Mt Ruapehu extends winter season until November due to ample snow, top conditions

Mt Ruapehu announced today it is extending its 2010 season to November – this is the third year in a row that Mt Ruapehu has been able to further extend the season due to ideal snow conditions.

Turoa’s season will be extended for skiing until 7 November making Mt Ruapehu’s the longest season in the Southern Hemisphere. Whakapapa’s upper mountain facilities will remain open until 25 October (Labour Day), and Happy Valley beginners’ area will be open a week longer than planned until 10 October.

Mt Ruapehu marketing manager, Mike Smith says that while the recent storm that lashed the entire country meant down-time on the mountain, the end result is positive for Mt Ruapehu with plenty of snow and the best snow conditions of the whole winter season.

“We’d never experienced such a fierce and sustained storm as that one in our organisation’s history – it was completely unprecedented,” says Mr Smith. “However, despite having to close for so many days, the storm brought with it plenty of snow so our bases are looking very healthy at over 2m on both sides of the mountain.”

“Conditions are perfect at the moment with plenty of snow and terrain open – it’s just right for the school holidays.

Currently, Mt Ruapehu has the largest snow bases of all the New Zealand Ski Areas with Turoa sitting on 216cm and Whakapapa at 202cm. Mt Ruapehu will also remain the only New Zealand skifield open for business after Labour Day.

Mr Smith says repair work on Turoa’s High Noon Express that was damaged during the storm has been proceeding quickly, and it is expected that the high speed chairlift will be up and operating again by the weekend.

All 2010 Season and Spring lift passes will be valid right through until 7 November 2010.