The Remarkables ski area and Cardrona Alpine Resort signed off the 2013 snow sports season yesterday with a flourish, hosting hundreds of fans enjoying their final runs of the year.
About 700 Wakatipu residents and transtasman visitors were making the most of the school holidays at the Remarkables, where all trails were open and the sun was shining.
Despite favourable conditions following the latest snowfall on September 30 and public enthusiasm, NZSki ruled out extending the season at the Remarkables. Coronet Peak closed one week earlier.
''The weather the way it is now gets very inclement, very changeable, very warm; the snow's receding at a great rate and, as much as anything, people are already starting to focus on summer activities,'' Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence said, finishing his seventh consecutive season yesterday.
''The school holidays were great and the week before with the Aussie school holidays was great as well, so no complaints there. We've found it to be pretty steady straight through.''
Cardrona Alpine Resort marketing manager Nadia Ellis said more than 1200 skiers turned up to celebrate the final day of the season yesterday, capping off what had been one of the skifield's most successful winters.
