It will come as no surprise to Australian skiers and snowboarders that Vail Resorts have announced the end of the 2020 ski season for Falls Creek and Hotham today.
The announcement puts the official line in the season sand for Victoria who are already experiencing a tough lockdown time in both regional areas and greater Melbourne.
Lift operations at Falls Creek and Hotham were set to recommence on August 19 for spring skiing and snowboarding after a six week shutdown. However, following the Victorian Government’s introduction of Stage 4 restrictions for Melbourne and Stage 3 restrictions for regional Victoria, which will be in place for six weeks, the chairlifts will remain closed. .
“We made the decision to close Hotham and Falls Creek in early July to support the government’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health of our employees, guests and community” said Pete Brulisauer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vail Resorts Australia.
“It was certainly a difficult decision, which unfortunately has been reinforced by the worsening COVID-19 trends and the declaration of a State of Disaster in Victoria until 13 September.
We are disappointed to mark the end of the season this way and extend our gratitude to our teams and the businesses in the local community who all worked incredibly hard to open this winter. We also want to thank our loyal guests for their patience and understanding; we look forward to welcoming them back to our resorts for the 2021 season.”
Perisher will remain open and is unaffected by this decision, operating in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions in NSW.
Guests who retained their 2020 Epic Australia Pass planning to ski and board late season at Hotham and Falls Creek, may apply for a refund under Epic Coverage.
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