Two hour guided tour with Steven Lee - Official Home of Falls Creek Alpine Resort

(Updated Wednesday 21st July 2010)

A new addition to our smorgasbord of winter activities is a two hour guided tour with Steven Lee, a former Winter Olympian and World Cup winner.

Lee grew up in Falls Creek and whilst his Winter Olympic and World Cup ski racing days are over he's still an incredible skier. He's quite happy to reveal some of his secret spots to a small group (two to seven) within the alpine resort. It is only $49 per person for a two hour session which is for intermediate to advanced skiers or boarders. To secure a spot contact the Activities Hotline within Falls Creek Sports 1800 20 44 24 or log on to www.skifalls.com.au/SteveLee

Picture taken by Charlie Brown.

(Updated Monday 19th July 2010)

Freeriders are venturing over to the popular Castle Terrain Park to check-out the features created by Rueben Cameron, Jason Currie, 'Matto' and the other members of the enthusiastic park crew.

Major freestyle events such as the annual Stylewars invite-only competition come to Falls Creek purely because the resorts terrain park is seen as world-class. An appreciative bunch of adventurous boarders and skiers accept the challenge and ride the various rails, boxes, jumps and whatever urban-style feature the park crew come up with. Currently there's a Rainbow Flat Box, A-frame Up and Down Box, six metre Down Rail, five metre Donkey Rail several jumps and as we get more snow, more elements will appear.

Picture taken by Chris Hocking.

(Updated Saturday 17th July 2010)

Today its chilly, the snow depth has topped 40cms (the most of any Victorian alpine resort) and all snow enthusiasts at Falls Creek are making the most of a classic winter day.

Eleven ski lifts are open and the cross-country fraternity are out on the 27kms of groomed classic and skating trails. Another cold front is forecast for Saturday and another one next Tuesday which will have a positive outcome - snow showers which will gradually increase the overall snow depth and allow even more snow-covered slopes to be opened for skiing and boarding. Guided Snowmobile Tours are up and running, the snowbikes are reappearing and tonight the night skiing on Wombat's Ramble will be in operation. Pete the snow Dragon is out and about entertaining the resort's younger guests and all-in-all its probably the best day of winter so far.

Picture taken by Ben Derrick

(Updated Friday 16th July 2010)

With almost 40cm of fresh snow cover from the most recent wintry weather, the cross country skiers now have about 25km of groomed slopes to choose from at Falls Creek.

Alpine skiers and boarders also have more options with the opening of more groomed terrain in Sun Valley. Plus there's still some hidden stashes of dry powder - a result of sub zero temperatures overnight and the most significant snowfall so far this winter. The alpine resort's renowned ski in -ski out attribute is now happening. From yesterday the resort guests took advantage of the decision to close the network of roads in the village to all vehicles aside from the fleet of tracked vehicles which are used by the oversnow operator to shuttle guests (and luggage) to their lodge or apartment and the free intra village shuttle service 8am to 5.30pm.

Falls Creek local Samara Tanton walks through the Slalom Car Park at Falls Creek after 33cm of of new snow at the resort. More snow is forecast at the resort on Sunday. Picture taken by Chris Hocking

(Updated Thursday 15th July 2010)

After 30-plus cms of snow (the heaviest fall in Victoria) Falls Creek Alpine Resort now looks like the postcard scene it is renowned for.

Skiers and boarders will be delighted with the transformation and the remaining days of the school holidays will be much more agreeable due to sub zero overnight temperatures and a blanket of fresh snow. Whilst the official report states 33cm of new snow (taking the natural snow depth to 44cm) in the last 24 hours there'll be wind-blown powder stashes throughout Sun Valley. Resort guests will now ski or board to the lifts this morning and whilst Wombats Ramble has been used as a 'home trail' it is quite likely that other home trails back to village will open up today. First tracks this morning will be the best of this year's winter season. A combination of new snow and cool temperatures is mother nature at its best. This is easily the morning to be at Victoria's largest alpine resort. When the lifts opened it was still sub zero and the snow quality has to be declared first-class owing to a feel like temperature of minus 11.4C.

Photo of Robbie Malone Picture taken by Matt Hull on the 15th July

(Updated Wednesday 14th July 2010)

The first ­ a cold front with a lot of cold air, has delivered some snow overnight. The second, later in the week, will also produce more snow.

About 5cm has fallen and it is expected to snow down to about 1000 metres throughout the day. It was sub-zero this morning at Falls Creek and the prospect of further snow showers will please snow enthusiasts. The two cold fronts (in tandem with westerly winds) are typical mid-winter weather events which result in snowfalls at the alpine resorts. It isn't forecast to get much above zero between now and the weekend so it could be a good time for skiers and boarders to plan a trip to the mountains.

Twins, Eve & Nell Crossett, from Melbourne, enjoying the new snow at Falls Creek on 14th July 2010 Picture taken by Charles Brown

(Updated Monday 12th July 2010)

The next cold front is expected to impact on alpine resorts late Tuesday. It promises to be one of the most significant events of the current winter with a blizzard forecast for Wednesday and snow showers between Thursday and Friday.

And there's more cold weather following what could be about 20cm of snow out of this vigorous unstable south to southwesterly airflow expected late Tuesday, early Wednesday morning, down to 1,000 metres. Overnight it was sub zero at Falls Creek and it should be sub zero again tonight. Snowmaking will take place whenever mother nature cooperates and if the skier-friendly forecast eventuates this week it will be the 'icing on the cake' for the final week of the annual school holidays. If the forecasted snowfalls continue until later in the week it will entice regular skiers and boarders, who take their holidays to coincide with good snow cover, to head to the mountains. The wait could be over!! All indications from the weather experts is traditional winter cold fronts will dominate our weather for the foreseeable future.

Pic: Charlie Brown. Please note, this is a file pic and was taken at a prior date.