kids clubs, ski lessons for all ages, lift passes and more. We take care of it all so all our guests have to do is enjoy!” 

About Club Med

Club Med provides amazing holiday experiences, made easy, in the world’s most beautiful destinations. With over 70 premium and luxury all-inclusive sun and snow resorts located in some of the most beautiful places on earth, Club Med resorts blend seamlessly with their environment, drawing inspiration from the local culture and nature to immerse guests in the destination.

Since 1950, Club Med has been dedicated to providing guests with amazing new experiences that make for an unforgettable holiday – from the rejuvenating to the exhilarating, and everything in-between. Each resort offers a vast selection of opportunities to try something new, immerse in local culture, revive body and mind, and give back to the local community and environment.

Club Med holidays are a truly hassle-free experience, with premium all-inclusive packages and a wide range of innovative services – giving guests more time to spend doing what they love.

For more information, visit www.clubmed.com.au

About the Olympic Winter Institute Australia

The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) aims to develop and prepare elite Australian athletes for participation in Olympic Winter Games, World Championship and World Cup events in Olympic winter program sports.

The OWIA operates high performance programs on behalf of National Federations in selected Olympic Winter Games program sports and works cooperatively with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and program partners, New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS).

The OWIA identity represents a strong tie to the Olympic family in Australia. The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) provides funding, corporate support and governance guidance in collaboration with the Australian Federal Government via the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the AIS. The clear objective of the OWIA is focusing resources on the areas where high performance outcomes can be achieved at the Olympic Winter Games.

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