The South Island’s ski season officially began this weekend, with popular ski areas like The Remarkables and Coronet Peak near Queenstown, Cardrona Alpine Resort, and Mt Hutt in Canterbury opening their slopes. While there hasn’t been much natural snowfall yet, snow machines have helped cover the trails, allowing eager skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes.
At The Remarkables, manager Steve Hall said snowmaking had helped create good conditions. Visitors were excited, including American tourists Tyler and Andy, who praised the dry snow and fun atmosphere.
Cardrona Alpine Resort saw early birds lining up as early as 1 a.m. to ride the first chairlift. Chief mountains officer Laura Hedley said their snowmakers worked hard to prepare for opening day. Cardrona plans to open more terrain soon, including a new area called Soho Basin.
Even though natural snowfall has been light, hopes are high for more snow in the coming weeks. Steve Hall joked that everyone at the resorts is “doing snow dances” to encourage snowfall.
Mt Hutt had so much snow last Friday that it had to delay its opening until Saturday for safety. Meanwhile, The Remarkables celebrated a special milestone — 40 years since it first opened. Over the years, the resort has spent more than $90 million on upgrades, including new chairlifts and buildings, making it a world-class destination.
