Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 4,741.0	$ 4,048.5	$ 3,891.9
Cost of goods sold	(3,498.2)	(2,971.6)	(2,834.1)
Gross Profit	1,242.8	1,076.9	1,057.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(618.4)	(528.1)	(564.3)
Amortization of intangible assets	(78.2)	(49.3)	(42.3)
Impairment of intangible assets	(503.5)	(39.9)
Other operating expenses, net	(12.9)	(37.7)	(2.9)
Operating Profit	29.8	421.9	448.3
Interest expense, net	(134.0)	(107.8)	(99.0)
Gain on forward sale contracts			17.6
Gain on sale of securities			70.6
(Loss) earnings before income taxes and equity earnings	(104.2)	314.1	437.5
Income taxes	(83.0)	(105.3)	(156.9)
(Loss) Earnings before Equity Earnings	(187.2)	208.8	280.6
Equity in earnings of Vail Resorts, Inc., net of related deferred income taxes			9.8
Net (Loss) Earnings	$ (187.2)	$ 208.8	$ 290.4
Basic (Loss) Earnings per Share	$ (3.41)	$ 3.79	$ 5.16
Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share	$ (3.41)	$ 3.74	$ 5.09
Weighted Average Shares for Basic Earnings per Share	54,812	54,933	56,166
Dilutive effect of:
Stock options		308	437
Restricted stock awards		192	207
Stock appreciation rights		189	151
Weighted Average Shares for Diluted Earnings per Share	54,812	55,622	56,961