A Brave Ski Mom interview with Kym Kennedy from New South Wales, Australia.
If you could only ski at one ski area or resort this season, where would you ski?
Perisher, New South Wales. Perisher is in the Snowy Mountains, about a six-hour drive from Sydney.
Why Perisher?
When we started skiing, we skied at Perisher. Perisher is more family-oriented than the other snow field in the area, Threadbo. The town of Jindabyne is at the base of these two resorts. While Threadbo has a beautiful village, Perisher is more geared toward families with better features and more open terrain. It is also the larger of the two resorts. Threadbo is a good choice for couples or skiers without children.
What makes Perisher good for family skiing?
The terrain at Perisher is less steep than that at Threadbo. This makes it a perfect place for young children to learn to ski. Perisher offers a very safe environment for children to learn and then go off and explore the mountain by themselves. My boys especially enjoy riding the terrain park features.
My daughter is a ski instructor in the ski school, and it is my impression that Perisher is continually upgrading the ski school. There are many options for instruction and for tickets.
What would you improve at Perisher to make it even better for family skiing?
I think they need to make it easier for families to find affordable food options. There is a saying that “$50 (Australian) is $5 (Australian) at Perisher.” It is expensive for a family to come ski for a day and buy food. They need to create areas for people to bring and eat their lunch.
Are there any “secrets” are you willing to share about Perisher?
I love nature, so I would tell you bring a good pair of snowboots. Don’t just ski. Go out the back of the resort and enjoy the beautiful snow gum trees. The snow gum trees have adapted to the mountain environment. They are exquisite looking, absolutely beautiful trees with colors particular to the mountains.
What advice would you give other families before they come to Perisher?
I suggest that families take a private lesson together. Take a tour of the resort and get to know all the resort has to offer. Don’t just rely on the map. Seek out some guidance and use the resort to your full advantage.
What is your favorite place to stay at Perisher?
It depends upon who you are and what you are looking for. If you are young and looking to socialize, stay in Jindabyne. For a winter snow experience, stay on the mountain. Couples may prefer Threadbo, and while you can take children to Threadbo, the lodging at Perisher is the better choice for families.
What is your favorite memory of Perisher?
The resort at night, under lights is beautiful. My boys are slopestyle competitors and their competitions often take place at night. Perisher has a lovely atmosphere at night.
What is your favorite thing about family skiing?
The beautiful environment and all the opportunities to learn and grow from being in nature as a family. I love the connectedness with nature and one another. When you ski and snowboard, there is a lot of dealing with the elements. You have to feed yourself well, take care of your body, dress well. As a family, you do this together and support each other.
The Brave Ski Mom Adds….
Thanks Kym!
Probably like many North Americans, when I think of Australia I think of sun and beaches. Guess I should think again.
Skiing in Australia has a long history. The first ski club in Australia was founded in 1861 and the first ski lift was installed on the continent in 1937. Eight ski resorts, primarily in the Australian Alps region of New South Wales and Victoria, see about 2,000,000 skier visits each year (source: Vanat, 2011 Report on Mountain Tourism).
Perisher is the largest resort in Australia with seven summits — five of which are the highest in Australia. Perisher has 49 lifts and 99 kilometers of trail with access to four villages: Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega.
For more information, including lodging advice, snow conditions, and other local activities such as tobogganing, nordic skiing and ice skating, visit the Perisher website.
Kym Kennedy is the brave ski mum of two sons, who snowboard, and one daughter, who skis. Her youngest son, Jesse, competes internationally in slopestyle. When she’s not watching slopestyle competitions, Kym has a life coaching and network marketing business.
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