North American ski resorts love Australians. Our dollar may be killing us but we’re still the number one international inbound winter market to Colorado, Utah, Canada and top two to Jackson Hole Wyoming, California and Vail.
They want to keep it that way too which is why come Australia Day some savvy resorts lay it on thick for the Aussies in town with free beer (yes, free beer), Vegemite sandwiches, Tim Tams and more. Before you get too excited you still won’t find a decent flat white in most ski towns but hey, you can have that when you get back home.
What you will get is beetroot slices in burgers (that’s what makes it an Aussie burger), home made lamingtons, pavlovas and snags on the barbie and if you search really hard you might even find a battered pineapple slice or Chiko roll.
Check out any of these resorts to get your Aussie on this Australia Day, January 26.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
Expect Australian flags, temporary tattos, stickers and Australian Music playlists across all four Aspen Snowmass mountains.
The Aspen Mountain Silver Queen Gondola is going to open an hour early at 8.00am with Vegemite toast on offer in the Gondola Plaza. Tim Tams will be offered on all mountains with Aussie lunch specials at Sundeck, Elk Camp, Merry Go Round and Ullrhof.
At 3pm to 4pm lamingtons will be served at Aspen Mountain Gondola Plaza followed by Aussie Day Closing Party at Chair 9 at The Little Nell.
Vail Mountain Colorado and Park City Utah
On Tuesday, January 26, both Vail and Park City will celebrate Australia Day. In Vail, as soon as you soon as you step away from the Wi-Fi and luxuriously heated seats in Gondola One, it will be hard to miss the Australian flags and inflatable kangaroos adorning Sarge’s Deck at Mid-Vail Restaurant.
A DJ will be spinning Aussie music from 12-3PM and for Australia Day only, Aussie food favorites will be served as part of a limited edition menu. Meat pies, burgers with pineapple and egg (where’s the beetroot?) and potato wedges with sweet chili sauce and sour cream will be featured, in addition to Australia’s favorite chocolate bikkies, Tim Tams, for dessert.
Free beer to anyone over 21+ with a valid Australian passport while it lasts, stickers for the kids and don’t miss out on a great giveaway for the most patriotically dressed attendee.
Park City will have two Australia Day celebrations hitting both the Park City Base and Canyons Village, fitting for the largest ski resort in the United States. Both bases will have après music thumping from 2:30-4:30PM, Australian themed giveaways and the Legacy Lodge, right at the base of the Payday Lift, will feature delicious food specials.
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride will run a scavenger hunt with clues on social media to find Sheila the kangaroo and win a Stalkit snowboard.
Expect Tim Tams at the base of Chair 4 until they run out. Fun Aussie stickers for the kids and life sized kangaroos and larger than life koalas planted around the hill.
Watch out for a special video shout out to Australians back home on the day.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole celebrates Australia Day again in 2016 with Free Beer and a sampling of Aussie eats. Aussie cheer will pump from the Events Tent from 4pm to 6pm at the base of the mountain with Australian music and decorations adding to the fun.
Jackson Hole’s famous Bronco logo even gets an Australian touch on this day, with the bronco being replaced by a kangaroo and traditional Australian colors with special edition Jackson Hole Australia Day stickers that are distributed throughout the day.
Whistralia, Canada
Be warned it can get messy in Whistler on Australia Day, the unofficial Australian capital of Canada (they don’t call it Whistralia for nothing).
Aussies start lining up as early as 8am to get their place at the Long Horn Salon for everything Australia, included imported VB beer.
Aussie band Peking Duk are playing at Garfinkels and if you fancy a meat pie just like back home then head to Peaked Pies for, well, for this:
Big White, Canada
Dress up in your green and gold gear, grab your Australian flag and come for a ski or a snowboard with Big White’s resident kangaroo, Boomer at the top of ski run “Kangaroo” at 10am on Australia Day. Check Boomer’s pouch for Tim Tams and Vegemite surprise.
The Woods will have a lamb roast and the Globe Cafe & Tapas Bar will be playing Triple J’s Hottest 100.
Where will you be celebrating Australia Day?
Read more: How not to be a bogan skier on January 26
