Drovers triple jump line and the semi-frozen lake behind. Photo: Sean Radich.

Photographer Sean Radich has been spending a lot of time up at Falls Creek this year. Fearing that NSW’s has been getting all the press on how their terrain parks are going, he was good enough to take a bunch of happy snaps and put together a detailed report on how things are going up there. I always think Fall’s park goes under-reported. I must say, it’s looking good. Best in Victoria? Best in Australia? What do you think? Read below the cut for all the shots and Sean’s report. Thanks for sending it in Radich, you da’ man!

Hi guys,

Been up at Falls again and thought I should share some happy snaps I took of the parks there as I notice there has been no park updates from Falls Creek… and we can’t let Charles claim all the park glory! Hoping you might put some shots up to get the word out about Falls’ freestyle setup. The shots were just snapped with a little handheld as I rode on Saturday, and so there’s a few random shots.

Admittedly, despite what the resorts are all saying, it has been a poor season so far in Victoria (and probably NSW too): with less than a metre of snow on the ground it is the sort of snow depth you’d expect for the start of July, not the first weekend of August! And added to the low cloud, endless fog, warm temperatures and intermittent rain, it has been a depressing few weeks for many up in the mountains. But Falls is doing its best to make the most of the snow for the freestylers and maintain two terrain parks. And the rough conditions turned around on Friday with 10-15 cm of new snow, cold temperatures and clear skies for Saturday. All the crew were out sampling Falls two terrain parks and getting that winter stoke back.

The tough conditions have made it hard to build and maintain the park, and Falls’ head park builder, Reuben Cameron (newly getting hooked up by Special Blend, along with Dragon and Fyve, and who co-grooms June Mountain’s park) said that pushing warm, slushy snow around is the quickest way to ‘melt’ it, hence not as much work as he would have liked had been done in Ruined Castle’s Park. Reuben wants to maintain snow levels in the park and the keep as many features there as possible deep into September.

However, well served by snow-making, a few weeks ago Reuben stepped it up in the Drovers Dream beginner park by putting in a triple line of jumps; 10, 20 and 30 foot to keep most riders happy, whilst also keeping a mini triple line for the beginners. There are also 6 beginner rails and boxes in Drovers park, as well as an A-frame rail.

That’s not to say Ruined Castle’s park has been neglected, and for a few weeks there has been a series of 10 or so rails and boxes, and more recently a mini spine jump. However, without the extended sub zero temperatures it has only been a week since a 45-50 foot step-down jump followed by the triple jib line of a 20, 30 and new 41-foot triple-bar down rail has been in place. The new snow (blown and natural) from Friday night allowed a double-line of medium poppy jumps to be built under the chairlift, and Reuben is hoping to build another advanced big jump in the next few days.

Just outside the park awaits the new 20 foot high A-frame wallride, which has been sessioned by the visiting Burton crew, and more recently, by the locals during a night shoot. The A-frame is fenced off as it’s not properly set up, but will be soon put up on a pedestal transition in the park to maximize the height above the deck.

Also, in a change of venue, next weeks Falls Creek Big Air will be held during the day next Saturday (15th) in Ruined Castle on the 50 footer which Reuben will reshape mid week for extra pop. Normally the Big Air is held out front of the Frying Pan in the Village Bowl at night; however the Dragon After Party will still take place in the evening at the Frying Pan.

Well thanks guys. Hopefully I wasn’t too negative – I was trying to give a truthful account of the season so far. Enjoy some of the photos.