Spring Snow Covers Ski Areas For a Second Week In a Row
A whole lot of new winter snow and more on the way is shaping up to make spring skiing in the South Island absolutely
‘epic’, a phenomenon Queenstown locals have dubbed ‘sprinter’.
Queenstown’s Coronet Peak and The Remarkables received 15cm of fresh, dry winter snow yesterday, conditions that skiers
and boarders were revelling in today (Thursday September 5).
At The Remarkables, guests were lapping up the packed powder on piste and off, with many ‘taking a hike’ to access
chutes from the top of Shadow Basin down to Lake Alta.
Across the Wakatipu Basin at Coronet Peak, the southerly delivered 15cm of natural snow across the entire mountain,
topped by the ski area’s extensive snowmaking system which has turned another 14 million litres of water into the white
stuff.
“Nothing beats being up the ski area to see snow falling and snow guns blazing,” said an ecstatic Coronet Peak ski area
manager Ross Copland.
More snow is predicted for Queenstown over the coming week, including this weekend.
At Methven’s Mt Hutt a minimum of 45cm of snow has covered the Canterbury field. It is closed today after an eventful
day which saw more than 300 staff and guests ‘overnighting’ in the base building. They were able to leave the mountain
in the early hours of this morning after conditions cleared and the access road opened.
Mt Hutt ski area manager James McKenzie said many staff were resting today and avalanche control work is being carried
out before re-opening.
He said the late snowfall had only added to the best snow base in Australasia, well over 3m on the upper levels of the
ski area. Mt Hutt has already announced it is extending its closing date to October 13 for an extra week of skiing and
riding over the New Zealand school holidays.
ENDS