Most UK riders head to NZ for some summer shredding. But for the last 3 years, my boyfriend and I have hit up the mountains (hills) of Australia to get our shred on for the summer. As not many people even realise there is snow in Australia, I thought I would give you “The Low Down to Riding in OZ” ………

Riding amongst the gum trees and the wildlife is a totally different experience to any other country I have snowboarded in. Australia has its good points and bad points, but i can honestly say that its up there as one of my favourite places in the world to go snowboarding.

THE VIBE

The atmosphere in the Australian alps is what you would imagine it to be……..laid back, fun, cheerful and chilled….much like Australia in general! The Aussies main aim in life is to have fun, “work to live” not “live to work”.  Do the minimum work to have maximum fun. Everyone is super friendly and always smiling and positive. The Lifties like to give you high fives and the park crew are always up for a chat!

THE WILDLIFE

There is an abundance of wildlife in the Australian mountains.  Wombats, emus, possums, kangaroos and parrot-type-things (see picture). I got told off once as I was riding in a Pygmy Possom protected area. Sorry possums! On the drive down from the hill there are so many dead wombats and on their backs at the side of the road. Even though sad that they are dead, its quite funny when people put beer bottles in their mouths to make it look like their drunk and passed out! And then you have the Crows, that are the size of small dogs and eat everything in their path, i wouldn’t be surprised if they even ate small children, they are THAT big! And apparently, just down from the snow line, are kangaroos! But i’m so unobservant that I never see them, but I am told that they DO exist (sorry, no pictures of these yet). And being English, I REALLY want to see one! But I’ll never quite understand why the Australians want to come to the UK and see a Badger!!!

THE TRANSPORT

You can live on the hill or down in the towns. If you live on the hill, there are normally no cars allowed in the resorts. So everyone drives around in skidoos or these tractor type things. Our mode of transport I like to call “The Digger” Here is a little edit I made of her on her maiden voyage this season………

THE WEEKEND WARRIORS

Riding monday-friday is pretty quiet, but then the weekends can be crazy as all the “weekend warriors” head up from the cities to shred. As the mountains are not that big, lift lines can be a bit long and frustrating. So the weekend is a good time to chill out from riding, work and recuperate ready for the next weeks snowboarding.

THE LANDSCAPE

The mountains are a bit like Dartmoor, but with gum trees. There are heaps of rock, bushes (that look like giant pieces of Broccoli) and jibbable landscape to keep you entertained. None of the runs are that steep or that long. And if there is one run that is steeper and longer, you will always get the “weekend warriors” /punters straight lining it from top to bottom, arms flailing above their heads and their gaper gaps glistening in the sunlight!

THE WEATHER

So if your a fair weather rider, then I wouldn’t really recommend riding in Australia!! Quite a large percentage of the time is spent riding in bad weather or comfort eating looking out the window! I definitely come back a little fatter after my Australian seasons!! It usually rains before it snows and when its windy, its bloody windy!!! But saying this, we have just had 2 weeks of constant sun and perfect snow. So I guess its all just luck of the draw.  And Australia does get some epic powder days too. I have had some of my most fun pow days here, winding through the gum trees, rock drops and even some pillow lines!

And if it is bad weather, the Australians are always up for getting loose, but guess thats the same for most snowboarders really! Apres however is not really done in Australia, I think europe is way better at that ; )

THE PARK!

When its sunny, its awesome! Hoodie riding for most of the season and some serious goggle tanning and sunny park laps. The terrain parks in Australia are the most fun parks I have ever ridden! I think what the Aussies don’t have in mountains, they make up for in their parks. Everything is always really well built and the kickers are more like American jumps rather that whippy Euro ones. The park crew take so much pride in their parks and really want to make sure that everyones happy. They value your opinions and make changes and add features if you ask them too. So you can basically have the park that you want!  There is no attitude in the park and the main focus is on having fun. No pressure and everyone is so friendly and nice. You could go to the park on your own, and guaranteed you would end up riding with a crew of your friends. There always seems to be a bigger girly crew in the parks here too.

Australia is an awesome place to ride. I have spent my time in Falls Creek and Perisher, both are very cool places and well worth a visit if you ever get a chance: )