Perisher Ski Resort is accused of calling itself out of business as an Aussie woman exposes the astounding cost of a day on the slopes.
Sydney woman Robin Moon and her family were so shocked by the prices at the southern NSW ski resort of Perisher that they went to Facebook to warn others.
The very high costs started when Mrs. Moon paid $297 for a one-day ski pass and Perisher Skitube – the train that goes up and down the mountain – ticket.
“It went from worse to worse with all the awards,” she told Daily Mail Australia, adding that she will go to New Zealand or Japan to ski in the future.
“We have three daughters and we’re in our sixties and we’ve been skiing in Perisher since the eighties, and we’ve also skied a lot abroad.”
The Perisher ski resort has been accused of calling itself out of business by avid skier Robin Moon (pictured)
So little snow has fallen at a popular Aussie ski resort that skiers have been greeted with dirt instead of snow on their visits
Ms Moon said that since US company Vail Resorts acquired Perisher in 2015, “it has become unsustainable very quickly in terms of price.”
She and her husband have been running photography workshops in the Alpine region for a few years and said it costs $75 a day at Charlotte’s Pass, which includes a hot lunch and lift ticket.
“But then you come across Perisher and the one-day prices are just crazy… it’s mountain money,” she said.
At the Mid Station restaurant – which is run independently of the resort – the family paid $60 at the Mid Station restaurant for two sausage rolls and two beers and $39 for two schnapps hot chocolate, she said.
They then had to pay $50 for a one-way ski tube because of a broken ski boot and $54 for a day of ski boot rental only.
After decades of loyalty to Perisher, Mrs. Moon has had enough. She shared what had happened with her family and they agreed ‘let’s not do that again’.
With kids and now grandkids, she said going back to Perisher would mean “we’re going to blow $1,000 a day for the family to ski.”
“It’s just crazy and we’re much better off going to New Zealand or Japan (for skiing). We had a talk and just decided that next family holiday when we go for a week we won’t be going anywhere near here.
‘We are going abroad, where we get more value for money.’
On the Facebook page where Ms. Moon first posted about Perisher, many people were shocked by the prices, but some tried to explain why.
Robin Moon (pictured) is also saddened that Perisher’s volunteer ski patrol, which has been operating for more than 50 years, is closing
“It is my understanding that the operators there receive huge fees from national parks,” one wrote.
“The bed load alone (per bed) would make your eyes water plus, it’s a very short season and getting shorter and shorter.”
Another wrote that the resort is not interested in people skiing for a few days, that’s a ridiculous price for a ski day pass.
“The only way around this is to buy one of the season’s epic passes and then ski abroad as well to make it worth it.”
However, others said she should be more grateful.
“Beers, hot chocolate, schnapps… sounds like you had a great day,” someone said.
A second added: “Well, if people pay it, the prices will be. Any businessman worth half his weight in salt would be deceived and insane to sell things less than what people are willing to pay.”
A third said: ‘Some people are just homeless, so don’t worry, oops!’
“Next time BYO the beers, hot chocolate and the snow… and just walk up the hill… it’s not a mountain,” a fourth added.
Another said, “First world problems. Have you seen what is happening in Chad?’.
Ms. Moon is also saddened that Perisher’s volunteer ski patrol, which has been operating for over 50 years, is closing after this season.
‘A school friend of mine has been volunteering on a ski patrol since the 1980s. So she has 40 years of experience riding the mountain and picking up people who have fallen over and damaged themselves.”
She said the end of the voluntary ski patrol is “a real shame”. It’s a very big historical part of Perisher. TThe history is just closed and gone.’
Michael Fearnside, Perisher’s director of operations, said the resort is grateful for the contributions of the ski patrol.
“Volunteers have been working with our professional ski patrol service for many years, but the evolution of the ski industry, workplace health and safety obligations and guest expectations demand more time and skills than can reasonably be expected from a volunteer. asked.
“We believe that the future of ski patrol is best provided by full on-mountain coverage by a fully professional workforce,” he said.
It comes as Australia’s ski season is marred by a horror accident in Thredbo and record low snowfall.