NZSKI

The unseasonably warm weather which marked the 2011 autumn has continued into the first month of winter, frustrating Southern Lakes skifield operators as they gear up for the start of the 2011 season.

Warm weather this week means NZSki's plan to open Coronet Peak ski area on Saturday is in doubt.

A storm may be brewing over the Queenstown Recreation Ground before two Rugby World Cup teams use it for training later this year, less than a month after the Parklife Invitational snow event is held there.

NZSki unveiled a raft of improvements at the Coronet Peak and Remarkables ski areas to the Queenstown business community this week, but could not predict how the Christchurch earthquake and the Australian market would affect the winter season.

The Coronet Peak chairlift that trapped a Queenstown woman last year, leaving her with severe neck injuries, was found to be wrongly configured, the Department of Labour said.

NZSki skifield developments have been cited as part of the reason for a rise in the cost of early-bird passes this season.

Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Mt Hutt operator NZSki has increased some of the prices of its "early bird" season passes which go on sale today, soon after Treble Area announced it was increasing prices across the board.

Gale-force winds shut down all the skifields in Queenstown and Wanaka, as another cold southwesterly front blasted the South Island yesterday.

NZSki has employed Craig Douglas as general manager, sales and marketing.

NZSKI will make a decision today on whether Coronet Peak will be able to open as planned on Saturday.