Mount Hotham, VICTORIA
Airing Date: Sep 9th, 2002
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort is one of the Victorian Alps' biggest ski resorts. While it's a well publicised favourite of downhill skiers and snow boarders, it also offers far more than the usual snow activities. Guests can try a few very specialised snow activities, including biathlon.
Biathlon is a Winter Olympic sport combining the athleticism of cross-country skiing with the concentration and accuracy of target shooting. Mount Hotham is home to Australia's professional biathlon, but anyone can try it.
Biathlon lessons are the cheapest activity you'll find on the slopes and professional instructors are on hand to give you advice. In biathlon, participants initially aim to ski around a 10 kilometre loop in 25 minutes or a 20 kilometre loop in 40 minutes before swooping into the rifle range and firing five shots at five targets.
The trick to biathlon is that the whole time you're in action you're actually racing against the clock. Speed is important in biathlon but accuracy is imperative, with each player shooting at each target twice - once lying down and once standing up.
In real biathlon events a fully operating rifle is used. Most visitors to Mount Hotham don't have a gun licence so a laser gun is used instead. After a few pointers, anyone can use the laser guns to try and hit the 10cm target from a distance of 50 metres.
Biathlon provides a great workout and it's one of the most economical snow activities there is. The Australian Biathlon Association runs biathlon lessons, but make sure you book ahead or reserve a spot on one of the open days. You can bring your own snow gear or hire cross country skis and poles from the Mount Hotham Skiing Company.
After a day of biathlon, a great place to rest and relax is the White Crystal Apartments. The apartments are right on the slopes, with twin rooms as well as four, eight and 12 bed rooms available.
The facts:
QantasLink flies to Mount Hotham. Prices start from $428 ex Sydney and $287 ex Melbourne. Prices include charges, levies and taxes.
Qantas
Tel: 13 13 13
White Crystal Apartments start from $495 per twin per night for a minimum of two nights.
Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management
Tel: 03 5759 3550
Tuition and use of the laser rifle costs just $15.
Australian Biathlon Association
Tel: 03 9752 7973
Mount Hotham Skiing Company hires cross country skis and poles for $27.
Mount Hotham Skiing Company
Tel: 1800 35 45 55
