Hotham Heights (VIC), Australia – Cold temperatures for snowmaking, and a bit of natural snow falling have ski resort officials across Victoria hopeful for a strong start to the ski and snowboard season this weekend.nHotham Alpine Resort will open three lifts, The Big D, Summit Trainer and Upper Playground this Saturday. The last time Hotham Alpine Resort opened three lifts on Opening Weekend was seven years ago, in 2003.

“We are pleased to offer the opportunity to ski and ride on opening weekend,” Belinda Trembath, Hotham’s General Manager, confirmed on Thursday. “It’s exciting for our guests visiting to celebrate the season opening.”

Victorian Environment Minister Gavin Jennings will open the ski and ride season at Mt. Hotham, and guests will celebrate with a James Bond themed ball at Dinner Plain on Saturday night.

Snowmaking has been running continuously at Hotham since 8 p.m. on Monday and more than 40,000 cubic meters of snow have been produced during that time. Temperatures have hovered below freezing each day, allowing for round-the-clock snowmaking efforts.

Mother Nature has come to the party as well, and already delivered more than 10cm of fresh snow. More snow is in the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday, perhaps an additional 10cm according to the weather bureau.

It’s a similar situation at Mt. Buller, Baw Baw and Falls Creek, all of which plan to open this Saturday as well. Mt. Buller has received the most snow, with up to 15cm reported on Wednesday and another 10cm in the forecast before the weekend. Mt. Buller officials plan to celebrate the season opening with a torchlight parade in the village square led by Olympians Lydia Lassila, Joh Shaw and Katya Creme. Mt. Buller is planning on the Bourke Street run for novices, along with Shaky Knees and Baldy for intermediates.

Snowmakers at Falls Creek, where 8cm of snow has fallen, placed 40 extra snow guns on the 2.2km-long intermediate Wombat’s Ramble run to get it open this weekend, with uplift provided by the Falls Express quad. Novices will be able to ski or ride the Main Street and Mouse Trap runs.

Victoria Police are warning ski season revelers to take a cab, as they plan to be out in full force this weekend to discourage drinking and driving. They’re also urging mountain travelers to pay attention to road conditions and have their vehicles checked before leaving the city.