Real And Machine-Made Snow Signal New Zealand’s South Island Is Getting Ready For Ski Season 2018
Natural snow, cold temperatures and “heaps more fire power” are getting Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ready for the ski season, as the popular South Island ski fields flick on the snow-making guns to get ready for the 2018 winter season.
In Queenstown, additional snow on the already-dusted Coronet Peak and The Remarkables has kicked of the pre-season snow-making.
Ski Area Manager of Coronet Peak, Nigel Kerr, switched the guns on at 5pm last night [Wednesday 16 May], a little earlier than usual.
“Our normal snowmaking start is around the 20th but if we have the opportunity for a pre-season test we will always take it. The ground is cold enough now that any snow will start to stay.”
The temperatures were at -5 as 10cms fell overnight.
The Snomax system at Coronet, which continues to hold the record for the biggest snow making system in the Southern Hemisphere, has been installed in all four pumphouses increasing snowmaking capacity by up to 20%. In addition, five new lances and two new Fan guns will improve the mobile snowgun fleet and ensure more terrain is open earlier in the season.
“The investment is paying off, as it really is enabling the ski field to make more snow early on,” says Nigel.
Snow making allows the ski fields to supplement natural snow and create a better base for a scheduled opening and a more reliable season, providing greater guarantee of snow for guests as well as sports and other on-snow events.
Ross Lawrence, Ski Area Manager at The Remarkables also plans to make the most of the cold temperatures that have arrived by firing up the snowmaking system today [May 17th].
“Snow started settling on the ground yesterday afternoon, and temperatures will now remain cold and definitely in line with snow making parameters for the next week,” he says.
“That bodes well for plenty of snow making hours ahead complimented by regular natural snow falls as we head into ski area operations on the 9th June. Woo hoo!”
At New Zealand’s best ski resort, Mt Hutt, snow has also been falling overnight. Ski Area Manager James McKenzie and his team are capitalizing on those natural elements to make snow as well, boosting the base one month out to opening.
Mt Hutt is the first commercial ski field to open in New Zealand on Friday June 8.
“We’re starting snow making with a heap more fire power this year!”
Snowmaking investments over summer have increased capacity and snow management capability at the Canterbury field, pumping 50% more water to the fleet of guns that has expanded in the last year, with the hope that more of the mountain will open on June 8.
“We hope to have the Triple chair spinning on opening day alongside Summit, Quad and the Magic Carpet, which will be a first,” says James.
