Ski areas go out with a bang

Media release from NZSki
27 September 2012

Ski areas go out with a bang – season extension and half price passes

New Zealand’s top ski areas are going out with a bang.

NZSki is celebrating the final weeks of snowsports with news that Mt Hutt will extend its season until Sunday October 14.

To sweeten the deal further, Mt Hutt is offering half price mid-week passes (Monday to Friday) for the remainder of the season.

Mt Hutt still has a two-metre-plus snow base and received another 4cm top up last night. Ski area manager James McKenzie said skiers and boarders had been “begging” them to stay open longer.

“It would have been a real crime to close for the season when the snow cover’s still so good and weather conditions are currently fantastic, warm and sunny,” he said.

“So we’ve made the call to extend by a week which is absolutely perfect for all our local and visiting families over the New Zealand school holidays.

“The season’s been amazing and we just don’t want it to finish!”

Meanwhile, NZSki is offering half-price day passes for this weekend (September 29 and 30), on Queenstown’s Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas.

Despite a smattering of fresh snow overnight at The Remarkables, following a late surge of snow earlier this month, ski area management admitted the Queenstown snow season had been “a tough one”.

“We all know it’s been a bit up and down snow-wise as Mother Nature see-sawed between no precipitation, too much precipitation, and sometimes cold precipitation that actually materialised as snow!” said NZSki CEO James Coddington.

“I think we’ve all seen the value of our investment in snowmaking this season because whenever it’s been cold enough, those guns at all our mountains have been busy pumping out the white stuff day or night.

“It’s the first weekend of the school holidays so hopefully lots of families take the opportunity to get out on the snow in the sunshine to have a blast and enjoy the start of their break.

“The trails are all groomed on a daily basis with spring snow conditions so it’s time to have fun before packing away the skis and boards in favour of bikes and boats.”

Queenstown half price day passes are available to purchase on Saturday and Sunday (September 29 and 30) at Guest Services at The Remarkables, Coronet Peak or the Queenstown Snow Centre. Passes are valid only on the day of purchase.

From Monday October 8, Queenstown and Remarkables season passes will also be valid at Mt Hutt.

Half price Mt Hutt mid-week passes (full day lift passes) can be bought on the day at the Snow Centre in Methven or at guest services on the mountain until the end of the season.

Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are scheduled to close on October 7 while Mt Hutt’s closing day has been extended to Sunday October 14.

ENDS

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