New Zealand — A snowy start to the ski season has New Zealand skiers and riders feeling optimistic about the months ahead.
A heavy dump of the white stuff over the past few days provided ski fields across the South Island with a solid snowpack to start their winter. Two ski fields were even able to begin their seasons thanks to this base builder storm: Hanmer Springs and Manganui.
Hanmer Springs opened up on Saturday with the Shirtfront rope tow. Conditions were described on Saturday as sporty, so the ski area recommended bringing rock skis and a positive attitude. They remain open thanks to more snowfall over the past few days.
After barely operating last winter, Manganui Ski Area opened up for the season on Saturday. Getting to the ski field is a unique experience, as when you reach the parking lot, guests put their skis on a transfer lift, and then cross a new bridge to get to the lodge and skiable lifts. Unlike Hanmer, though, they ended up receiving rain on Monday, resulting in the ski area closing the lifts. The New Zealand ski field said that while snow is still on the ground, the rain has made it too risky to open.
Other planned opening dates include Mt. Hutt on June 13th, Cardrona on June 14th, and The Remarkables on June 14th. Despite not having any snowmaking capabilities, Hanmer Springs and Manganui beat out the bigger ski resorts in the country, which is something to be proud of.
Image Credits: Hanmer Springs Ski Area, Manganui Ski Area (Stratford Mountain Club)
