The first time I ever clicked into a pair of skis, I was ten years old and fearless. I didn’t think about falling or even how I’d stop once I reached the end of the run (usually in a spectacular crash). My centre of gravity was close to the ground and I’d pick myself up, dust the snow from my hair and skate away.
Falls Creek was the first destination I skied at. I’d seen snow at Mt William in the Grampians as a kid, and even built a snow man, but Falls Creek was different. This was real snow. Groomed on the runs and covering every surface. Heaped high on the rooftops of buildings and layered on cars like icing on a cake. It was beautiful, unreal even. Like a Christmas film.
The beauty is still there. I’ve since been downhill skiing at Mt Buller and Mt Hotham, and cross-country skiing at Lake Mountain (phew that was a workout!). While at Lake Mountain I almost hit a wombat that ran through my path – I don’t know who got the bigger fright!
I visited Mt Buller with my parents and with friends from university. It’s a great weekend, relatively close to Melbourne, with good night life and plenty of runs. Runs are on the shorter side and lift lines are longer, however it is to be expected due to the mountain’s convenient location just three hours from Melbourne.
This brings me to my favourite, Mt Hotham. More than five hours from Melbourne, Hotham is great for a long weekend. With longer runs, shorter lines and a few more places to head out after the last lifts at 4:30pm, Hotham is my favourite skiing destination in Victoria.
Its long runs and variety are what keep me coming back. I especially enjoy skiing the unpredictable runs of the Orchard, over the back of the mountain. They’re not always open as they can be susceptible to changing weather conditions. Here, I find a real challenge. Skiing the Orchard is always best with a buddy. Old, or new.
Snow brings people together, even if just for a moment. A small blip in our lives made up of loose liquor, ski lift small talk and gliding through the mountain paths as we can only do elsewhere in our dreams. No-one completely concerned with the worries of tomorrow, each instead immersed in the moment.