NZ Skiing Masters co-organiser Geoff Hunt said the rules had been changed so that 18-year-olds could compete in the three-day racing series at the Queenstown skifield from Thursday.
The change to New Zealand masters rules would "re-energise'' the event by attracting younger competitors, Mr Hunt said.
Until now, the event has been limited to skiers aged 30 or over.
Most competitive skiers were "done and dusted'' in the sport at 18 unless they broke through into the FIS international circuit, but then had to wait until they were 30 to race again.
Billed as the premier masters ski race in the southern hemisphere, the event is expected to attract between 50 and 60 entrants.
That includes Paul Bush, of Canterbury, who, at 87, will be the oldest.
It will include two Super G races on the M1 course - on which competitors will hit speeds of up to 125kmh - as well as a giant slalom and slalom on the Rocky Gully race course.
Mr Hunt said anyone could compete, whether they had been involved in ski racing or not.
"Basically, this is an event for people who enjoy the camaraderie of skiing and being part of a like-minded group,'' Mr Hunt said.
It was to have been the first masters alpine ski event in New Zealand to be sanctioned by the International Ski Federation, but the organisation's deadline for confirming the event had come and gone a fortnight ago when Coronet Peak had no snow.
The mountain was now "blessed'' with snow, which he hoped would firm up with cold, clear weather for the rest of the week.
