Mt Hutt opens and snow for Coronet Peak Queenstown on the way

Mt Hutt opened today, the first ski field in New Zealand to do so this season. Finally, it’s been a long wait for many. Coronet Peak in Queenstown will be hard on it heels as a front comes in late today and is set to deliver a small amount of natural snow but most importantly the cold temperatures return so the awesome power of 200+ automated snow guns can rip into action and get us all on snow.

Queenstown wants it, needs it. Snow on the ground is an important economic driver for this small town and its sister city Wanaka during the winter months.

Snow on the Ground 2009

Actually its really important that all the ski areas in New Zealand have good winters….when the North Island fields have good snow they are a breeding ground for many New Zealanders first snow experience and this feeds people into the South Island ski areas over the following years. With snow on the ground all over NZ it creates a great image in the offshore markets, particularly Aussie that coming to NZ for a snow experience is the place to be not swanning off to snorkel on some tropical island.

In a way Queenstown is lucky in the fact that it is considered by many to be a Green Valley skiing destination. This means that (usually) the snow is up on the mountains and sits around the 1000m mark (depending on the aspect) while below that the valley is green grass which means there is plethora of alternate activities to enjoy on your skiing vacation.

The Weather Forecast is looking pretty good for us this week with a front carrying some snow later today followed by cold southerlies thru to the weeks end. This means snow making.

Remember to make the most out of your skiing vacation in Queenstown and book me for your private ski lessons

Snow snow and hopefully some more snow at Coronet Peak Queenstoen New Zealand

It was snowing lightly this morning when I arrived at Coronet Peak and continued to snow all day. By the time I left around 14:30 the snow was thick enough on the road to make 2WD chain up. Freezing temps were lowering and sleet was hitting the ground downtown for a while late this arvo.

The forecast is for the snow to continue to low levels tonite and tomorrow near Queenstown. It certainly bodes well for building the base and Monday could be a good powder day. Sun looks like it will come out on Tuesday and Wednesday and with cold temps I am sure the snow making will fire into action (if they haven't already) and really help consolidate the base.

It looks like Remarks will have got some great snow out of this system and certainly further north at Mt Hutt will have been hit too.

It appears it may be the start of a good winter winter for the Queenstown ski areas. Keep your fingers crossed!

Queenstown skiing just around the corner.

It's raining outside my place here in Queentown New Zealand, in fact it's raining over most of the country right now and even better its cold enough to be snowing at elevation. The snow is meant to be falling to 1100m today and 1200m 2moro which is great news for Coronet Peak. The top of the Coronet Peak sits at 1649m so they are getting it. Mt Hutt in Canterbury has also been receiving snowfall and both areas look likely to get more snow over the next few days. This is exceptional timing as Coronet Peak has a opening date set for 5th June and Ht Hutt 12th June. Hopefully cold temps will follow this storm and Coronet Peak will be able to swing the awesome snow making system into operation.

Due to the very different terrain of the Remarkables ski area and the requirement for a much bigger base of snow to be on the ground before they can get going they open (snow dependent)19th June.

NZSKI have pumpmed a bunch more money into Coronet Peak this season with a new beginners lift which will make life a lot better for all the visiting low intermediate skiers and children. They have also put in place electronic lift passes and a number of other things to make life on the mountains easier and more fun.

I am back on ski school again this year and if you would like to make a booking with me please use my online booking form and secure your time with me early.

Again I am working in closely with R&R Sports in Queenstown (the place to get all your snow gear) and with Salomon NZ (skis). If you need anything head in and see the crew at R&R Sports so you are all ready to go when the Mountains open up.

Keep a watch out for my future ski blogs as the season gets under way - they will be coming on a regular basis.

New Zealands Southern Lakes Ski Areas get Snow

Since my last blog we have had a series of storm fronts drop snow on Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone. All the ski areas further north have also recieved snow.

CP got approximately 20 - 25 cms at the top of the mountain and is skiing and riding very well as it has just topped up the base very nicely.

The heli skiing has also come alive again but due to the very unstable snow pack all the operators are using low angle terrain to negate the avalanche risk.

Unfortunately a heli ski operator near Mt Hutt had a incident yesterday that resulted in the first avalanche fatality in 5 years in NZ. The group had 2 guides with them and were being incredibly careful and still one let rip buring 2 skiers and a partial burial of the 3rd skier. The guides dug out both skiers in 7 minutes but one skier had died most likely from other underlying health issues but this will be clarified over the next few days.

Certainly travel in the back country is not recommended right now as the danger is extreme and avalanches have been running to the ground in places. It would pay to give it a day or two before touring to let things settle and a high degree of caution should be used. It would pay to check with your local ski patrol about conditions and also check out www.avalanche.net.nz for up to date reports.

If you are going into the back country do your homework and take all the safety gear such as transceiver, probe and shovel and know how to use them - your life or your friends life may depend on it!

In the mean time come and have a private ski lesson with me at Coronet Peak and I will give you some useful techniques on how to ski big fat powder so your time in the heli skiing is well used.

The weather looks like we are in for regular snow falls now for the next month so now is certainly the time to get to the snow.

How fast it changes!

Coronet Peak and the Southern Lakes have gone from a winter wonderland to sexy spring in just a couple of days. Coronet Peak has hard and fast snow in the morning with softening spring, snow conditions later in the day. The on piste gets quite nasty when it gets past a certain point and is barely enjoyable for mere mortals - certainly the ski instructors hate it!. Off piste has seen some great corn snow if you have been able to work the sun and take into account the cool SW wind effect on the snow.

Forecast is for snow Mon thru Wed next week and that may throw us back to winter but it will only be for a brief period and spring will be back. Its the beginning of the end already but the will be some great skiing here until the end of September and Mt Hutt and Mt Ruapehu will ski well far into Nov and possibly even Dec!

The masters are at Coronet Peak

Lots of old racers rippin around Coronet Peak at the moment with training finished and race starting today. Unfortunately the downhill was canned due to poor light this morning but the slalom went ahead with happy racers have firm race lane conditions and improving light.

Coronet peak is skiing very well at the moment - on piste went very hard (like a smooth table top) yesterday although off piste in S/E aspects i.e. exchange skied well. A little dusting overnight saw silk snow conditions over the whole peak and once again reminding me out fantastic the Coronet Peak is - the smallest of fresh snow drops and she comes alive again. We may get a bit more tonite maybe 1 -2 cms but unlikely although after night skiing is finished I am sure it will be cold enough to blow some snow so the snow makers will have to do some work. Actually the have done an amazing job with the new system and considering we have about a 90 cm base and about half is man made that probably gives you some perspective!

Hut will probably get a bit more out of this system and there is another on barreling in from the north which may also produce - we may get some down here with some luck.

Heli skiing conditions are good although much of the terrain of all the operators has been tracked out and the will be wanting some more in the next 3 - 4 days. Next week looks a bit messy after this high passes over this week end.

Ski Hard -Play well

Hutt gets another 100cms and Coronet Peak gets 7cms

Wow!!! Mt Hutt is really getting blasted with another huge dump dropping 1m of snow in 48 hrs so when they get it open the skiing will be awesome up there (there is more snow on the way early next week for Mt hutt too).

Queenstown mostly missed out but we did pick up 7cms at the bottom of Coronet Peak and about 10 at the top so this morning the skiing was great with freshies for all - Coronet Peak is amazing how so little snow really makes it go off. Fog and flat light from about midday on but the snow stayed in good nick.

Get to Canterbury for this weekend as a wee fine break hits before the next storm rolls in or if you can't do that hit Coronet Peak - it is skiing well!

Remember to visit the R&R Sport boys if you need any gear. Make sure you are up to speed with the back country advisory thru www.avalanche.net.nz - make sure you have all the right safety gear and don't go alone. Rip it up and have fun.

While the rest of the country gets blasted.......

Coronet Peak just got foogy this morning and windy later on. Good thing was the snow is in great nick for skiing - no big, fat face shots ... unfortunatly. The last 5 days have delivered wee dustings each day that have made it good chalky and grippy snow. Backbowls is probably worth a ski after tonight as the wind may have transported some fresh into it? We may receive some snow out of this but unlike the rest of the country will mostly miss out. Mt Hutt is going to win again snow wise with the potential of a another 50+ cms! At least we get to ski while Mt Hutt stays shut - don't get me wrong I would mind the snow either but at least we get to be out on what we do have mostly down here. I think the heli ski operators would be keen to get some more and see the systems switch back to the West rather than this E/SE crap.

Huge dump at Mt Hutt

At Mt Hutt they have got 60cms and still snowing and all closed up while they re-open the road. It wouldn't surprise me if they end up with near on a meter. The skiing at Coronet Peak to day will be good with some fresh overnight maybe 10cms using my imagination but enough to head up early for first tracks and a breakfast laid on by nzski to say thanks to staff over the school holidays. I will come back with a report later today. In the meantime head to Mt Hutt - they will get it open but if its by the weekend the place will be nuts and you would want to be on the Mt Hutt mtn road by no later than 0730 otherwise you might miss out!

Fog and Flat light at Coronet Peak

Today at Coronet Peak the visibility was nil, zero, non-existant - a complete white out and unfortunately not due to blizzard conditions although it did snow for a bit. The forecast is for some snow tonight down to low levels (600m and lowering to 500m tomorrow). It looks like we won't miss out but we wont get too much either - maybe Mt Hutt and the North Island ski fields will be the winners - my bet is if you want some fresh to go skiing on/in and have the flexibility head to Mt Hutt.

There is some possibility of some more decent snow next week for us so keep your fingers crossed that a) I am wrong and we will get absolutely hammered out of this storm and b)the snow gods love Queenstown!