Perisher Blue had its blackest day yesterday when a perfect day for skiing turned to tragedy with the deaths of three skiers in the area.
But it was business as usual for thousands of snow seekers who flocked to the the Kosciusko National Park resort today, undeterred by yesterday's deaths.
A 59-year-old Sydney man died around midday at the ski Accelerator run in the Blue Cow area when he lost control and hit a tree while a 22-year-old Wentworth Falls man died when he was buried by an avalanche at the Blue Lake area and a 48-year-old local man died when he hit a tree at Sun Valley at about 2.30pm.
48-year-old Malcolm Ripper, who was married with a teenage daughter, ran a family bed-and-breakfast at Tyrolean Village, just outside Jindabyne.
The 22-year-old Wentworth Falls man has been identified as Tom Carr Boyd.
Mr Ripper's family was too distraught to be interviewed today but a family friend said that the dead man had been a dedicated skier who died doing what he loved.
Inspector Peter Rooney of NSW Police said the avalanche that killed Carr-Boyd was big by Australian standards, covering an area of 800 metres by 400 meters.
Carr-Boyd had been skiing near the lake, about 10kms from Charlottes Pass, with his brother at about 1pm when the ice cornice, where he had been standing collapsed beneath him.
"The deceased was on top of the ice cornice and was warned by his brother that it was unsafe and he attempted to get off the ice cornice and it collapsed underneath him.
A massive rescue effort by police, NSW Fire Brigade, Ambulance SES workers and National Parks and Wildlife used snow grooming machines to clear the snow from the top of the fall. The rescuers worked for several hours before eventually finding the man, dead, under about six meters of sow at about 5.45.
Inspector Rooney said that several days of warmer weather may have made the ice cornice unstable.
The Cooma-based officer said that all of the dead men were experienced skiers and that it was "not common" for skiers to lose control and hit trees.
"But unfortunately it does happen," he said
"It's been a good season, we've had good snow and good crowds up here and this is the first incident we've had.
Inspector Rooney was unable to confirm whether the dead skiers were wearing headgear and said that reports on each incident were being prepared for the NSW coroner.
He warned snow seekers to be aware of their limitations when in the mountains.
"People should be aware that these ice cornices can be unstable and if you're unsure of your ability to ski in certain areas, then don't do it," he said.
Many of the skiers arriving at Perisher this morning to take advantage of the heavy snowfalls and clear weather were unfazed by the deaths at the resorts's runs yesterday, the worst day in Perisher's history.
New Zealander Eddy Tait and his mate Baz Swan said they had been shocked yesterday's tragedies but had not considered changing their plans.
"It's unusual for three people to die in one day, and we heard they were experienced people too, so we're putting safety first, we always do," Mr Tait said.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Perisher's Manager of Marketing and Sales told the Canberra Times that the resort was proud of its safety record.
"The Ski Patrols and the Medical Centre staff were on the site of the accidents very quickly and they reacted the way we want them to," Mr Grant said.
"At the end of the day, skiing is not a particularly dangerous activity and it is rare to have a fatality.
"The two men who hit trees, they hit them in the wrong spot."
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