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Australia's 2012 snow season has provided ample sub-zero temperatures for Falls Creek's snowmakers who have reaped the benefits of cool conditions and the resort's investment in high tech snowmaking equipment.

A combination of continual upgrades to the resort's network of snow guns and the acquisition of new, state-of-the-art, snowmaking equipment, has resulted in the doubling of the snow production rates in the last four winters at Victoria's largest alpine resort. However, snowmakers require cold weather to turn on their snowguns and that has been a feature of this winter, indicating that the 2012 snow season will be one of the most successful in recent years.

Combined with good snowfalls, Falls Creek's accomplished terrain park builders have been delivered a terrain park that will challenge the world's best freestylers.

Reuben Cameron, head terrain park builder, spends most of his nights (with renowned boarder and Kat operator Dougie Mercer) working in the Castle Terrain Park and Panorama Progression Parkcreating an evolving line-up of innovative features for enthusiastic freeriders.

Cameron continually brainstorms new features to keep abreast of new tricks being performed by very smart snow boarders and skiers.

He explains, "we are a syndicate that strives to be on the same page when it comes to delivering terrain parks that suit raw beginners to world-class athletes who compete in the annual Stylewars event at Falls Creek.

"It is a vibrant niche industry that generates a lot of positive energy. Stylewars is our crown jewel; it showcases what the team can do. The entire snowboard industry stops and looks at us so we have to deliver a very good product. It is an event that requires a lot of snow and at the moment we are looking very good.

"A big feature used by Stylewars in the past, the Rainbow rail, draws a lot of attention. As big as it looks it is actually quite user-friendly. The area dedicated to the Castle Terrain Park in Sun Valley is huge and can accommodate big rails such as the Falls Creek Rainbow which up a lot of real estate. We have to allocate a lot of snow to make sure it is a high quality addition to the other elements we provide."

Doug Mercer from South Lake Tahoe has the pedigree required to work hand-in-hand with Reuben Cameron. Both are 'shred buddies' who work in the northern hemisphere during the Australian summer.

As Mercer explains that during the Australian snow season "the best of the best come south, you get the cream of the crop from the northern hemisphere in your winter.

"Reuben has a remarkable ability. He can conceptualize a feature in his mind, not everybody can do that. He's fast and smooth when working with machinery such as the snow groomers and knows the most effective way to reach the goal - building architecturally clean, sharp, crisp jumps that include long landings.

"What he knows has been learnt over many winters and his expertise is recognized world-wide. As first and foremost a rider with a passion for the industry he is able to keep up with progression that is taking place in snowboarding.

"Falls Creek has invested a lot of time into Reuben and it is paying off. He's got really good over the years and he continually comes up with big jumps that are 'trickable' for the riders who use the parks at Falls Creek.

"This resort builds parks for all abilities and the day park crew works with the park builders such as myself and the snowmakers. Not one person can do it; our day staff is critical to a successful park. They are in there doing the hard work by hand. They are our eyes and ears receiving feedback from the park users. "

Matt Galina, who is in his eighth year as a member of the highly skilled park crew at Falls Creek, adds "our team build parks that suit beginners to professional level freeriders I must admit we have great support from the Snow Makers, they make a conscious effort to assist us. We also get a lot of support from management with Kat time. The operators such as Doug Mercer - who drives a purpose-built 200 Park Bully - and Ash Lawrence - who is head park builder at Klappen in Sweden in the northern winters - have great snow farming options in the Castle Park area. Add the naturally benched terrain of the area and you have a great recipe for awesome jumps.

"Everyone does their bit and as there is a natural order of progression in the sport of freestyle. We can let our imagination run wild to accommodate new ways they'll find to ride a feature we've set up previously. In fact there is no limit to our imagination as the level of riding is continually rising with a combination of new equipment and new tricks seen on social media

"They can see what's out there and try it in the park the next day. So our priority is to see how many jumps we can fit into both parks and keep evolving to keep ahead of the game. We are the most progressive team of park builders in the country. Collectively we have all been doing this fun and exciting work, in both the southern and northern hemispheres, for quite a few winters.

"All the departments come together regardless of the weather to ensure any event we stage in the Castle Terrain Park is held on terrain that's top notch. Our good reputation amongst freeriders has been obtained through the experience and expertise the park crew has. "They'll listen to lifties, the snowsports school instructors, the public and locals. Any input is welcome and is used when we brainstorm ideas on the ski lifts or socialising in the pub after work. It is a collaborative exercise building quality terrain parks."

"The riders always seek good features and at the annual Big Air this weekend we will see some tricks that haven't been done before. It is quite an established event and its a fun day for the competitors who will come from many other resorts to perform and celebrate at the event's after party in the Frying Pan Inn.

"Some riders will step up and others will light the fire under their butts." 

Images: The new Falls Creek Terrain Park.

30th May 2012 - EARLY SNOW TO MARK RESURGENCE OF AUSTRALIA’S SKI RESORTS?

31st July 2011 - FALLS CREEK DEVELOPER TO AUCTION 77 RESORT PROPERTIES

1st July 2011 - SKI RESORT OPERATORS JOIN FORCES FOR NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN

30th January 2009 - FALLS CREEK AND MT HOTHAM PRICE ‘FREEZE’

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