Snow resorts are gearing up for the possibility of a mega ski season thanks to massive dumps over the weekend and the hope of more back-to-back cold fronts in the days to come, Neil Thew, the chief executive officer of Tourism Snowy Mountains, says.
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"I was out for a ski earlier today," he said at 5pm on Sunday. "It was sensational; yes, it is windy and cold and the visibility isn't good but in under the trees it was fantastic."
Mr Thew, a ski industry veteran, said while the season was still too early to call it was beginning to look like a repeat of 2000.
He is confident there will be more than one-and-a-half metres of snow cover across the main resort areas before the middle of the week. "It could be as much as two metres or more."
Cooma mayor Dean Lynch said the high country town was already reaping the rewards of a cold week in paradise.
"I had a phone call from my dad this morning (Sunday) saying that he is snowed in," he said. "Down the street in town it was standing room only at all the cafes. Businesses that had been considering cutting back on staff are now booming.
"This has really set us up for the whole of the season; it is fantastic."
Sara Ward-Collins of the Eagles Nest restaurant said it had been very busy on the mountain as well. "It is so busy we are advertising for an extra chef on our Facebook page."
Mr Thew said initial reports of a slow start to the season was more about the perception than the reality.
"In Australia we place too much emphasis on the first weekend in June," he said. "The US puts the emphasis on the (winter) solstice and we had had some snow by last weekend."
The challenge now is for the resorts to capitalise on their good fortune by grooming slopes, clearing drifts and linking trails.
"The phone has been ringing (non-stop)," he said. "School holidays are always busy anyway and this is perfectly timed. It has put smiles on a lot of faces."
Cr Lynch said the benefits of the two big dumps went far beyond making visitors happy.
Farmers and the environment are two big beneficiaries of the 70cm that fell on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
"The Snowy-Hydro is reliant on good falls of snow over the season for run off during the melt," he said.
"This will also replenish water storages (for stock) and put a smile on farmers' faces. Bring it on I say; it's been fantastic."
