'Latest finish on record' for Canterbury's Mt Hutt skifield

Sunday, 16 October 2022

It’s “the season that keeps on giving”, Mt Hutt ski area manager James McKenzie says, as freestyle skiiers will be able to access the terrain park until November 6.

Snow bunnies are being treated to an extra week on the slopes as Canterbury’s Mt Hutt has its “latest finish on record”.

The popular ski area was due to close on Sunday, but with so much snow on the ground, “we may as well make the most of it”, Mt Hutt ski area manager James McKenzie said.

The decision was made six weeks ago to extend the season, he said, now closing on Labour Day, October 24, allowing holiday makers the chance to get one last ski in over the upcoming long weekend.

The average snow base was 85cm and 1.3m “up high”, he said.

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The Remarkables closed on Sunday, seeing about 1000 snow bunnies enjoy the last day of the season at the Queenstown ski area.

“Certainly the main basin is looking pretty good … all subject to weather, it’s our latest finish on record for Mt Hutt.

While the weather had the final say on “everything”, the long-range forecast for Labour Weekend looked good, McKenzie said.

It was “the season that keeps on giving”, as access to the terrain park would be open until November 6, allowing freestyle skiiers to practise tricks and aerial antics.

Mt Hutt is opening a week longer than initially planned, and as long as the weather plays ball, it will be the latest finish on record, ski area manager James McKenzie says.

Coronet Peak in Queenstown and Porters in Selwyn both closed earlier in the month on October 2, and The Remarkables had its final day of the season on Sunday.

About 1000 skiiers and snowboarders enjoyed the last day of the season at the Queenstown ski resort, NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson said.

All three NZSki areas – Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt – had “a great season, very solid”, he said.

But the “story of the year” had been the return of Australian tourists, “and they've come back in force”.

The number of Australian punters this winter was up 10% on last year, when the trans-Tasman bubble was interrupted by another wave of Covid-19.

“It’s great to have Aussies back, filling up hotels and spending money at bars and restaurants.”

Meanwhile, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which operates the Whakapapa and Tūroa skifields in the central North Island, had another bad season and was last week put into voluntary administration to see if the business could be saved.

Climate change appeared to be a significant factor after the country experienced the warmest winter on record for the third year in a row.

Anderson said his thoughts went out to Ruapehu staff.

“We’re really sad for what’s happening with Ruapehu, we really feel for them.”