Spring snow has NZ skiers heading to hills
15 Sep 2010
Ski enthusiasts are taking to the Canterbury hills to make the most of spring snows and escape the rumblings following the recent earthquake.
Mt Hutt Ski Area manager Dave Wilson says a lot of club members who normally ski out of Christchurch - 120 km away - have moved their living quarters to Methven to avoid the tremors in the aftermath of the major earthquake.
Accommodation in Methven is plentiful, and Wilson says many of the local ski club members report they’re sleeping better since moving out there.
Mt Hutt and other local ski areas, which were not affected by the earthquake, have joined other New Zealand ski areas in predicting good conditions for the spring ski season.
Two-metre base
Fresh snowfalls throughout the South Island mountain regions this week, and the promise of more to come, bode well for spring skiing.
Prior to recent falls, Mt Hutt still had a two-metre base with good coverage on upper and lower mountain slopes.
Wilson says conditions are looking really good for the NZ school holidays which start on 24 September.
Mt Hutt has issued a special Spring Pass which, coupled with special accommodation offers, should attract visitors for the remainder of the ski season.
Wilson says the pass, which will cover the next five weeks until the season ends on 17 October, will pay for itself in just three days of skiing.
Mt Hutt Spring Festival
The Spring Festival planned for the Mt Hutt and Methven ski areas (24 September - 3 October) is also expected to attract visitors to the region.
Activities include a series of mountainside events, from serious championship races and the Canterbury slopestyle, to downhill dummy racing in fancy dress, a spring fun day, and the popular pond skim where people on skis and snowboards skim across ice cold water.
Down in nearby Methven, the Summit Rocks Music Festival, markets, exhibitions, dance parties and an Oktoberfest will provide entertainment by day and night for non-skiers as well as those returning from a day on the slopes.
Ohau and Mt Dobson
Ohau snow fields near Lake Ohau, about half way between Christchurch and Dunedin, continue to have a good cover with 175cms at the top and 65cms at the bottom.
Good falls of fresh snow have perfected conditions and South West weather fronts are expecting to bring further snow through to the closing date of 3 October.
Mt Dobson, on the Fairlie to Lake Tekapo highway in Canterbury, reports one of its best seasons ever with a record snow base of two metres.
Australians are making up the second biggest percentage of visitors to the skifield and Peter Foote of Mt Dobson says the closing date may be extended until 10 October if current conditions prevail.
Queenstown region
All four ski resorts in the Queenstown region - Cardrona, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone - are reporting good conditions after recent snowfalls.
Each mountain has different terrain, unique facilities with a distinct atmosphere, and a chance to try them all with the daily SkiLink mountain transport service between ski fields.
Coronet Peak has experienced the biggest dump of snow this week - 10cm overnight (15.09.10) - and with temperatures lowered again and more snow forecast, staff say they’ll be flat out making snow.
Treble Cone has also experienced heavy snowfalls and has a good 180cm base in Saddle Basin, and 107cm in the Home Basin which will last through to the end of the season.
Spring specials and a calendar of events with competitions for all snow sports disciplines and abilities will attract a broad mix of skiers and riders with a focus on fun and "giving it a go".
Other spring snow events in the region include a Summer Daze end-of-season party at Coronet Peak on 26 September, Remarkables Spring Carnival (2 - 4 October), and the Snowsports NZ Junior and Snowboard Nationals at Cardrona.
Junior Nationals at Cardrona
New Zealand’s best young snow sports enthusiasts will compete at Cardrona Alpine Resort for the prestigious Junior National Champion title.
The Cardrona Grom Prix New Zealand Ski and Snowboard Junior Nationals kick off on 27 September and run until 1 October.
Cardrona sales and marketing manager Nadia Ellis says the event attracts hundreds of under-19s, and has become the pinnacle youth age event on the snow sports calendar.
Disciplines at the Junior Nationals include slopestyle, halfpipe, gravity cross, big mountain and duel giant slalom.
Snow Park Wanaka
Wanaka’s Snow Park - mecca for freestyle skiers and snowboarders - says good conditions are due to heavy snowfalls on the Southern Alps.
The upper field has a 130cm snow base, and more snow is forecast in the lead up to the school holidays. Snow Park has a list of spring events planned before closing date on 2 October.
Girls Snow Camp (24 September - 2 October) is directed by some of New Zealand’s top board riders, including Abby Lockhart, for women of all ages and expertise levels.
A High Cascade snowboarding youth camp for under-18-year-olds (24 September - 2 October) has attracted riders from Australia and America.
An ongoing attraction through spring is the chance to practise ski jumping with a safe landing on a giant inflatable bag. As well as a safe and novel attraction, the ‘Bag Jump’ is used for team training.
Snow Park joint director Robin Sadowski-Synott says one of the big attractions at Snow Park is night riding where skiers and board riders can enjoy floodlit slopes from 5 - 9pm, with the added attraction of fine dining in the Snow Park restaurant.
"Parents often come up and have dinner or enjoy a glass of wine by the inside or outdoor fires which they watch their kids doing their stuff on the slopes," she says.
Mt Ruapehu
North Island ski resorts also have a favourable forecast for spring skiing.
Mt Ruapehu, in the central North Island - considered New Zealand’s best spring ski field - is in good shape for the holidays and remaining season.
Fresh snowfalls are adding to Whakapapa’s current 130cm base, and Turoa’s 180cm - and further snow is forecast over the next 10 days.
Marketing manager Mike Smith says the current storm cycle should have moved on, and blue skies would hopefully offer perfect conditions for the school holidays.
The mountain is seeing plenty of action this week with the North Island secondary school ski championships to be followed by the school snowboard championships next week.
Bikini Downhill
On 25 September the annual Bikini Downhill race will raise money for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Meanwhile, top snowboarders -Shelly Gotlieb (2010 US Open second-place), and New Zealander Maria Kuzma - will run a girls’ holiday camp to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Whakapapa and Turoa are due to close on 25 October, but Smith says a decision will be made nearer the time regarding an extension if conditions are conducive.
Mount Ruapehu’s rough volcanic terrain demands good snows to cover the big boulders and provide a good ski base. The deep snow base takes longer to melt, thereby extending the season, and the isolated situation also means it is exposed to weather patterns from all directions.
The 2009 ski season on Mount Ruapehu continued into November.
NZ Ski Areas - 2010 closing dates:
- Snow Park Wanaka - 2 October
- Ohau - 3 October
- Coronet Peak - 3 October
- Treble Cone - 3 October
- Mt Dobson - 3 or 10 October
- Remarkables - 10 October
- Cardrona - 12 October
- Mt Hutt - 17 October
- Whakapapa - 25 October
- Turoa - 25 October (provisional)
More information
NZ skiing and snowboarding destinations
New Zealand spring highlights 2010
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| Snowboarder on Mt Hutt skifield |
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| Cardrona Grom Prix Junior Nationals 2009. Photo: Jane Sinclair |
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| Australian visitors Kate and Zane enjoying new snow at The Remarkables |
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