Skifields gear up for season
Canterbury skifield teams are adding the finishing touches as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The region’s two main skifields – Mt Hutt and Porters – are expected to open on June 8 and June 22 respectively.
Mt Hutt ski area manager James McKenzie said the mountain was a ‘‘hive of activity’’ ahead of opening day.
Doubling the skifield’s snowmakers ensured the slopes could open even with a lack of natural snow in the area, he said.
‘‘The new snowmaking system that we put in this year is absolutely nailing it.’’
The snowmakers had created a solid snow base, which should allow for all three chairlifts and both conveyor lifts to be used on opening day.
The Mt Hutt crew had also improved the ski lodge, chairlifts and its two cafes.
More robust infrastructure had also been added to the chairlifts to deal with heavy snowfalls and icy conditions, and a new fourwheel-drive 44-seater coach had been added to shuttle people to and from the lower car parks.
Porters general manager Uli Dinsenbacher said it was exciting to see preparations for the upcoming season.
He said the snowmakers had built up an even cover over most of the mountain, with snow up to 30cm covering the main runs.
The chairlifts had been improved, but most of the focus at Porters had been on establishing a new summer business – mountain biking, which was very successful.
Smaller
❚ Mt Lyford ............ June 22
❚ Hanmer Springs...July 7
❚ Temple Basin ....... July 21
❚ Mt Dobson ............. July 6
❚ Cheeseman ............ July 7
❚ Porters ................. June 22
❚ Mt Hutt .................... June 8 mountains, including Cheeseman, Craigieburn, Mt Lyford and Mt Dobson had enjoyed regular smatterings of snow, while skifields further south were boasting a growing blanket of white powder.
Treble Cone’s latest snow report highlighted ‘‘one the most significant snowfalls in recent history’’, with 90cm falling over the mountain in 24 hours last Friday.
A sturdy base also covered Cardrona’s upper runs, and Coronet Peak was off to a ‘‘good start’’ ahead of their joint opening on June 16. The Remarkables’ latest snow report promised ‘‘great snow’’.