Wanaka skifields all open at once

Eric Aitken and Jess Ward from Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, are in Queenstown for 11 days....
Eric Aitken and Jess Ward from Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, are in Queenstown for 11 days. They show their enjoyment of the conditions at Coronet peak yesterday. Photo supplied.

All Wanaka skifields were open for the first time this season on Saturday, with Cardrona Alpine Resort, the Treble Cone Ski Area and Nordic ski facility the Snow Farm hosting hundreds of visitors.

However, cold windy conditions yesterday forced Cardrona to close.

General manager Bridget Legnavsky said the previous day had been "beautiful '' with clear blue skies and all lifts and runs open.

Conditions had since become unsafe due to a combination of cold temperatures, wind and snow falling.

"This is the first time we have had to close since opening five weeks ago, so it's not too bad.''

On the other side of the Cardrona Valley, SnowFarm NZ general manager Nikki Holmes was upbeat after the cross-country field on the Pisa Range opened on Saturday after having to postpone its "tentative'' June 18 opening.

"We have not been affected by the wind and all trails are groomed and open,'' she said.

About 200 locals and visitors including members of the Nordic Ski Club and Biathlon Club had supported the opening and it was looking forward to hosting several events including the New Zealand Biathlon Championships on August 13.

There were plenty of "big smiles'' and happy riders at Treble Cone Ski Area's opening day on Saturday, marketing and sales manager Sophie Luther said.

Yesterday, the field was fully open with 82cm and 120cm of snow in the home and saddle basins, respectively.

"We have had about 200 people over both days of the weekend. We did have some wind but it died down,'' she said.

On Friday, about 60 people, including members of the Austrian Ski Team, joined forces for "boot packing'' in the home basin.

"Basically, when you have a base of dry and fluffy snow, the best thing to make it solid is to physically stomp it down.

"It was a very cool exercise,'' Ms Luther said.

The weekend had also been busy at Queenstown skifields, Coronet Peak and the Remarkables.

Coronet Peak manager Ross Copland said the field received another 6cm of snow yesterday, adding to the dry powder conditions.

"It is skiing really nicely.''

About 2000 people took advantage of night-skiing on Friday night.

The option would remain available on Friday and Saturday nights, Mr Copland said.

Remarkables manager Ross Lawrence could not be contacted for comment but Mr Copland said the field received 15cm of new snow yesterday morning.

"It has helped get them over the line,'' he said.

More snow was expected during the week.

- Cris Johnson 

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