There was good snow cover on the Snow Farm for the Winter
Games cross-country race last winter. Photo by Marjorie
Cook.
Snow Farm cross-country ski field operator Mary Lee hopes
to open the trails fully from next week, after opening on a
part-time basis for the past two weekends.
The field opens again this weekend and a full opening next
week is likely, depending on the weather, Mrs Lee said this
week.
The forecast is for light snow above 1300m midweek and more
snow above 1500m tomorrow.
Rain is likely over the weekend before more snow on Monday.
Northwest gales are also forecast for tomorrow and Saturday.
Skiers and snow-kiters have already been using the Snow Farm,
which held its earliest opening day because of recent big
snowfalls.
Mrs Lee is enthusiastic about this year's programme, which
includes launching the "Real Deals for Locals" on July 3-4 -
ski pass, ski rental and instruction, for $20.
The Wanaka Biathlon Club is holding its inaugural biathlon
camp and races from July 11-17, with Olympians Sarah Murphy
and Ben Koons among those expected to attend.
Both are familiar faces at the Snow Farm.
They are dual New Zealand-Canada nationals and competed for
New Zealand at the Vancouver Winter Olympics earlier this
year.
Target Shooting New Zealand is also offering shooting
instruction to biathlon novices, and cell groups have already
been set up in Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, Wanaka and
Queenstown.
A Dunedin group of 12 has been practicing with dryland
events, using mountain bikes and a shooting range.
Cross-country FIS races are scheduled for August 6-8, with
teams from the United States, Kazakhstan, Belorussia and
Australia expected to compete.
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