8 May 2008 - To further cement Perisher Blue’s reputation as providing the leading terrain parks in Australia, the resort has committed to pouring $10,000 into terrain park upgrades for the upcoming 2008 season.

The investment will deliver impressive new features including an S-box, table box, battleship box and an 8m round bar rail. There may also be a new 12m down flat down rail. New beginner features will also be added in the Columbia Fun Park on Mt Piper to provide ultimate progression for emerging freeriders.

According to Matt Klemm, Grooming Manager for Perisher Blue, “12m of the longest rail known as the Dragon’s Tail (a 12m dipper rail) may also make a comeback alongside the popular Ride Wall and the 40ft Rainbow Rail.” If this jargon sounds incomprehensible, these types of features can be viewed at fusionparks.com.au.

Photo: Coronet Peak

Incentives to car pool, disincentives to drive alone and hitching posts are all part of the Coronet Peak Vehicle Reduction Plan to be introduced this winter.

The plan is designed to help reduce demand for car parking on the mountain while also reducing fuel consumption.

Under the plan, parking facilities are being sourced at the base of Coronet Peak road and at Arthur’s Point to facilitate carpooling. Hitching posts are to be established on the outskirts of Queenstown and at the base of the access road. As an incentive to people to carpool or pick up hitchhikers, single only drivers arriving after 8.30am will be required to park in a lower car park and will need to then use the car park shuttle to get to the base building.

Photo: TTR World Tour / Holden

THE SWATCH TTR WORLD SNOWBOARD TOUR TO HEAD DOWNUNDER WITH OVER $100,000 IN PRIZE MONEY UP FOR GRABS!

Downunder – May 6th 2008: The Swatch TTR Event applications are over and we are looking forward a new season of amazing snowboarding performances – with an incredible prize money of over $2.500.000 USD up for grabs at events worldwide over a 10-months period.

The Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour kicks off downunder where it has been growing steadily since the start of the Tour with some hugely successful events and unexpected record-breaking moments. Who knew that Australia even had mountains!

New Zealand’s only luxury apartments on-snow are open for business this winter at Snow Park NZ, offering guests the chance to ski/board to their front door and enjoy the unique experience of waking up to the spectacular scenery of the snow-capped Southern Alps.

The apartments are part of the Snow Park Village which incorporates backpacker bunkrooms and a restaurant and bar open all hours to cater for the guests, accommodation bookings for the coming season are now being taken and can host up to 76 overnight guests.

The clowns were out celebrating the new snow at The Remarkables

Snow falls overnight and off and on today has blanketed the Southern Alps leaving skiers, snowboarders and mountain crews buzzing with anticipation for the season ahead.

The Remarkables Ski Manager Ross Lawrence said the mid-winter conditions had changed the landscape from green to white.

“We’ve received 20cm of snow and experienced some good snow falls. It’s starting to ease a bit now but temperatures are still very cold at around minus two degrees,” he said.

All major earthworks are now completed on The Stash at The Remarkables, and work has begun on creating the features, including this trapezoid feature (pictured), unique to the kilometre long run.

A Jake Burton signature run, The Stash at The Remarkables is designed to provide riders with a big mountain terrain park that follows the natural lines of the mountain. Features include rock-wall rides, log jibs, cliff drops, a stone hut and other obstacles hidden away.

28/04/2008 - Snow has blanketed Mt Buller - six weeks before the official start of the 2008 ski season.

More than 15cm of snow has fallen across the resort, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting snow showers to continue until Tuesday.

Buller Ski Lifts’ general manager, Laurie Blampied, said it was great to see families enjoying the snow more than a month before the official start of the season on June 7.

“This is the third snow we’ve had in the past month, so it’s shaping up to be a great start to the season. It’s always exciting when we see kids building snowmen and throwing snowballs weeks before the season officially begins.

Photos: TTR World Tour / Armin Popp

GJERMUND BRAATEN VICTORIOUS AT 3-STAR VÖLKL WORLD ROOKIE FEST TO BECOME 2008 WORLD ROOKIE CHAMPION

Ischgl, Austria – April 22, 2008: The Swatch TTR 3-Star Völkl World Rookie Fest took place this weekend showcasing an incredible array of future snowboarding stars. Norwegian rider Gjermund Braaten took first place among the male rookies, claiming 550 TTR Ranking Points and the title of World Rookie Champion 2008. He is now in World No. 53 of the Swatch TTR ranking. Kari Maeland from Norway was the victor in the female rookie field moving her into TTR World No. 35 while Dimi De Jong (NED) came out on top among the male groms.

Whats up everyone!! If anyone is interested in getting out of the Northern Hemisphere's summer heat and into some powder, check out SIC TOURS in Chile at www.snowboardinchile.com Our season is June through October. We've been down in Chile for 5 years now and offer budget packages. Contact us through the site and mention you found us through this site for the message board hook-up.

We had a blast this winter, tripping around the mountains, going to events, to contests, partying, meeting old and new friends. We thought it would be cool to organise a massive party to say THANKS! So friends, you are all warmly invited to come join us at our SPRING PARTY! It will happen on Saturday 26 of April, on the party boat called SIRIUS in Lyon, France.

Get ready for an avalanche of goodies thanks to our partners Rip Curl, Les Ettes and Chosen, and big funky conditions on the dancefloor with our DJ Bros: Boolimix and Chylo!