Snow-making starts at Remarkables ski area

The Remarkables ski field is set to open next month. Photo: ODT
The Remarkables ski field is set to open next month. Photo: ODT
Snow guns were turned on at the Remarkables on Wednesday night for the first time this season. 

Ski area manager Ross Lawrence said about 50 of the field’s 100 guns ran for three or four hours after the mercury dropped low enough to make snow.

While the machines on the lower mountain and into Curvey Basin did not make much snow, it was supplementing the 50cm which fell over the weekend.

"It’s warmed up a bit since then and settled out ...  In a lot of places it’s going pretty quickly, but the learner’s area’s still coated in snow, which is great.

"It’s cooling the surface down and it’s doing all the right things heading into winter."

The guns would be fired up at every opportunity on the skifield from now on, unless "Mother Nature" was particularly kind, Mr Lawrence said.

The ski area’s planned opening is next month.

Cardrona Alpine Resort communications executive Jen Houltham confirmed  Cardrona started snow-making last week.

Treble Cone skifield started its snow guns for the first time last Friday and was able to keep them running for about 14 hours, as the temperaturestayed around -5degC. The skifield has bought five new  snow-making guns.

The Remarkables and Cardrona are scheduled to open on June 10, one day after Mt Hutt.Coronet Peak is expected to open on June 17, followed by Treble Cone on June 22.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement