Aussie school-kids among first to enjoy snow at Mt Hutt

Canterbury’s Mt Hutt ski area celebrated opening day today (June 27) with beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders making the most of perfect weather conditions.

The ski area’s Magic Carpet and Quad Chair were cranked up for the start of the 2011 season and took visitors up the slopes -- including a group of 120 school-kids from Australia -- from 9am this morning.

1/ Amelia Shepherd 18, Aleisha Jarrett 17, Taylor Miller 17, Rosie Stedman 16, Hayley Vanverda 16, on a school trip from the Gold Coast Australia

Mt Hutt Ski Area Manager David Wilson said it had been “a great day” with visitors enjoying blue skies and heaps of positive feedback about getting open.

“More than 250 people from all around the world turned up today to help us celebrate our opening, despite it being a ‘partial’ opening at this stage. We expect those numbers to increase daily as the week goes on,” he said.

“It was great to finally get a lift operating and we handed out our coveted ‘First on the Quad’ T-Shirts.”

The Magic Carpet and the Quad Chair are open for business. Trails open during the day were ½ of the main Broadway Trail, Highway 72 (novice trial) and the beginners area. Other trails do not yet have sufficient snow coverage to open, but snowmaking will be continuing to try and open more trails as soon as possible.

“We’re expecting another cold snap early tomorrow (June 28) which should mean we get the opportunity for more snowmaking,” said Mr Wilson.

ENDS

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