A bumpy and bumper snow season comes to an end

The 2021 snow season is ending a week early for Thredbo. Photo: Thredbo Resort Facebook.

Thredbo Resort will officially draw the curtain on the 2021 snow season today (26 September), a week ahead of the traditional closing date.

The closure was announced on the Thredbo Resort’s Facebook page: “And that’s a wrap! Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions affecting the number of guests who are able to visit the resort, this Sunday, 26 September will be the final day of our 2021 winter season”.

No sooner was the announcement made than a storm covered the resort with a 30 cm layer of fresh snow, making it a closing week to remember.

Monday saw 15 cm fall throughout the day with another 15 cm on Tuesday. The snow quality was cold, dry and powdery, offering the perfect conditions for those still wanting – and able – to make the most of it before warmer weather arrives.

The natural snow depth this year was the best in more than 20 years. Photo: Perisher Resort.

The 2021 season opened on 21 June with a record 60 cm of fresh snow, bringing in crowds like never before, prompting Thredbo Resort to describe the season as “short but sweet”.

“Storms delivering dry, soft powder made for world-class snow conditions offering riders of all abilities thousands of metres of vertical terrain.”

But the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns made it a tough season for accommodation houses and businesses, and the resort operators at Thredbo decided to draw the season to an early close.

However, on the back of 40 cm of fresh snow, Perisher has decided to push on for a little while longer.

“It’s not over until the fat snowman sings,” they announced via social media. “And by the looks of this week’s storm count, they’ve got bronchitis, as we’ve received 40 cm of fresh snow.”

In Thredbo, the Kosciuszko Express will continue to operate for backcountry and scenic ride access.

Due to stay-at-home orders in the Snowy Mountains and about a dozen other NSW local government areas, ski resorts such as Thredbo and Perisher were closed for several weeks.

Only after last week’s decision by the NSW Government to start lifting these restrictions did many ski resorts decide to reopen, even if only for a brief time.

Groomers at Perisher started preparing the slopes at Front Valley less than an hour after the announcement, with a handful of keen locals making the most of the freshly groomed corduroy that very afternoon.

Five lifts began operating again at Thredbo last Saturday (18 September), opening up a lot of terrain for locals and those lucky enough to travel to the village.

“For those who are able to visit us, with this week’s top-up of fresh snow, be sure to get up here this week for your final turns of the season,” Thredbo Resort said at the time.

The resorts are hoping for a 2022 season that isn’t so on-again-off-again.

“Our hearts go out to all those who could not join us for our last week but rest assured we will be back bigger and better next year when everyone can join.”