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The ban leaving tourists piste off

A popular ski resort has banned tobogganing on its property this winter season, telling guests the classic family activity is dangerous.

Complaints have snowballed since Thredbo Ski Resort in NSW made the announcement on its website, with the resort receiving a sledging on social media.

The website said a toboganning ban was imposed to “maximise safety for guests, employees, and resort property”.

“We acknowledge that tobogganing is a favourite winter pastime, however it also has inherent risk as there is limited ability to control the equipment being used. The safety of our guests is our number one concern.

“An observed trend of guests is taking toboggans and miscellaneous snow sliding equipment onto ski runs has increased the risk of . . . collision with another sled, vehicle, skier or snowboarder, loss of control of the equipment, falling off of the equipment; and collision with natural and man-made objects.”

The ban includes other “miscellaneous snow sliding equipment” associated with snow play.

Families with pre-booked snow holidays at Thredbo were surprised by the announcement, made just two weeks from the opening of the ski season.

Comments from Author Nikki Gemmell were among an avalanche of complaints on social media, with many questioning the resort’s motives.

“Is there a money motive to the #Thredbo ban on tobogganing? As a mum of four, it was the only snow activity that didn’t break the bank. It was joy, pure (free) joy, for the entire family. Now there’s no choice to pay a fortune for the very expensive skiing and snowboarding.” Gemmell said.

Some queried the difference between tobogganing and skiing.

Disgruntled visitor Lisa Benham wrote on Facebook: “Thredbo and Perisher have banned tobogganing for the ski season. Guess we won’t be taking our little ones to the snow this year. Apparently it’s dangerous … Really?? More than skiing? Oh wait, you don’t need a lift pass to do it.”

She ended her post with the hashtags #moneyhungry and #dollarsnotsense.

The resort, a three-hour drive from Canberra and five-and-a-half hours from Sydney, said the ban applied to all members of the public, staff, sub-lessees and volunteers.

“No enquiries will be entertained from toboggan or miscellaneous snow sliding equipment users,” it said. “All staff play a role in the implementation of this policy and subsequent elimination of these risks to our guests.”

 

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