Mountain of workers

More than 300 people who will spend this winter working for NZSki at Coronet Peak went through a "company day" on the mountain yesterday ahead of the skifield’s scheduled opening next Saturday.

Ski area manager Nigel Kerr said he was "optimistic" Coronet would open on time — at present there was a base of between 20cm and 60cm.

The new high-speed, six-seater chairlift was expected to be certified next week, "certainly in time for opening", he said. 

"It’s cool, it’s fast, it’s smooth and you just rock along."

Today, the Remarkables will open for the 2019 season at 9am, and Cardrona Alpine Resort will also open the chondola for skiing and riding. 

Treble Cone, meanwhile, is scheduled to open on June 28.

REPORT: TRACEY ROXBURGH/