THE torchlight descent provided a fitting tribute as a 100 skiers marked the 100 years anniversary of skiing on Mt Buller on Saturday July 6 as the alpine resort celebrated in style with the community.
It was on a wintery Sunday in July 1924 when members of the newly formed Ski Club of Victoria (SCV) pioneered skiing on Mt Buller.
A posse of seven SCV members embarked on that first weekend ski adventure from Melbourne a century ago and after a drive, horseback ride and hike they made history sliding on skis down Mt Buller.
Now the mountain welcomes thousands of Melburnians daily each snow season.
The special anniversary was fortunate to enjoy a clear mountain day from sunrise, with first lifts at 8.30am and through until 9pm with skiing under lights as the resort marked the centenary on and off the slopes.
A magical moment was created after dark with the torch lit descent on Bourke Street when the lights were turned off and members of the SCV, led by club President Christian Munn carried 100 brightly lit torches in a glowing line from top to bottom on the popular run.
To add to the mystical atmosphere of the stream of torchlight down the ski run the clear sky above was filled with fireworks for a crowd stopping display.
“Tonight, we celebrated as a community, honouring the triumphs of our pioneers and fellow club members who paved the way for the sport we love,” said SCV president Christian Munn said.
“I started skiing here at around the age of four, I now ski here with my son, I skied here with my dad, and I hope to ski here with my grandchildren.
“When you think about what the SCV has achieved - the first people to build a lodge up here, the first people to have a ski lift, started the ski patrol - we’re celebrating all those institutions and people here tonight.”
Several significant ski club members involved in the torch run included former President Ray Lopez, a life member of the club for 66 years, Sami Italia and Ron Cracknell (75) who both race each week in the Super Veteran division with SCV, former President James Souter with his daughter Katherine, mother and daughter ski racers Susie and Emma Wellborne as well as many SCV families including the Sallabanks, Lyons, Meissers, Taylors, Roches and Buttons.
Acknowledging the changes in skiing and on Mt Buller over the last 100 years, the reasons for being there on the night remained much the same, said Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Noel Landry.
“Skiing is not just a sport, it’s an industry and it’s also a community,” Mr Landry said.
“The act of sliding on snow has this extraordinary ability to build connections and be shared and passed on through generations.
“I ski because my Dad got me started, I met my wife on a chairlift and my son is now teaching kids to ski too,” he said.
Reflecting on the 100-year achievement by SCV, “What started with seven people in 1924 is now a vital part of Victoria’s tourism industry, with our alpine resorts contributing $2.14 billion to Victoria’s annual economic activity,” said Alpine Resort Victoria chief operating officer Alan Arthur.
The ARV CEO noted how generations of families had worked on Mt Buller and across the alpine resorts, and the creation of an industry that supports more than 12,000 regional jobs.
“Alpine Resorts Victoria is proud to be the custodian of Mt Buller, and we look forward to continuing to welcome guests and supporting the regional economy as we enter our second centenary of skiing on our beautiful mountain,” Mr Arthur said.