Illabunda News

The Season Is Open - And What A Day!

2010-06-11T16:57:00.000+10:00

The fine folk at Perisher with just a little help from mother nature have turned it on for the opening weekend.

Mother Nature Has Turned It On

2009-06-12T19:06:00.003+10:00

Mother nature has certainly turned the winter tap on with 50cm or so of snow falling since last weekend.

As I perused the slopes last Saturday - I thought - It will be weeks before this gets up and running.

How wrong - Mt Perisher is set to open this Saturday!

The long Snowy Mountains Music festival was a real success bringing lots of people to the Perisher over the long weekend.

The great variety of bands kept everyone entertained and moving round the valley to all the different venues.

If you are into music - think about coming down for it next year.

There are heaps of beds available over the next few weeks - so if you were waiting to see if it would snow - well it has.

Matt and Louie are back - and lets just say - they're at their best - yet again!

Winter Is Here

2009-05-10T12:35:00.003+10:00

Walking home from dinner on Tuesday night last week in Perisher, it would have been easy to think the season had started.

Yes, the roads were clear of snow, but the ground in most other places was covered.

As I passed the Village Eight Chairlift - the snowguns were pumping another load of snow all the way up Front Valley.

There was more snow covering Perisher Valley last week than there was in the final weeks of last season, lets hope that is a good sign for the season to come.

What a Whale

2009-05-01T16:59:00.004+10:00

The snow guns have been pumping on front valley and looks like they have done a great job of laying down what could be the best skiing start to the season in years.

Forecasted cold temps will hopefully stop the snow that has fallen from melting!

Fingers crossed.

Winter Is On It's Way!

2009-04-26T16:46:00.004+10:00

I had seen the cold front coming - but surprisingly I'd forgotten about it.

That was until my phone beeped heralding this pictures arrival in my in box.

5cm of snow has fallen in Perisher, the wind has been howling and the storm is still raging!

Resorts further south like Hotham are reporting falls of up to 20cm.

The Illabunda website is now showing vacancies for winter - so if you haven't got your bookings in yet - now is the time.

If you are thinking of heading down on the opening weekend this year, then you are in for a treat.

The Snowy Mountains of Music festival is on and will keep you entertained with the likes of Tex Perkins and 42 other artists playing music including World, Folk, Roots, Celtic, Acoustic, Traditional, Dance and even Poetry!

Venues are in Perisher, Smiggins and Guthega.

2008 Illabunda Senior Race Training

2008-09-12T18:39:00.004+10:00

Hi Folks!

The Senior Race Training week end was held on July 25th to 27th.
The weather was fantastic, the snow was fantastic and the crowds weren’t too bad. Not a bad recipe!

The early arrivals enjoyed a sunny day on Friday with great snow for a day’s skiing as a warm up prior to Race Coaching on Saturday and Sunday.

Perisher Blue coach ‘Stefan’ is building quite a report with our club and he brought the same friendly approach to this group that he possessed at the Junior Training week. He passed on his knowledge to a very enthusiastic team of racers.

The usual warm ups and drills were rehearsed prior to attacking the GS gates on the ‘Mother in law’ course where ones technique decides a successful run or crash and burn.

Some photos have mysteriously been erased from my camera!

However our team threw themselves into the task with their usual level of self preservation. Zero! And that is what Illabunda is all about, taking one for the team!

Post Mortems were held each afternoon at the Sundek where technical application was discussed and finetuned. The level of bravado increased with each schooner of James Squires.

The races are being conducted on Saturday 15th August and I’m sure we will fare very well and hopefully get the Illabunda badge stamped on a few trophies.
Good luck team.

Cheers
Terry Dryburgh
Race Captain.

2008 JUNIOR RACE TRAINING REPORT JULY 6TH – 13TH

2008-09-12T18:15:00.007+10:00

Preparations for the 2008 race season began at Illabunda on Sunday the 6th July with the arrival of the Junior Race Team. The rebuilding phase continues this year after losing some of our top end skiers from last year to the senior ranks. Some welcome inclusions to this year’s squad are William and Lara Edmonds who bring with them some grit and determination from their prior sporting achievements. Also young Asher Fitzgerald has the opportunity to continue the fine tradition of racers from the Fitzgerald family and will certainly give his all on race day.

The weather deteriorated and the forecast was for much needed snow. The week started with drizzle and wet snow on Monday and Tuesday, cleared up for a sunny Wednesday but then dumped approximately 30cm of the precious white stuff on Thursday and Friday. The sunny skies returned for Saturday and Sunday.

Starting from Monday, the team was put through a program of GS training for three hours in the mornings by Perisher Blue coaches Stefan and Heidi in tough conditions at Blue Cow and the feedback was very positive from both coaches. They heaped praise on our young charges for their good behaviour and dedication in mostly poor conditions.

A torrid Cross Country coaching session was conducted on Thursday afternoon in heavy snow over at the Nordic tracks and it was very pleasing to witness the effort put in by the usual gut busters and also the new team members.

Snowboard training was a two day exercise on Friday and Saturday at Perisher and some positive achievements here hold us in good stead for the upcoming races.

Thank you to the parents and juniors who attended the training week and I hope the team is excited about the prospect of performing well for the Illabunda Club on race day 3oth August.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to our lodge managers Luanne and Matt who just keep on impressing with their fine food and friendly hospitality. It is always a tough week for the managers but they kept on smiling.

Terry Dryburgh
Race Captain

It's Begining To Look Like Winter - Finally

2008-07-01T18:36:00.003+10:00

15cm of much needed snow has fallen over the last 24hrs with more forecast for the remainder of the week and next week - just in time for the school holidays.

The wind is howling which is always a good sign with gusts over 100km/h having been recorded today!

Quite a few extra lifts at Perisher should open as a result of the fall with the Forester Quad expected to open to mid station tomorrow.

Ski Fitness

2008-06-23T21:35:00.006+10:00

The snow might be taking it's time to arrive, but that leaves us all some extra time to get ready to ski.

Long time friend of Illabunda, member in waiting and legendary super Physio Karyn Whelan has kindly supplied some info on getting fit to ski - Thanks Karyn!

Take a look:

5 TIPS FOR GETTING FIT TO SKI AND BOARD
by Karyn Whelan BAppScCumbMAppScSyd, Physiotherapist

Start training 6 – 8 weeks prior to your ski trip.

Improve your cardiovascular fitness with exercise that is relevant for downhill, cross country, and telemark skiing, and snowboarding such as:
*cycling
*stair climbing
*running
*step-ups and side-to-side jumps (see the cardiovascular exercises on the attached Australian Physiotherapy Association leaflet)
*skateboarding or surfing (for snowboarders)

Exercise for at least 40 minutes 3 x week.
Exercise at lower intensities for longer periods to improve endurance, and for higher intensities for short periods (eg sprints or hills) to improve power.

Improve the strength and endurance of relevant muscles.
*see the strengthening exercises on the attached Australian Physiotherapy Association leaflet
*Wall-sits can be progressed by doing them without using a wall.
*Perform slow deep lunges with one leg in front of the other. Hold for at least 3 seconds. Swap legs. Repeat until your muscles feel tired. (Telemarkers could add a twist while lunging to mimic the turning action).

Stretch to improve your flexibility.
*see the stretching / warm up exercises on the attached Australian Physiotherapy Association leaflet

Improve your Balance
*side-to-side jumps (see the cardiovascular exercises on the attached Australian Physiotherapy Association leaflet)
*one legged squats
*skateboarding or surfing (for snowboarders)
*lunges with a twist to mimic the turning action (for telemarkers)

A Message From The Race Captain

2008-06-10T20:50:00.002+10:00

Hi Everyone.

Well, it’s that time of the year again and I’m sure that the white stuff will start falling soon. Let’s hope so anyway.

The first week of the school holidays will be here soon and that means the Illabunda Junior race team arrive at the lodge for their training program from the 7th July for the entire week.

We will be welcoming a few new faces to the team this year and hopefully they will enjoy the experience and benefit from the training.

Monday through to Friday will be the GS downhill training each morning for a few hours with a bit of Cross Country training thrown in on a couple of afternoons. The weekend will see the kids get stuck into the Snowboard training.

The main focus is to have fun while building on our great team spirit and hopefully fine tune their skills for the races in late August.

Bye for now.

Terry Dryburgh
Race Captain.

Nearly There

2008-06-05T21:16:00.003+10:00

The long summer has now passed and we are just days away from the opening of the season.

Matt and Louanne, our fantastic managers, are in the lodge getting it ready for the busy season ahead.

Unfortunately the weather hasn't been kind over the last few weeks and there is only man made snow to kick off the season.

Even still, Illabunda is nearly booked out for the opening weekend with just two beds free!

Alpine Photographic Exhibition

2008-06-05T20:54:00.002+10:00

Snowmaking

2008-05-29T18:53:00.003+10:00

Preparations are well underway at Perisher for the opening of the ski season, with snowmaking giving mother nature a helping hand.

The new snowmaking system at Perisher has extended right up to the halfway station of the quad, so it might be possible to ski from there, right from the word go!

Opening Weekend Activities @ Perisher Blue

2008-05-27T19:25:00.002+10:00

Blog Visitors

2008-05-26T17:15:00.003+10:00

Here are some interesting facts about the Illabunda News Blog from last season:

199 different people visited the blog!
Those people visited the blog a total of 1096 times!
163 of those people viewed the blog more than once.
Blog visits came from Australia, United Arab Emirates, United States, Solomon Islands, Jordan, Singapore, Italy and the UK!
70% of the visits came via the Illabunda website, 26% visited the blog directly.
20 comments were made on the blog using the comment feature.

Illabunda Member Seen On Every Qantas Flight For Months

2008-05-25T21:35:00.004+10:00

One Illabunda member has been seen on just about every Qantas flight for the last few months!

Ian Gracie has been featured on Q Media's "Australia - Behind the Scenes" updates on the progress of Baz Luhrmann's new film - Australia.

Ian is the Supervising Art Director for this project and is a long time member of Illabunda.

The Q Media update is screened on most Qantas flights both domestic and international. So next time you are aboard a Qantas plane - keep your eyes peeled.

If you haven't heard of this new film, check out the trailer that has just been released and admire some of Ian's work.

The Perisher Card

2008-05-24T16:20:00.003+10:00

Perisher Blue has just announced a new deal that might be of interest to
Illabunda members and guests.

From Perisher:
The Perisher Card
The Perisher Card offers loyal guests the chance to save on day passes. Designed specifically for those who fall short of spending enough time in the resort to purchase a Season Pass, the Perisher Card can be purchased for $45 from all Perisher Blue ticket outlets. It then entitles frequent skiers and boarders to buy mountain passes for just $85 per day from Friday to Sunday and $79 from Monday to Thursday. Perisher Card holders also receive the benefits of two for one First Tracks access. The Perisher Card can be purchased at any time through the season.

So if you're skiing just two weekends or more over the season, it might be worth your while taking advantage of this offer.

Winter 2008 Bookings

2008-05-21T17:24:00.003+10:00

Illabunda Booking Officer Leo Delissen says that winter 2008 bookings are the best they have been in years.

As usual, strong demand has occurred for the prized mid winter dates especially July and August weekends.

However the shoulder season is a great time to visit the lodge with a quieter mountain and great skiing conditions can be had at any time in the season.

Improved snowmaking at Perisher will improve early and late season conditions and cross country / backcountry skiing is great at any time of the season.

Cheaper rates at the lodge in the early and late season is one reason to take a look at the vacancies here and book yourself in for what is always an awesome stay at Illabunda!

Many thanks to Leo for doing a great job of sorting through the mountain of booking requests he gets each winter.

Revamped Deck

2008-05-18T12:51:00.003+10:00

The fabulous Illabunda deck has been revamped and is looking fantastic!

The wood has a great colour and the balustrading is super safe and kid friendly.

Thanks to Les Smith for the photo and thanks to the members who made this awesome improvement happen.

Online Bookings

2008-05-17T22:05:00.002+10:00

The Illabunda website has a great new feature that will greatly benefit members and people on the membership waiting list.

ONLINE BOOKINGS!

Simply log on via the Illabunda website and you can:

Submit booking requests
Retrieve and modify and resubmit existing booking forms - greatly simplifying multiple bookings for large groups or for families from year to year
See how much a booking will cost

Check it out!

The Ski Season Opens In Just 20 Days!

2008-05-17T21:52:00.004+10:00

Welcome to Winter 2008!

With the ski season just 20 days away it is time to get excited - I know I am!

Snow has started to fall tonight - and Perisher have fired up their snowguns.

The lodge has a new look thanks to the hard work of all the members and friends that attended working bees over the summer - make sure you get down there this winter to check it out.

Summer 2007 / 08

2007-10-14T12:16:00.000+10:00

Summer is a great time to enjoy the mountains.

Perisher is certainly a very different and quiet place.

The lodge is an ideal place to base yourself for even a few days or something much longer.

Bushwalking, fishing and sightseeing are just a few of the activities you can enjoy, and right now, there is still skiing!

The rates this summer at the Illabunda have remained the same as last, so that means it is CHEAP!

You can check the summer vacancies here.

Get down there and enjoy!

Winter 2007 - It's Over!

2007-10-13T12:06:00.000+10:00

Winter 2007 has come to a close, and what a great season it was.

August and early September ended up being fairly dry in terms of snowfall, and it wasn't until the final two weeks of the season, did snow finally fall again.

That doesn't mean the skiing was bad - in fact, the solid snowpack that was on the ground held up really well, and even on the long weekend - the whole resort bar Smiggins could have been open - an amazing situation.

The lodge was full almost all season, and a huge vote of thanks must go to our fantastic managers Matt and Luanne who made every guests stay an absolute pleasure.

When the closing weekend arrived, it came with a surprise - 10cm of fresh snow - the Saturday was great skiing, with no - one around!

While the lifts are closed, there is still plenty of snow to enjoy on the higher slopes of the main range, and if you are keen, it is there for you! 5cm of new snow fell on Friday night!

So goodbye to all the Skiers, boarders, snowshoers and holiday makers and welcome to summer!

Tragedy

2007-10-01T11:53:00.000+10:00

I hadn't seen Tyrone Monkman in a few seasons, but from all reports he was still a keen skier. A few years back, he was a regular guest at Illabunda.

Late this season he was killed in a skiing accident at Blue Cow.

Tyrone tragically left behind his wife Renee and their baby daughter Olivia. The thoughts of all Illabunda members, guest and friends are with them.

Make sure you think of Tyrone the next time you ski under the Ridge Chair at Blue Cow, and if you knew him, even stop for a moment to remember him.

2007 Illabunda Junior Race Report

2007-09-05T11:32:00.000+10:00

The Illawarra Junior Interclub races were held on Saturday 1st September in brilliant sunshine.

Our considerably young team turned up ready to tackle their more fancied rivals from the big budget clubs but were certainly not intimidated.

The Giant Slalom and Snow Board events were contested on the Upper Rollercoaster Race Course at Blue Cow on a testing layout with softening snow in the morning followed by the Cross Country contest which was fought over at the Nordic track in the afternoon on what was described by experts as a tough course.

Our little tackers not only looked the goods in their team attire but performed admirably on all fronts and did us proud with their efforts.

Lauren Egle Marshall skied her last race for the Juniors this year but also raced for the Seniors as a 16year old. She has served the Juniors well over the years and showed that she will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come by being crowned 2007 Female Combined Champion in the Senior competition.

Ben Dryburgh also heads to the Seniors next year after a very successful reign in the Junior competition. Ben had to unfortunately miss this year’s Junior races due to other commitments.

Thank you and good luck to both of them.

The recruitment phase continued this year with Oliver Howden joining the team. Oliver padded up for all three events and did well.

I would like to extend my thanks to the parents / helpers who provide me with great assistance on the training and race periods. Also thank you to our new Illabunda managers, Luanne and Matt who looked after us with fine food and great hospitality.

Thank you to all of the Juniors who trained and raced for the club in 2007. I hope they all had a great time and enjoyed the team spirit of the club. They all performed very well and I look forward to seeing them in 2008.

We at Illabunda, now enjoy a very good relationship with Rhythm Snow sports at Cooma. Mick and Rolph kindly donated many items for our presentation night as well as the benefits we enjoy when hiring our equipment on each venture to the snow. Let’s show our appreciation by continually supporting Rhythm in the future.

See the Illabunda Web Page Race section for all results.

Terry Dryburgh

Pirate's Tale Part Two

2007-08-14T16:38:00.000+10:00

Hey guys,

Today after a light snow storm in the early hours of the morning, the crunchy frozen base combined with an inch of powder made for an interesting combination of skiing impracticability. The terrain park on Pipers was my pick of the day, an awesome combination of rails and jumps (which the groomers managed to work their magic on!)

The Bunda Challenge Day Two

Today Smiggins (in its tiny entirety) was covered. The 'snowboarder' Ellie would like to think she can manage on her own but on several occasions resorted to grabbing my pole for support!!! I cannot say I enjoyed the extra baggage, especially on the way back.

The crazy managing blogger would like it noted that his wife has been spotting doing something 'crazy'. He claims that the 'brain teasers' from the local magazine is 'silly'....something she blatantly denies. (He probably thinks its silly because he cant do them. Another reason why the guest bloggers should start a 'coo' of this blog. Now who looks silly?)

Well it's Ellie here now, and I would just like to defend myself against these allegations my sister is making about my laziness. She OFFERED to drag me from the top of the Link T-Bar and seriously, who could decline such a tempting offer? Anyway, she's not so innocent herself, she led me astray into trees and steeps, although I did make her drag me out as revenge.

So as you can tell, so far today has been quite interesting.

Something I forgot to mention yesterday, and wish I'd taken a photo of is an echidna in the snow, I know it isn't un-common to see these interesting ant-eaters whilst cross-countrying in the back-country, but this one was hiding out in the middle of Interceptor!! It would have to be one of the cutest things I've ever seen. :)

So, I'm going to say adios to you for today!!

The Smiths

Pirate Bloggers

2007-08-13T17:29:00.000+10:00

Hi There,

Well it seems the guest bloggers are more like pirate bloggers, so just to make sure you know who they are - here is a pic of them I snapped - catching them in the act!

Guest Blogger Report: Katherine and Elloise Smith

2007-08-13T16:31:00.000+10:00

hi everybody,

Its Ellie here, and I'm here to report about the 13th of August at Perisher Blue.

The weather here is clear but the snow is, average. Although, Eyre and Towers were the pick over on Mt Perisher.

We're hoping for some great snow on Wednesday, to counter-act the recent rain which broke a lot of our spirits.

One interesting thing that happened today would have to be the debacle at the 'Over d'Eyre @ Eyre' kiosk. After warring for a seat and waiting half an hour in a queue, the four-dollar hot chocolates weren't as great as they're cracked up to be.

Today I'm seeming very negative, but other than that it was an amazing day out.

So now I'm going to hand over to my big sis Katie to tell us about her day. :)

The 'Bunda Challenge

The lighten the lack of inspiration and (I dare say) motivation I was finding common when thinking of my upcoming holiday, I set myself a 'challenge' of sorts.

By the end of the week (from Monday to Friday afternoon), I aspire to ride every single lift in Perisher Blue (at least those available to the general public, however a $10 bribe may buy the favour of a ski-school liftie).

DAY ONE

Today I sought to conquer Mount Perisher and the perilous Center and Front Vallies. Eyre and Towers proved to be the pick of the Mountain though International was so icy it made you feel like throwing down your stocks and giving up the sport altogether.

The Center and Front vallies were a blast from the childhood past. Indeed I passed all stages of my skiing life on the way down. As a MILO kid resembling a lolly pop, trying to master the pizza slice technique, as a grade three to four (ten year old) managing parallel turns and as a younger teen black diamonder, a speed demon with no sense of control (i formed a very close relationship with lift pylons).

Anywho, tomorrows destination is Blue Cow!

Au Revoir!!!

The Smith Girls

PS The Smith girls would like to point out the obvious lack of sanity possessed by the Managing Blogger on this site and would like to start a movement to remove the managing blogger and instate the guest bloggers as permanent resident of this site. SO THERE.

PPS just kidding.

PPPS not

Weekend Update

2007-07-30T19:57:00.000+10:00

This weeks update comes courtesy of Terry - Illabunda Race Captain:

2007 Senior Training Weekend Senior training was held on the weekend of 28th and 29th July.

The weather varied from a little rain and snow on the Friday with improved conditions on Saturday.

We awoke on Sunday to a pearler of a day.The troupe was in usual high spirits and the look in their eyes was enough to realise the determination that they would be taking into their training.

Our race coach Dave Bale put on a skiing display that inspired us all and demonstrated how to race a Giant Slalom course with passion. He was very informative and gave us precise individual feedback.

This brought out improvements in each racer which will hopefully pay dividends on race day.The weekend produced a few minor injuries which are expected when giving 110%.

A couple of our top end skiers were spotted receiving a verballing and finger pointing from the mountain speed police. Maybe he was just applauding them for the fastest ever approach to a lift line. Maybe not! We blamed the coach anyway for hyping the group up.

The Illawarra Interclub Races are being held on Saturday 18th August and I’m sure the team will fly the Illabunda flag and do the club proud.

Thanks to Luanne and Matt for the fine food as usual.

Terry Dryburgh Race Captain

Weekend Update

2007-07-24T22:41:00.001+10:00

WOW - what can I say - the skiing is awesome.

Cold temps have kept the snow in great conditions.

Sorry for the late update and no pics - I'll rectify the situation this weekend.

If you are heading down, you are in for a real treat.

Hopefully some more snow will top up the great cover.

More Interschools

2007-07-19T21:04:00.000+10:00

Alex McCulloch also competed in the division 1 Interschool races for Kambala and achieved some great results:

Cross country relay 2nd

Cross country skate 2nd

Skier cross 3rd

Moguls 4th

Alpine 3rd

It is great to see some Illabunda Juniors competing in the Interschools, hopefully it will inspire others to get school teams together, and even go on to state and national championships!

2007 Illabunda Junior Training Week

2007-07-18T17:17:00.000+10:00

What great relief it was to see the snow falling for this eagerly awaited training week for the Junior’s, especially after last year’s lacklustre corresponding week and the dismal season.

The snow was falling when we arrived and virtually didn’t let up all week except for a few patches of sunshine.

Conditions were wide ranging and contained everything from peppering blizzards to calm winds with heavy falling snow flakes.

According to the Illabunda Junior’s Official Snow Depth Gauge (on the orange pole outside the lodge), the snow depth rose from 0.4m on arrival to a satisfying 0.8m on departure. And the pole doesn’t lie.

The G S Race Coaching was once again conducted at Blue Cow with Perisher Blue coaches Damo and Heidi commending our juniors for their commitment and attentive attitude to training. Each child showed varied improvements by the week’s end.

Snowboard Training was at Perisher and was also well received and the usual enthusiasm and will to learn was evident.

Cross Country Training didn’t get the planned amount of time allotted due to the feral conditions but raw mongrel plays a big part on race day for our club.
Some of our junior’s were involved with NSW Inter schools races during the training week and did us proud by association.

Emma Gracie picked up a 3rd in Mogels, Skier Cross and Alpine and Tahlia Jackson excelled for a 1st in Alpine for her division and 3rd in Skier Cross. Well done girls.

A big thank you to our new lodge Managers Matt and Luanne, who’s baptism of fire went well with the littlies and I’m sure they will be appreciated by all members and guests.

Thanks to all the parent’s who assist during the training week.

Illabunda Junior’s also won the Snow ball fight against Telemark Lodge convincingly.

I look forward to seeing the entire Junior contingent for the Races in September.

Cheers
Terry Dryburgh
Race Captain

Just in!

2007-07-17T20:31:00.000+10:00

A minimum of 15cm of snow has fallen since 5pm today!

3cm per hour could leave us with a massive total in the morning if it keeps up.

More Snow

2007-07-17T18:57:00.000+10:00

As the icy temps grip Sydney another storm has rolled in over the Snowy Mountains.

Blizzard conditions are expected tonight and snow may fall down as low as 500m!

The next few days should offer awesome skiing.

Working Bees

2007-07-16T22:31:00.001+10:00

A message from the booking officer regarding working bees this summer:

Dear members and friends of Illabunda

please be advised that the working bees for next spring and autumn are -
2/3/4 November, 16/17/18 November, 8/9 March, 23/24/25 May.

Contact Ron Fitzgerald if you are able to help out. Click here for contact details.

The Lodge will not be available for Summer bookings for the two weeks between 2nd and 18th November.

Regards
Leo Delissen

The maintenance and improvements done at the working bees are one of the things that make our club so good - they all keep Illabunda in the impressive shape it is.

Please set aside some time to attend a working bee - yep there is some hard work - but they are alot of fun too!

Weekend Update

2007-07-16T22:27:00.000+10:00

Fantastic skiing again this weekend, with the resort now at full strength.

That's right 50 lifts up and running!

There wasn't any fresh snow about but the skiing on Mt Perisher was as good as on any day - the piste that is.

An amazing amount of snow is on the mountain and the runs have filled in beautifully.

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures - the skiing was simply to good to stop!

Weekend Update

2007-07-08T21:31:00.000+10:00

This weekend delivered some of the best skiing that Perisher has seen in recent years - well definitely better than last season for sure.

Blizzard conditions continued for most of the weekend, keeping visibility low, but Saturday the fresh snow was fantastic.

Those that were lucky enough to ski on Friday reported that it was even better than Saturday.

The Illabunda juniors appeared to have had a fantastic week, and we all look forward to hearing from Terry on the events of the week.

Blizzard!

2007-07-05T19:23:00.000+10:00

A full on blizzard has been raging in the mountains today and last night.

At least 20 - 30cm of snow fell last night, and the blizzard intensified today.

Hopefully the Illabunda Juniors have been enjoying the snow and the storm.

The temp hovered around -3 today and a further 10cm fell from the sky.

One skier and mountain local described the snow as "Aussie windblown velvet"

Its easy to head to Mt P or Blue Cow on epic days like today, but consider Smiggins - apparently the skiing there today was fantastic!

More Snow Depth Info

2007-07-04T20:26:00.001+10:00

Have you ever wondered how the snow depth this year compares with past years.

Snowy Hydro have a great feature on their website that allows you to see.

Click here to check it out!

You can compare against every year right back to 1954.

Season 2007 is doing better than season 2006......but that is hardly surprising.

Snow Depth

2007-07-03T21:15:00.000+10:00

Have you ever wondered how Perisher come up with the snow depth?

Check out how they do it:

http://www.perisher.com.au/pub/BlueChip/July%202/depth.html

A Great Place For Celebration

2007-07-02T21:42:00.000+10:00

Illabunda is the perfect place for a celebration.

Helen, a recent Illabunda guest, celebrated her birthday.

Have you got a special event coming up that you would like to celebrate.

Check the vacancies and book you and your friends in for a memorable stay!

It Is All Happening

2007-07-01T20:15:00.000+10:00

Snowfalls continued throughout last night, as did the high winds.

Illabunda is now packed to the rafters with excited juniors down for their race training week.

Eyre lift on Mt Perisher opened for the first time today, with access via Sun Valley lift - nice stashes of fresh snow mixed with horrendous ice and wind pack. The visibility was also a little limited.

Once groomers get over there though, the skiing will be superb. Welcome July!

Telemark lift also opened today, making Illabunda skiers and boarders very happy, now able to ski / board in and out of the lodge. Telemark lift was only open for one week and two weekends last season!

Weekend Update

2007-06-30T21:06:00.000+10:00

What a day. Snow fell all day over Perisher Blue today, and the skiing was fantastic!

Mt Perisher was open today for the first time this season. Towers was the only run, with the double and triple running.

Above is the view over towards Interceptor, looks pretty good there, but that lift isn't running yet.

The McCulloch's have arrived for their first visit this season.

Al was straight into the skiing

The Quad is open to the top, and so is the traverse over to Blue Cow - so you can now ski to and from Blue Cow from Perisher.

Illabunda is looking a treat now with the snow pack really starting to build up.

Mt Perisher To Open Tomorrow

2007-06-29T21:56:00.000+10:00

The snow that has fallen this week has made a huge difference. The valley looking fantastic as I walked up the hill tonight.

Snow is falling as I type, and the guns are also pumping.

Mt Perisher is set to open tomorrow which pretty much means all the resort areas are open.

The pic was snapped today from a Qantas plane at 10,000m. You can see the range, fully covered in snow with Lake Jindabyne at the front. You can see the Jindabyne township.

Blizzard Conditions

2007-06-27T15:14:00.000+10:00

Full on blizzard conditions have produced 20-30cm of new snow.

If you are heading down, take care when driving as there is reportedly snow and ice on the road between Canberra and Cooma!

Stay tuned for a pic as soon as I can get my hands on one.

Conditions are starting to look great for the coming season, and the Illabunda kids down for Junior training next week should have a fantastic time!

Try Something Different This Winter - Go Snow Shoeing

2007-06-26T22:07:00.000+10:00

Heading out onto the slopes these days can be a hectic affair. Snowshoeing offers you a slower paced way to enjoy the high country, and can take you far away from the noisy slopes.

A few Illabunda members, guests, and our manager Luanne have been seen enjoying this great sport over this and the last few seasons. If you are keen to give it a go too, you can hire a pair of snowshoes from one of the local outdoor stores, who can also offer guided tours at various places around the snowy mountains.

Not only is it a great way to take in the scenery, it is great exercise too! Comfortable and waterproof footwear is probably the most important piece of clothing you will need, but wearing a few layers is the way to go. So you can layer up or layer down depending on your temperature. Take your stocks with you as these really help with balance.

Most importantly, let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
Have fun!

A Message From The Booking Officer

2007-06-25T22:30:00.000+10:00

Hi Members and friends of Illabunda,

A couple of beds have become available in the week commencing 15th July2007.

With what is probably the best start to the snow season in a decade, you would kick yourself if you did not avail yourself of this opportunity to give the slopes a burn during that week!

Check the website at http://www.illabunda.com.au/forms/CHART.htm for other vacancies as they are fast disappearing.

RegardsLeo

Déjà vu?

2007-06-24T20:35:00.000+10:00

If you walked into the Illabunda lounge room this afternoon, you'd be forgiven if you thought you were experiencing Déjà vu? Here is what you would have seen...

Jochen & Suzette have turned the tables and are having a holiday at Illabunda for the next few days.

Both are well, and looked to be having a great afternoon relaxing in the lodge.

Blue Cow

2007-06-24T20:28:00.001+10:00

Blue Cow today! Pretty good for the end of June.

Weekend Update

2007-06-23T19:05:00.000+10:00

Fantastic skiing today!! The resort has really opened up this weekend, with lifts working in Perisher, Guthega, Blue Cow and Smiggins.

The skiing on some slopes was as good as on any day!

The Forrester Quad opened to top station for the first time this season, opening up a huge amount of terrain.

I haven't ventured over to Blue Cow yet, but from all reports it is pretty good over there.

Mt P is yet to open, but a bunch of us ventured over there including Louie, our lodge manager. Here is a pic of her heading up to the top on snowshoes.

It will only take one more decent snowfall for Mt P to open.

The whole resort is really looking like winter and this is a fantastic start to season 2007.

Dinner tonight started with Quesadillas which were delicious. You are in for a real treat when you experience the cooking of our new managers.

Interesting Perisher History

2007-06-21T21:12:00.000+10:00

One of the first ski lifts in the Perisher region was right near Illabunda.

Johnny Abbottsmith placed a small portable rope tow in the gully near our lodge, running up to where Snow Revellers Lodge is. That would have to be the gully in the pic below - you can see the current Telemark lift.

I'm guessing it was there in the early 50s. Anyone know for sure? Leave a comment if you do.

10cm More!

2007-06-20T16:20:00.000+10:00

10cm more fresh snow fell overnight, so this storm has been just what was needed. It has left Mt P looking pretty tasty. Here is a pic from last weekend

And here is a pic from this morning - slightly different angle, but you can see the difference.

Will you be missing your chance to get some skiing in this weekend? Can't believe there isn't a ski or board track down Towers yet............

Blue Cow & Smiggins To Open

2007-06-19T19:25:00.000+10:00

Perisher Blue has announced that Blue Cow and Smiggins will open this Friday thanks to the 30cm or so of snow that has fallen over the last 24hrs.

This means more terrain, and more reason to get to the mountains and enjoy the skiing and boarding!

Snow!

2007-06-18T14:17:00.000+10:00

Snow has been falling heavily today since about 8am, delivering at least 10cm of new snow.

Some forecasters are calling for another 40-50cm over the next couple of days, so this weekend could be EPIC! With heaps of beds available at Illabunda this weekend, it is the perfect time to grab some friends and go to the mountains to enjoy the new snow!

Illabunda Trivia

2007-06-17T21:00:00.000+10:00

Does anybody recognise the area in this photo? Post your answer by leaving a comment.

Click the pic if you need a closer look!

We have a Winner!!! Ian Gracie has correctly identified this as the site of the old Illabunda, in Wilsons Valley, just below Rennix Gap.

Weekend Update

2007-06-16T14:45:00.000+10:00

The snowfalls over the last few days have changed the look of Perisher quite a bit. With the natural snow along with snowmaking, front valley is now full width.

Today has been warm and the snow a little wet, but the skiing has still been ok, with lots of skiers getting out, including all the Illabunda guests.

A little bit more snow is still needed to get Telemark lift up and running as you can see below, so a short walk is needed from Illabunda to get to the slopes. With some careful skiing down the road, it is possible to ski back to the lodge.

It was overcast and misty this morning, but the weather has mostly cleared and it looks like being a nice afternoon.

Don't think it will be too long before Blue Cow is open.

Osso Bucco is just part of the tasty lineup the managers have in store for dinner tonight - can't wait!

10cm Of Snow

2007-06-15T10:17:00.000+10:00

The overnight falls have brought 10cm of new snow onto the slopes around Illabunda.

Some warmer temperatures early this morning have compressed that a bit, which is ideal for this time of year as it helps to form a more solid base.

Scattered snow falls above 1400m have been forecast for today.

Snowing Heavily!

2007-06-14T19:58:00.000+10:00

A report has just come in from Perisher - it is snowing heavily @ -1 degree. Sorry about the picture quality, it was taken out the window of the Illabunda dining room on a phone! Can't wait to see the result of this fall.

A Full Day Of Snowmaking Has Made Quite A Difference!

2007-06-13T09:36:00.001+10:00

What Is New In The Lodge?

2007-06-13T09:09:00.000+10:00

It is always exciting to discover new things at Illabunda each season during your stay, here are a couple of things I found last weekend:

This great book on Kiandra has some amazing stories of the old gold mining days and the early days of skiing in Australia. I'm not sure if it was donated, or if the club purchased it, but either way it is a great read - check it out!

Perhaps not all that exciting, but new just the
same!

New door handles on the bedrooms and bathrooms! Well done to all the members and friends who took part in working bees over the summer - Thank You!

A Cold Day In The Mountains

2007-06-12T21:24:00.000+10:00

A good day for snowmaking down in Perisher Blue today - the temperature only getting above zero for a short time this afternoon. The man made snow will top up the cover on front valley, but a few good natural falls are needed to get Mt P up and running.

2007-06-11T21:00:00.000+10:00

Opening Weekend Update

2007-06-10T13:32:00.000+10:00

Louie and Matt, the new Illabunda managers, have kicked off the season by doing a fantastic job.

The food is FABULOUS! Here is the menu for Sunday night dinner.....

Early season Illabunda guests have had a great time enjoying the skiing on Front Valley. Mitchell T, the Village 8 and a couple of magic carpets are running.

The weather on Saturday was a little wet and nasty, but as you can see above and below - the weather today is super!

Everyone from Illabunda got out to enjoy the alpine environment, either skiing, boarding or walking and enjoying the scenery. But time spent relaxing in the lodge is also a great way to enjoy your break from everyday life.

With some weather on the way, hopefully more snow will soon be on the ground!

The View Across Front Valley This Morning

2007-06-08T09:44:00.000+10:00

Opening Day

2007-06-08T08:42:00.000+10:00

After the long wait of summer, the ski season opens today!

3-5cm of snow has fallen overnight to bring in the new season.

Snow showers are set to continue over the long weekend.

Stay tuned for live blogging and pics from Illabunda over the next few days!

Perisher Blue Opens For Skiing On Friday!

2007-06-06T20:45:00.000+10:00

This from PerisherBlue today:

Perisher Blue is set to open for winter 2007 EARLY from this Friday, one day ahead of schedule! The resort will fire up Mitchell T-Bar on Front Valley from 11am on Friday. Passes will cost just $22 for Adults and $11 for Children for the day.

The recent natural snowfalls coupled with Perisher Blue’s snowmaking operations for the past three weeks have set a good base for skiing and snowboarding on Front Valley.

Less Than A Week To Go

2007-06-04T18:58:00.000+10:00

Season 2007 opens this Saturday, less than a week away.

The new Illabunda managers, Matt & Louie are now in residence, getting the lodge up and running.

A light dusting of snow fell last night in the mountains, topping up the light cover already on the ground.

Take advantage of the cheaper early season rate and book yourself a few days R & R at Illabunda this June.

See you there!

WOW!

2007-06-01T13:09:00.000+10:00

Nice on Front Valley today!

Looking Good

2007-05-31T20:08:00.000+10:00

Intermittent snow falls over the last couple of days have put close to 10cm of snow down. The snow is forecast to continue through to at least Tuesday next week.

This could be the makings of a great start to the season!

Here is a pic from Front Valley today!

If you look closely, you can see a couple of keen skiers looking for some early turns!

Still Plenty Of Beds Available In Winter 2007

2007-05-26T16:17:00.000+10:00

As usual the mid section of the season is heavily booked at Illabunda.

There are still plenty of vacancies available early and late in the season.

Heaps of beds are available in June and September, but there is still some room to found in early July.

So get your friends and family together, and take advantage of the best lodge in Perisher!

Check when beds are available here on the Illabunda Website.

Check This Out!

2007-05-26T16:16:00.000+10:00

Well it isn't Perisher, but check it out all the same because it will give you a look at the snowfalls from last week. Enjoy!

2 Weeks To Go!

2007-05-26T16:13:00.000+10:00

With only 2 weeks to go until season 2007 kicks off, its good to see some natural snow on the ground.

Last week saw around 10cm of snow fall on the mountains, along with the start of snowmaking in Perisher Valley.

Looks like there is another storm on the way next week, hopefully bringing more snow to solidify the start of the ski season.

Snow Is Falling

2007-05-21T19:43:00.000+10:00

Great news - snow has been falling most of the day, it isn't quite sticking to the ground yet, but hopefully that will change overnight.

Stay tuned for further details on this fall - the first of many with luck!

A Message From The Booking Officer

2007-05-15T20:48:00.000+10:00

During the busiest time of the year for our hard working booking officer, he has asked for us all to remember the following:

The club does take credit card payments for bookings / accommodation
Your bookings need to be paid for within two weeks of your confirmation
The membership levy is long past due. If you haven't paid, please do so asap. Remember, your booking requests will not be processed until the levy has been paid!!

If you haven't put in your bookings yet, there are still beds available, so check the vacancies here on the Illabunda website!

Colder Weather

2007-05-11T16:19:00.000+10:00

The first heavy frosts of the season have been reported in the mountains hopefully heralding the arrival of colder days.

Stay tuned for the first reports of snow and the start of snowmaking in Perisher Valley!

Perisher Blue Season Pass - Early Bird Discount

2007-05-03T22:24:00.000+10:00

If you buy a season pass for Perisher Blue, or are thinking of it, then you might want to do so quickly.

Here are the benefits of getting the early bird pass:

- $100 off the regular retail Season Pass rate for Adults and $55 for Children

- 10% off Food & Beverage items at Perisher Blue outlets except confectionary and alcohol*
*Outlets include: All Blue Cow outlets; Guthega – Burning Log Bistro; Perisher Valley – Snow Gums
Restaurant, Jax Bar & Chargrill, Ski Rock Café and Bazil’s Bar; Bullocks Flat - Kiosk

- 20% off at Perisher Blue retail outlets*. Offer not valid for items already “on sale” and minimum purchase is $50.00
*Outlets include: Perisher Valley – Slopestyle Ski Shop & Addiction Snowboard Shop and Perisher Blue owned retail outlets at Smiggins and Bullocks Flat and Blue Cow.

- Season Passes will be waiting for you when you arrive at Perisher Blue. Avoid the queues at the season pass office and pick up your pre-printed season pass in Perisher Valley.

The only catch is you need to have your application in by the 11/5/07 - so hurry!

This page will give you the details on how to get one.

What is happening with the weather in the Snowy Mountains

2007-05-03T21:55:00.000+10:00

With winter approaching, and temperatures getting colder, you might be wondering what the weather is doing down at the snow.

Even when the season has started and your trip to the lodge is coming up - you will want to know if there is any new snow on the horizon.

You can listen to the reports from the resorts, which sometimes can be a bit of a marketing spiel.

Or you can go to this site. It is the Bureau of Meteorology's forecast for the NSW Snow Mountains.

Bookings for Winter 2007 are now Open!

2007-03-11T12:18:00.000+11:00

The Winter 2007 bookings for Illabunda Lodge are now open, with bed allocations to begin at the end of March.

Get your bookings in now to the booking officer!

Click here to download your booking form.

Notice of the Port Kembla Ski Club AGM

2007-03-07T18:54:00.000+11:00

The Port Kembla Ski Club AGM will be held at:

Place: Vikings Rugby Club - cnr Swan Street & Corrimal Street, Wollongong
Time: 7.00 p.m. on Friday March 30th 2007

Illabunda Racing Schedule for Winter 2007

2007-03-07T18:53:00.000+11:00

Juniors

Monday 2nd July – Friday 6th July Downhill and Cross Country Training

Saturday 7th July – Sunday 8th July Snow Board Training

Saturday1st September Illawarra Junior Interclub Races
(Downhill, Snowboard, XC)

Note: The Illabunda Junior Club Champions are determined from the Illawarra Junior Interclub Races.

Seniors

Saturday 28th July – Sunday 29th July Downhill Training

Saturday 18th August Illawarra Senior Interclub Races
(Downhill, Snowboard, XC)

Saturday 29th September – Sunday 30th September Perisher Cup Races
(Downhill, Jump, XC)

Note: The Illabunda Senior Club Champions are determined from the Illawarra Senior Interclub Races.

These dates are subject to change depending on the Illawarra Interclub confirmation.

Terry Dryburgh

New Managers for Season 2007

2007-01-03T11:50:00.000+11:00

To all Members

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family the very best in 2007 and look forward to seeing many of you at the Lodge and enjoying a good snow season.

I also wish to formally advice you all that Jochen & Suzette will not be returning to us as our managers for this year. Sadly Suzette’s mother passed away in late 2006 and they have decided not to renew their contract with us. I’m sure you join with me in sending our condolences to Suzette and Jochen and thank them for their friendship and the wonderful work they have done for us over the past seven years. The good news is that they will now be coming to Illabunda to enjoy their skiing.

The committee has appointed Matthew Geercke and Luanne Rogers as our new managers for
2007. Matthew and Luanne are coming to us from Boonoona Lodge and come very highly recommended.

On behalf of all members I welcome them and ask you all to make them welcome and help
them settle in.

I thank you all for your help in 2006 and good skiing in 2007.

Ross Livermore
President

Click here for the official communication from Ross.

Illabunda Lodge Winter Attendences, 2004 - 2006, the Facts

2006-12-17T11:37:00.000+11:00

The committee has come up with some interesting facts while analysing the winter attendeces of Illabunda Lodge.

40 of the 100 Full Members (or their children) have stayed at the Lodge every
year.
8 of the 23 Persons on the Waiting List have stayed at the Lodge every year.
27 of the 100 Full Members have not stayed at the Lodge in the last 3 years.
9 of the 23 Persons on the Waiting List have not stayed at the Lodge in the last 3
years.

Click here to read the official communication from the committee, and find out how this information effects the running of your club and lodge.

Spring 2005 Newsletter

2005-09-11T09:29:00.000+10:00

Click the link to read the Spring 2005 Newsletter

Winter 2005 Newsletter

2005-06-11T09:27:00.000+10:00

Click the link to read the Winter 2005 Newsletter

Spring 2004 Newsletter

2004-09-11T09:25:00.000+10:00

Click the link to read the Spring 2004 Newsletter

Winter 2004 Newsletter

2004-06-07T09:22:00.000+10:00

Click the link to read the Winter 2004 Newsletter