MT BULLER SKIING FAMILIES OPEN NEW CHAIRLIFT (12-Jun-12)

Over forty families each with three generations of skiers were the first to ride the only new chairlift in Australia at Mt Buller today.

The Bonza chairlift is the only new chairlift to be built anywhere in Australia or New Zealand this year and Mt Buller celebrated the launch by inviting families to gather three generations to ride the chair for the first time.

Renowned winter Olympian Alisa Camplin had the honour of starting the lift which brought hundreds of long-time Mt Buller skiing families up the northern slopes of the resort all holding family name placards and making their way into the Mt Buller history books.  Another respected former winter Olympian Geoff Henke AO unveiled the plaque and congratulated Mt Buller on the latest addition to the lifting network.

Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Laurie Blampied said, “Mt Buller has always been a family mountain and Bonza is the family chair, serving some of the most user-friendly and fun terrain at Mt Buller.  It’s terrific to have so many families with us today as we write a fresh chapter in our mountain’s history.”

“The opening of this lift is a celebration of the fun we have in the snow with friends and family. It’s appropriate that Bonza has been opened by people who know the mountain and are excited about all their favourite Northside runs re-opening and getting back onto the slopes together this winter.”

Doppelmayr lift company and the Mt Buller’s Mountain Operations team commenced construction on the lift in January and it was completed on schedule in May.

The new lift opens up access to popular tree-lined runs and additional terrain that has been difficult to access in recent years since the Burnt Hut Chairlift was damaged by a lightning strike in early 2010.

The Bonza Chairlift spans 530m up to the Spurs Lookout and Mt Buller’s most popular learn to ski area.  Mt Buller is committed to continually improving and enhancing Victoria’s largest lifting network and has installed additional snowmaking, new carpet lifts and revitalised the Howqua Chairlift with all new chairs for the 2012 snow season that opened this weekend.

Skiers and boarders celebrated the opening of the ski season at Mt Buller this weekend with their first turns on the Bourke Street ski run. Blue Bullet Chairlift will operate tomorrow when Bourke Street will be open for skiing on the holiday Monday, 11 June.