Ski / Ride Hard. Do Good.
The Victorian Backcountry Festival is an annual gathering of the Australian baackcountry community. It offers two days of tours, workshops, films and skillshares and a range of other events, including an outdoor bar.
2024
The VIC BC festival will be back at Mt Hotham this year, with all the usual offerings – a great touring program, workshops, speakers program, the ski in outdoor bar, etc.
August 30 – September 1.
The organising committee would really love some extra support – please head over to the festival website for more info about getting involved in planning this great community event.
https://backcountryfestival.com.au/
2022
The 5th festival will happen at Mt Hotham, over three days – September 2, 3 and 4.
Similar format to other years:
- full tour program
- speakers program at The General
- workshops
- demo village
- the famous ski-in outdoor bar
- plus lots more!
2021 – Dammit! Cancelled again!
The 2021 festival will be back at Mt Hotham, extended to three days. September 3, 4 and 5.
We now have a stand alone website for the festival. Check here for details.
2020
PLEASE NOTE – the festival is cancelled for 2020.
With the various lock downs underway in Victoria, we have no option but to cancel the festival for 2020.
There will be an online forum from 1 – 5pm on sunday September 6 with a great range of speakers. Details coming soon.
The 2021 festival is scheduled for three days – SEPT 3, 4 and 5.
Old information about the 2020 festival
In 2020, we have expanded the festival into a three day event, held from Friday to Sunday, September 4 – 6.
Due to the huge level of support from the Hotham community and businesses and attendees, we will keep the festival at Hotham.
We will keep the basic format – lots of tours and workshops, speaker’s program, outdoor/ ski in bar, AST 1 avalanche training, and demo village. We will be based out of The General again for briefings and speakers program. Spreading the festival over three days will allow us to fit more in and reduce double up of sessions.
There will be another multi day trip after the festival for intermediate to advanced skiers and riders who want to ski bigger terrain with a group. This one is likely to be to Mt Bogong (September 7 – 10).
We have set up a number of working groups who will plan different elements of the festival. If you’d like to get involved in one of these please check here.
2019
The second Victorian Backcountry festival happened at Mt Hotham, over the weekend of September 7 and 8, 2019.
Check here for the first announcement about the festival.
To stay up to date with announcements, check the website or facebook page.
The draft program will be launched during the week of May 20.
2018
The inaugural Backcountry festival happened at Falls Creek, over the weekend of September 1 and 2, 2018.
You can read a report back here.
There is a photo diary here.
It aims to celebrate all things backcountry – telemark, split boarding, cross country, snow shoeing and alpine touring.
Our vision is to host a grass-roots gathering at Falls Creek for backcountry skiers and riders of all abilities. If you’re interested in any form of human powered adventure in the winter backcountry, you should be there. Beginners to advanced, all are welcome.
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