By CHRIS EPSKAMP

WITH his signature cheeky grin (and a glint in his eye), Mount Hotham identity Richard Neville describes his position at the vertically integrated ski and snowboard company ‘Snow Monkey’ as ‘Chief Monkey’, ‘Big Dog of the Monkeys’, ‘Grand Poo Bah’ ……… and sometimes just simply ‘Owner’.

His company now has an all–pervasive presence on the mountain and despite his many responsibilities and the difficulties presented this season, Richard is still smiling!

With a lifetime of connection to the Victorian ski fields, Richard started skiing at Mt Buller when he was four years old in 1969.

“I grew up skiing Buller from 1969 to 84, when my cousins built apartments here at Hotham," he said.

"I have been at Hotham ever since and then started Snow Monkey in 2004.

"I opened the shop here in the Jack Frost building at Hotham in 2006.

"It was effectively a decision to enjoy life again and do something I loved.

"From the tiny Jack Frost location, initially only 54m2, we have built the business up to four locations.”

From those humble beginnings Snow Monkey is almost completely vertically integrated and offers fuel, snow chains, snow gear hire and retail (alpine ski, alpine touring, cross–country, snowboard, splitboard and toboggans), over–snow transport (at Hotham) and accommodation services.

Locations include Omeo, Happy Valley (aka Ovens between Porepunkah and Myrtleford), Jack Frost at Mt Hotham, plus the inner Melbourne suburb of Collingwood.

Employing a total of 32 people, 11 are based at Hotham during the winter.

Fulfilling the role of ‘Director of First Impressions’ is the 33rd employee and one of the most lovable characters in the Snow Monkey enterprise – Sammy the Snow Dog.

A fine–looking Golden Retriever, Sammy’s endearing nature certainly makes a fabulous first impression.

Anyone that knows Richard understands how appropriate the company name of Snow Monkey is, but in his words… “The name Snow Monkey was created over a few convivial beverages whilst reviewing video of the ski tours we took to Japan and Kashmir. I was looking for an intuitive name that said what we did and what we were about. And what we are about is fun in the snow. Whilst suffering from the consequences of said beverages, I was sitting alone in the store, looking at the video and thought you know what, even the monkeys in Kashmir, who have quite difficult lives, were having fun in the snow. Same for Japan.”

So there it was – Snow Monkey, having fun in the snow.

Richard adds, "We want to make coming to the snow easier, funner (sic) and cheaper ……… without going broke!"

Whilst Richard admits that running a business that employs 32 people over the winter season limits his ski time at Hotham to once or twice a week, he still loves to get out and about.

“I’ve got lots of favourite runs at Hotham, but I won’t spill the beans on it, because everyone will go there," he said.

"Suffice to say it is not inbounds.

"My second favourite is the ‘Secret Chutes’ or ‘Forgotten Face’ on Marys Slide.”

Everyone in the ski industry gets asked their favourite places to ski and Richard was forthcoming with his ‘go to’ snow locations.

Hotham is a given, but away from Australia, Richard rates the USA’s Aspen Colorado, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing at Blue River in British Columbia Canada, and Kashmir’s Gulmarg as his top three overseas ski destinations.

Surviving the COVID pandemic has been challenging for Snow Monkey.

“Lockdown has been disastrous for the whole mountain," said Richard.

"We have been able to tick along OK.

"It has been key for us to be able to support and manage our staff, so when we get out of lockdown we are still up and about and able to work and happy to work.

"That’s been really our key consideration during lockdown.”

Lockdown and subsequent lift closures have certainly spawned a greater awareness and participation in cross–country skiing at Mt Hotham in 2021.

From a business perspective, Richard is adamant, “As an avid alpine skier, never would I have thought we would be thankful for cross–country skis to get us through lockdown”.

Richard no longer even calls them ‘misery sticks’, and now stocks so many cross–country skis, he may even take up the sport himself.

That will be a sight for sore eyes!

Anyone wanting to utilise any of Snow Monkey’s many services should go to www.snowmonkey.com.au