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Camping out on a ski lift, with a rotisserie chicken, to be first to hit the slopes

Thursday, 8 June 2023

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Harry Satoshi sits on the Mt Hutt chairlift with his rotisserie chicken, good man.
Harry Satoshi sits on the Mt Hutt chairlift with his rotisserie chicken, good man.

If the definition of madness is sleeping overnight on a skifield chairlift in -5C with a duvet, two pairs of socks, a rotisserie chicken and a bag of M&M’s, then Harry Satoshi is your man.

Satoshi arrived to the Mt Hutt chairlift at 3pm on Thursday and will sleep on it for two nights in order to be the first person to ski down the lush white snow for the season on Saturday morning.

Oh, and he’s done it before – twice.

Fisher has his bedding, five jumpers, two pairs of socks, his doc Martin boots, chocolate and a chook for dinner both nights.

**READ MORE:

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In 2020, a New Zealand ski field shut for a week. Why? It was so warm, the rain-soaked snow was falling off the slopes.

* Mt Hutt ready for snow sport lovers to hit the slopes

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**

Satoshi isn’t the only one up at Mt Hutt, but he will be the only one sleeping under the stars.
Satoshi isn’t the only one up at Mt Hutt, but he will be the only one sleeping under the stars.

Asked if he maybe felt a little bit insane, the 24-year-old cryptocurrency specialist agreed.

“Oh definitely, without a doubt.”

Mt Hutt is the first of the larger skifields to open for the season. It was originally set to open on Friday morning, until the skifield decided to delay for one more day to get more man-made snow.

The cold snap last weekend had failed to bring as much snow as anticipated. About 19cm fell, on top of a base of 10 to 20cm.

“I found out it was going to open Saturday, and I was like ‘screw it’,” Satoshi said.

The weather was shaping up well for snow-making with forecast cold temperatures, light winds and low humidity creating the right conditions for artificial snow to drift and settle.

Eager skiers waiting on the Mt Hutt ski season to start on Thursday.
Eager skiers waiting on the Mt Hutt ski season to start on Thursday.

Still, Satoshi was cold enough by Thursday evening approaching dinner time.

“I went and bought a rotisserie chicken, some M&Ms, a bit of bread. Keeping it simple. I have just been talking to people and claiming my flag basically.

“There were a couple of others here, but I am going to try out do them by sleeping on the chairlift overnight for two nights. They're going to be sleeping inside next to the fire, but I am going to sort of up them a little bit by staying out here for both nights.”

Other eager skiers included Brendan Lindsay, who turned up 50 hours early, and Terry Ritchie, Noelani Ritchiand Lucy Holdies.

Satoshi is a winner – he’s made this effort twice before and says he won’t be backing down over the next 36 hours.

He will sleep on the main Summit Six chairlift and will likely claim the glory.

“For the glory really. It’s a competitive thing and I am here to win.”

Further south, Coronet Peak is due to open June 16. Cardrona and the Remarkables are scheduled for June 17. Porters and Round Hill are scheduled to open June 23 and Treble Cone and Ōhau Snow Fields on June 24.

In the North Island, while the Ruapehu district mayor remains confident the mountain’s skifields will open this year, there’s yet to be confirmation, after Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which ran the Whakapapa and Turoa fields,went into voluntary administration in Octoberowing millions of dollars.

New Zealand’s ski season opens: