Just one week before snow season kicks off, two of Australia’s largest ski resorts have banned tobogganing from their slopes.
Thredbo Kosciuszko, in NSW’s Snowy Mountains, released a statement explaining the ban was to ‘maximise safety for guests, employees and resort property’.
On social media however a number of people questioned whether or not the move was just a ploy to get people to pay exorbitant fees to use the lifts.
‘What an absolute joke,’ said one outraged woman. ‘Let’s try and ruin everything that’s fun. Some families can’t afford skiing and others are unable to ski – why ruin it for everyone?’.
A week before snow season Thredbo Kosciuszko banned tobogganing at resorts
Thredbo’s website explained the ban is to ‘maximise safety for guests and staff but some on social media disagreed
Toboggans are prohibited along with other miscellaneous sliding equipment but visitors to the snow have slammed the move
‘Toboggans don’t sell ski-lift tickets,’ wrote one man.
Another said it was the easiest way to make visitors to the snow buy lift tickets, tobogganing doesn’t make them money, sad for families who can’t afford the luxury of skiing’.
The resort said the use of toboggans was prohibited along with other miscellaneous sliding equipment formally used in the Snow Play area.
Previously tobogganing was permitted in the area from when it was introduced in 2014, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
On social media however a number of people questioned whether or not the move was just a ploy to get people to pay exorbitant fees to use the lifts
‘Toboggans don’t sell ski-lift tickets,’ wrote one man
‘Thredbo acknowledges it is a favourite winter pastime, however, it can also be very dangerous,’ the resort said.
Use of the sliding equipment had increased the risk of collisions with natural or man-made objects, other vehicles, snowboarders and skiers.
Kosciuszko Thredbo told Fairfax that it had ‘seen an increase in accidents and incidents directly related to toboggans over the last few years’ and therefore decided to ‘impose a blanket prohibition across the entire resort’.
In the ACT, snow fields including Selwyen Snow Resort and Corin Forest in the Tidbinbilla Range will continue to offer tobogganing.
Dane Liepins, Managing Director of Corin Forest told Daily Mail Australia he believes it is an integral part of the Australian snow experience.
Thredbo’s website explained the ban is to ‘maximise safety for guests and staff
Previously tobogganing was permitted in the Snow Play area from when it was introduced in 2014
‘Our snowplay sessions are the best way to introduce snow to first timers, particularly for families on a budget.
‘At Corin Forest, our aim is to make the snow accessible to everyone. We want to take first timers and convert them into life long snow lovers, who will progress to skiing and snowboarding.
‘Without snowplay, this would be a very difficult task.’
He said the safety record at Corin Forest is something that he is proud of and that his team have worked hard to maintain over the past four seasons.
‘At Corin Forest, our snow areas are specially designed to ensure the safety of all our guests. We have strict rules, proactive supervision by trained staff, and equipment such as safety mats and fences.
‘We are the first snow area in Australia to have a mandatory helmet policy for skiing and snowboarding, and I believe that we have set the standard for snowplay safety.’
Use of the sliding equipment had increased the risk of collisions with natural or man-made objects, other vehicles, snowboarders and skiers, the resort said