Snow-bunnies heading to the NSW and Victorian slopes for the official start of the Australian ski season might want to pack other sporting equipment.
While a dusting of snow is likely to cover Thredbo and Perisher in NSW, it won't be enough to open all ski runs to welcome the official start of the ski season on Saturday.
For those desperate for a run, Victoria's Mt Buller is the best option, with the resort opening its Blue Bullet chairlift on Saturday.
"We will be the only resort in Victoria with a chairlift operating for skiing, snowboarding and sightseeing," Mt Buller spokeswoman Katie Bowker told AAP on Friday.
"We have our Bourke Street ski run open and we've been lucky enough to make enough artificial snow to have some skiing for the first day of the season."
Snowcams at Thredbo show the mountain looking threadbare with only a smattering of snow dotting the landscape, making the conditions more ideal for mountain biking, hiking or taking a scenic ride on a chairlift.
"There will be no skiing or boarding at this stage until we can get natural snow or we can get an opportunity to make some snow," Thredbo spokeswoman Susie Diver told AAP.
'It is looking a lot brighter towards the start of the new week."
Thredbo refused to comment on the recent resort-wide ban on the tobogganing that sparked outrage on social media.
Over in Perisher, the Village Eight Express chairlift will be open for skiers and boarders, who want to have fun on patchy snow.
"The weather is looking a little rough as we head into the weekend," a Perisher spokesman said in a statement to AAP.
On Friday, a light drizzle of rain moved through the NSW Alpine region with strong winds.
Overnight temperatures next week are set to drop to -2C and -3C which should help snowmaking efforts and give the resorts a boost.
"Tuesday is looking to be the most favourable (for skiing and snowboarding)," the Perisher spokesman said.
It is a similar situation at Falls Creek, where all ski runs will be shut for the opening of the season, but with two toboggan slopes ready for some fun once the snow improves.
"We've had a bit of rain today, so there is no natural snow," Falls Creek spokeswoman Jo Prothero told AAP.
"There is not sufficient snow for skiing this weekend, which isn't unusual for opening weekend, but there's lots of activities happening on the mountain".
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria will get light snow falls on Friday night into Saturday.
"Drier conditions on Sunday are potentially better for snowmaking," BoM spokesman Michael Efron told AAP.
Australian Associated Press
