As the School Holiday’s wind down, there’s a change of pace in the resort and we thought we’d share some of our favourite local tips with you. Did you know that the second half of July is a great time to visit? School’s back, but the August skiers haven’t arrived and the resort is a little quieter – especially if you can sneak in a mid-week escape.
So read on if you want to lap Hotham like a local:
Schedule Your Day Like a Pro
Get out early (especially on WRX First Tracks days which are Wed to Sunday) and ski hard for the morning.
Fuel up with a mid-morning coffee and snack around 9:30-10am, just when everyone else is getting out on snow, local faves that are easy to ski-in and out of are The Bird and Hoff Hut. This will provide you with enough energy to ski through lunch and score some more quiet time on the slopes and avoid the lunch rush!
Finally, head in for a late lunch before going out for some final laps or just start your après early if you’ve already had your fill.
Know When to Visit
Locals watch the forecast and follow the Snow Report religiously to score the best days. Whether you’re a fair-weather skier or a powder hunter, watching the forecast helps you pick the days that suit your style or when to have a down day (did someone say Dinner Plain Onsen or shopping day?!)
The Snow Report is written by local experts Bill Barker and Drew Jolowicz who are up early, assessing conditions to give you the best read on what lies ahead for the day. It’s usually live on the site before 7am and in your inbox by 7:30am so early birds, check bookmark this page and hit refresh until it’s published!
The Snow Cams will also give you a great idea of current conditions on the hill – live and unfiltered.
Keep in the Loop
If you want to be the first to know important information the Hotham App is your one stop shop. It you real-time updates of lift status, grooming and current conditions all at your fingertips. Plus, you can use it to track your runs and find your friends. We also use the App to push out important notifications around conditions, lifts and events so if you want to be the first to know, it’s worth having. You can even jump into your settings and choose what you receive notifications about.
Following @HothamAlpineResort on social media also makes sure you know all the goings on so get us Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok to be in the know.
Level up with Lessons
Want to take your skiing or boarding to the next level and arc those turns even closer to the ground? Even if you reckon you’re a pro 😉, you’ll be surprised by how much a lesson can unlock in your riding. Private lessons are a great way to focus on the skills you want to develop at your pace, on your terms.
We also offer a range of specialty programs designed for advanced skiers and boarders: