Wet From Top To Bottom

I awoke around 4:30am on Saturday to prepare for the annual Top To Bottom. Winds had been up to 115kmh since midnight and I figured we would be facing another start from the top of Snowgums chair. Only minutes after I purchased my entry it started to drizzle. No point pulling out now and then, as if by magic, the winds dropped and the Snowgums chair was shut down and chairs started loading on Kosi Express which had been closed for days due to the incessant gale force winds. Avalanche opened early and another coffee was welcomed while we waited for the chairs to be loaded.

I made it onto the 2nd chair in the dark and light drizzle for course inspection. I took it slowly wondering what the snow conditions would be like in the dark and with drizzle on the goggles. By Bunny Walk I felt confident enough to open it up a little. My second course inspection was somewhat faster but not fast enough to make it for a third inspection. Everyone huddled inside under Eagles Nest Restaurant awaiting their start, which took place behind Eagles Nest – unfortunately we were not going to start from Karels.

Randy and his crew were cheering up the sodden crowd to get them to appear on his video. Eventually the call went out for the old men to assemble. At this stage I had decided that it was simply too wet to video tape the race and then at the very last moment while standing on the start line it stopped drizzling and I pulled out my camera. The starter said, “go” and I dropped a ski. My plan, if I were to tape the race, was to leave my poles behind. The last minute change of mind meant I had skis and poles and video camera to contend with during the run (or in my case stroll) to the first gate where you would don skis and pole away. I enjoyed the race immensely. Although close to 8:00am the clouds were so thick that it was still very dark. There was, however, enough light to see the surface we were skiing on. The snow was soft enabling me to get a good edge with the powder skis (OK, I don’t take it as seriously as some).

There was a fair bit of carnage. John Adams taken out at the bottom of Little Merritts and crashing into the trees was the worst in our race but nothing compared to the boarder in the following race who received some very nasty injuries crashing at Bunny Walk station. We all wish him a full and quick recovery.

As soon as the ceremonies had completed the rains were back. I did have 2 more runs off Kosi chair and decided that that was all I was going to do. Pity the Interclub racers who competed in miserably wet conditions generally reserved for interschools.

Thanks to Toyota and Rossignol (and any other sponsors I forgot) as well as the KT and ski school staff (and Randy for his waterproof camera crew) for helping to make the event what it was. Congratulations to all the winners – look them up on the Thredbo web site.



Snapshot from Thredbo website showing the miraculous drop in wind for the Top To Bottom.

Sunday morning arrived with rain. It had rained all night (51mm in the 24 hours to 8:00am). The sun came out a little and I grabbed my waterproof gloves (which I should have had out for the race) and TraKtorman and I went for a ski. No one was out and the snow was wet and soft and not much grooming had been done due to the wet cover. To our surprise we found the Basin and Karels were simply fantastic. There was almost a crust on soft snow that behaved like freshies on a really good day. We carved big turns on piste and off. There was nothing too hard or too soft. Coffee time was approaching and we dropped down Funnel Web, which eventually got soft. Under cover having a java when the rains returned. 20 minutes later all had stopped and 4 of us decided to head for Dead Horse Gap. The top was great but that short rainfall had done its worst and once in the tree line the snow was sticky right to the end.

Arriving at the Top before going to the Bottom

The Finish

John Adams before and after Top To Bottom
(excuse blurry lens not picking up on the blood)

The winners, including Shaun Turner fastest outright

More of the winners (through a blurry lens)

Sunday - a sign of things to come or events past?

Traktorman in the Basin and on Funnel Web

Signs of snow instability in the Golf Course

Jaxster, Traktorman and Lynne on the way to Dead Horse Gap

Bogong Creek rushing wild, like all the creeks and rivers

Snow is forecast down to 1200m overnight. The 540 line says that we should expect snow every day next week except Kerry’s dump day on Wednesday.

Yes the cover has suffered, especially on the lower slopes but a freeze and groom will fix that while fresh snow will enhance it. The Thredbo River is up about 1m up since the rains.

PS: Yes the video of the race came out quite well despite some drops of water that appeared on the lens. Thanks to Harry who had the gear to download and process the video onto DVD.