May 31, 2010 – NZ Pre-Season Snow
Sunrise over Snow Park NZ. Image – Snow Park NZ
Snow Journal – Dylan Butt
After playing the waiting game for most of this month everyone’s worst fears have been brushed aside, the ‘white gold’ has finally returned to NZ!
The stoke level has stepped up a few notches as all resorts in NZ have received great first snowfalls for the 2010 season. This last week has seen some ‘proper’ winter weather hit the whole country with floods in Canterbury and North Otago along with big snowfalls in the Alps, Canterbury, Otago and in Southland.
Mt Hutt’s lifties will be working hard to get this lift going. Image – NZSki.com
It looks like winter is here to stay and although the snow has been somewhat late to arrive it bodes well for opening days as it’s likely to stick around now and create great bases for our shredding pleasure! With the cool temps it sounds like snowmaking is kicking off from today if not already at all major resorts. Here’s some updates from around the country to get you amped!
To keep up to date with the latest conditions in New Zealand check out the reports, forecasts and snow cams.
Snow Park NZ. Image – Snow Park NZ
Mt. Ruapehu
There has been 15cm at both Turoa and Whakapapa in the last few days and it looks like more snow on the way over the weekend.
Turoa open – 19 June
Whakapapa – 26 June
The Remarkables
Remarkables have probably been the luckiest resort in the Southern Lakes this week and received a solid 40+ cms. With 2cm overnight last night and more snow throughout the day they are now sitting on a 40 – 60cm base.
Remarkables open – 19 June
Coronet Peak
Coronet have received 30cm on the upper mountain and 5cm in the carpark, snowmaking is underway for the early opening next weekend.
Coronet open – 5 June
Weekend snow at Mt Hutt. Image – NZSki.com
Cardrona
Cardies have received at least 30cm and it’s still going up there. This season is set to be a big one with The Burton NZ Open and Junior Worlds events. There is also a new chairlift at Cardrona going down to ‘speed straight’.
Cardrona open – 25 June
Treble Cone
TC start snowmaking today which will add to their base. They have received 10cm on the lower mountain and 30cm in the saddle.
TC open – 24 June
Enjoying Coronet Peak’s good pre-season snow. Image – NZski.com
SnowparkNZ
Snowpark had their first night snowmaking last night so things are all go up there from now. They have received a solid 15cm over the whole place with some massive drifts building up in areas. Snowpark is set for a BIG season with the addition of a 22 foot halfpipe and an extra night of nightriding which happens on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights all season, see you up there!
SnowparkNZ open – June 26
See the NZ forecasts for the coming week.
Further images – snow in the Mt Cook area on Thursday Morning, taken by Mountainwatch.com forecaster Dave Winterburn at Mt Cook.
Treble Cone forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Snow Park forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Mount Cheeseman forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Cardrona forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Broken River forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Hanmer Springs forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Coronet Peak forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Snow Park forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Temple Basin forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Porters forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Craigieburn forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Mount Olympus forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
Mount Hutt forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
