News from the lift co

Lift tickets

• Maximum walk-up day ticket price is $149. You can save by buying online, ahead of time.
• July Vic school holidays and Fri-Sun in July and August look to have the highest prices
• The lowest online ticket price is $97
• Midweek deal - ski Tue, Wed, Thur for the price of 2 days. Matching deal on resort entry. This will not be available in Vic July school holidays.

Ski School

• Kids ski school restructure
• Junior workshop 6-14
• Adults 15+
• Ride Tribe 13-17 but must be at least competent intermediate (not early or late season)
• Adult lessons return to 10am
• All day adult learn to ski deal (optional) 

Maintenance and improvements

• Gully has had a makeover and is now capable of 2.3m/sec. It can be slowed and sped up as required
• Eagle has had changes to improve reliability
• Bushfire control works have had a side benefit of summer grooming in the maze

Epic Australia Pass

The Hotham lease issues have been finalised and Hotham is now part of Vail Resorts too. If you have a Hero Pass then you need to decide whether to convert to an Epic Australia Pass. It may be free, or a small fee or even a tiny refund depending on the date that you bought your Hero Pass.

If you convert, you get all the benefits of the Epic Australia Pass but you lose benefits of the Hero Pass. Epic Australia Pass lets you ski at Perisher as well as Falls and Hotham, and at some overseas resorts with some restrictions. Read the fine print and decide which is right for you. Some points to watch out for

• Hero Passes entitle you to 1 free day ticket and 1 free Learn to Ski ticket for friends. This does not apply under an Epic Pass
• Epic Australia Pass entitles you to 6 Bring a Mate discount tickets that only apply at Perisher. Discounts vary
• Seniors over 70 are treated differently by Vail Resorts. For this year, free passes are available under Merlin's conditions (Falls and Hotham only)

You can also choose to upgrade to an Epic Australia Plus pass which has less restrictions on overseas resorts. The Epic Pass is a US dollar pass that will apply to the Northern hemisphere 2019/20 season and our 2020 season. It has the most resorts and least restrictions.

I understand that the deadline to convert is 2 July.

For details see https://www.epicaustraliapass.com.au/passes/epic-australia-pass-faq-2019

Dec 20 - Last Day for Resort Entry Season Early Bird

If you plan on coming to Falls Creek for more than a week next ski season then it's worth considering a season pass for resort entry.

If you buy before 5pm on 20 December you can get the early bird pricing of $325 ($260 for over 65s). Better still, you can opt to pay $95 now and the balance on 31 January.

more details at fallscreek.com,au

Summer specials

Once again the committee has designated some summer periods as free of the minimum fee ($300).

We understand that for many members, the $300 minimum fee in summer is a deterrent. While we can't get rid of it all together (getting the lodge up and running does cost a bit), we are again exempting selected weekends/holiday periods from the minimum fee.

For this summer, you can stay without fear of minimum fee on

• Ignition Mountain Bike weekend - Fri 17- Sun19 November
• Christmas/New Year: Sat 23 Dec - Sat 6 Jan
• Australia Day weekend (Dragon Boats): Thur 25 - Sun 29 Jan
• Longest Lunch: Thur 15 - Sun 18 Mar
• Easter: Thur 29 March - Tue 3 Apr

Come up and enjoy the lodge in summer. At $30 per night for members it's a very affordable getaway.

Hero Pass 2018

It's on again - if you are a frequent Falls Creek skier or boarder then this deal is too good to miss.

$799 for a 2018 season pass valid at Falls & Hotham. Kids & Seniors only $459.

Pay a $99 deposit by 5pm on 9 October and the deposit in April

The side benefits are a little different - best check the details if they are important to you

More info at fallscreek.com.au/heropass

Another summer special

The weekend of Thur 30 March to Sunday 2 April will have no minimum fee at the lodge.

The Falls Creek Longest Lunch will be held on Friday 31st March, catered by Barry Iddles (Elk and Sorrento Catering Company)

more info

If you can't make it for Friday lunch, it's still a great chance to get up to the high plains. Ride the mountain bike trails, fish for trout, enjoy a walk on the high plains or a stroll along the aqueduct or just relax in the mountain air.

Blue Dirt now operate Mountain Bike shuttles and bike hire every weekend until 23 April

Easter will also be a minimum fee free time at the lodge.

Minimum fee free periods aim to make it easier for members and their guests to enjoy a short stay at the lodge over the "green" season.

2017 Resort Entry Season Pass deal closes 16 December

Resort Management has announced that there will be no Early Bird resort entry season pass in 2017. Instead they are offering a 2017 pass at the same price as 2016 if you pay your deposit by 16 December. That's $99 in December and $196 by 31 March.

They are saying that there will be no other discounted resort entry season passes (except for over 65s). There are no hints about what the 2017 price will be.

More info

Hero Pass deadline extended to Monday

Apparently they had some technical problems with the online store so the lift company has extended the deadline for Hero Passes to Monday 17 October. (I haven't seen a time, but probably safe to assume 5pm as it was for the original deadline).

Only $99 now and $650 in April ($49 + $380 for kids and seniors).

Hero Passes on sale

It's on again - if you are a frequent Falls Creek skier or boarder then this deal is too good to miss.

$749 for a 2017 season pass valid at Falls & Hotham. Kids & Seniors only $429.

Pay a $99 deposit by 13 October and the deposit in April

More info at fallscreek.com.au/heropass

Spring Specials

There are some good deals being offered by the lift company and FCRM

• Spring Lift pass - $399 ($249 for kids & seniors) 
• BFF plan - bring a beginner friend. If you have a valid lift pass they get one day free beginner lift, lesson & rental 
• Discounted resort entry if you stay at least 3 nights & buy online - $30 per night or $218 for the rest of the season 

See fallscreek.com.au/easyseason for more information

ANZAC Weekend - Mountain Bike 2 for 1

If you've been meaning to come and try the mountain bike trails, there's a special deal this weekend that might appeal.

It's the last mountain bike shuttle service until November. Normally shuttles are $50 per day or $90 for the weekend, but for Saturday and Sunday there is a 2 for 1 deal. Either 2 people for the price of 1 or 2 days for the price of one.

The shuttles go from Slalom carpark up to the top of the summit and run from 9am till 4pm.

There is also a beginner skills course available on the Saturday. Bike hire is available both days, from Slalom carpark or Fruehauf

Bookings are needed for shuttles, clinics and hire

More info

Early Bird Resort Entry Season Passs

Resort Entry Season permits are available online until 5pm on 30 April for $295, less than the price of 7 days. So if you think you might be able to squeeze in more than a week's skiing, this is a a deal not to be missed

After 30 April the price goes up to $325.

This offer is only for online sales.

More

6 Day Anytime Lift Tickets

If you can't justify a season ticket but want some flexibility, the 6 Day Any Day lift ticket might be what you are after

$499 for adults,
$279 for kids and seniors

and now kids up to 17 are still charged as kids
valid for Hotahm as well as Falls Creek

only available until 31 March

More

Resort Entry Season Permit - Early Bird offer

Resort Entry Season permits are available online until 30 April for $290.

After that the price goes up to $325.

You can apply using a form instead of online, but the price is higher.

More

6-day anytime lift tickets

The lift company have announced a 6 Day Anytime ticket, valid for Falls and Hotham. This offer is only available online until 27 April.

$499 for adults
$425 for youth 15-18
$249 for kids and seniors (65-70)

If you don't come often enough to justify a season pass, this could be a good flexible option.

More

2015 Hero Pass

It's on again, same price as last year: $749 for an adult season pass, that's less than half the full price of $1549.

Pay $199 by 1 October and $550 by 30 April 2015. ($99+$330 for kids and seniors)

Details at skifalls.com.au/HeroPass

Lift Co Deals: First-Timers, Dads and Big Kids

The lift company have announced some great September deals. Why not book into the lodge to take advantage of the these offers.

First Timers

Just announced is the lift company's BFF Plan. If you buy a lift ticket in September, you can introduce a first-timer to skiing or boarding for free. They get a two hour first-time ski or snowboard lesson, 1 day access to first-timer lifts, and 1 day ski or snowboard rental. There are lots of conditions (mainly seem to be about making sure it is only for genuine first timers).

See skifalls.com.au/BFFPlan for details

Dads

Father's Day is Dads ski (or board) free day if they have a child (any age) with a lift ticket for the day

See skifalls.com.au/DadSkisFree for details

Big Kids

Usually child tickets are only for 14 and under, but this September all kids up to 18 can ski and board at child prices

See skifalls.com.au/BigKids for details

Early Bird reminder

Special early bird deals on season passes for lifts and resort entry expire tomorrow 30th April.

If you paid a deposit on a Hero Pass last spring, your credit card should already been charged for the balance.

Early Bird Season Pass

If you missed out on ordering a Hero Pass, you can still save money on a season pass.

Adult season pass is $1249 if you buy by 30 April, $300 off the full price.

see fallscreek.com.au/SeasonPass for details

Resort Management have not yet released information about resort entry season passes.

Winter Olympics special - 5 day any day ticket $399

If you are not planning on skiing or boarding enough to get a Hero Pass for this season, you might be interested in this deal from the lift company.

Th pass is valid for any 5 days in the 2014 season - they don't have to be consecutive. Offer is only open until the Sochi closing ceremony.

see http://www.skifalls.com.au for details