Skiers and boarders quick to react to news the snow season can now begin on June 22
by Greg EllisNews that skiers and boarders will be able to hit the slopes again from June 22 spread fast in NSW's Illawarra on Thursday.
No sooner had the NSW Government announced that ski fields would be able to open than retail outlets such as Steve's Snow Store were being inundated with calls.
"The phone has been running hot all day," Steve Dunstall said.
"I am going to hire one or two more staff and we will open up our rental shop in the next two to three weeks. We are not sure whether we are going to be able to rent clothing yet. I have got to see what the restrictions are".
Mr Dunstall said people seemed to anticipate the season was going to go ahead.
"We have been busy the last three or four days. They have been coming in and doing their homework. And just waiting to see if the season goes ahead. Now that has been confirmed it is starting to get really busy. Everyone has been wanting something to look forward to in these crazy times," he said.
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Mr Dunstall is now looking forward to seeing some good snow on the ground in the coming weeks.
He said he did close Steve's Snow Store for a while when some others shops in Wollongong Central closed.
"Now we are open seven days a week and extending our hours until 8 o'clock on Thursday nights because there is starting to be more people around. And we are opening each day at 9am," he said.
"Now the season is coming I can say yes to more orders and bring a greater supply of new boards in. With the new releases we get some of the stock before the northern hemisphere which is pretty cool".
In the shop Mr Dunstall said there was a limit on the number of people who can be inside at any one time.
And at the snow he expects to see spacing on ski lifts and more private lessons.
"At least everyone can now go down and have a good time with the family," he said.
Mr Dunstall said it was a great relief to know the ski season was going ahead.
He has run the business for 11 years and been in the present location at GPT's Wollongong Central for five. But this is the first time he has ever seen the snow season in jeopardy.