infonews.co.nz
INDEX
SKIING

New snow in Queenstown good omen for winter season

Monday 6 May 2013, 7:21PM

By NZSki

1024 views

NZSki heads of department enjoy the new snow at The Remarkables today (Monday May 6). Image by Ross Lawrence.
NZSki heads of department enjoy the new snow at The Remarkables today (Monday May 6). Image by Ross Lawrence. Credit: NZSki
Visitors from Bangkok, Thailand revel in the new snow at Coronet Peak. Left to right are Tassanee Ratanaruangrai (41), Jutamas Kasemkulsiri (42) and Pongthorn Thapanangkum (36)
Visitors from Bangkok, Thailand revel in the new snow at Coronet Peak. Left to right are Tassanee Ratanaruangrai (41), Jutamas Kasemkulsiri (42) and Pongthorn Thapanangkum (36) Credit: NZSki

QUEENSTOWN

A dusting of new snow on the mountain tops around Queenstown is a timely reminder of the countdown to the 2013 winter season.

A cold snap over the weekend delivered 4cm of ‘white gold’ to The Remarkables ski area, greeting new heads of department on a pre-season induction and training session.

“New snow is always a reason to celebrate in our book and the timing couldn’t have been better as senior staff come on board for the season,” said The Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence.

“A quick snowball fight was the order of the day!”

Over at Coronet Peak, up to 2cm of snow also coated the mountain, with the snow level descending down the ski area access road to the start of Skippers Canyon Road.

Coronet Peak ski area manager Ross Copland said it was a “fantastic reminder” that winter was on its way and hoped it was an early sign of things to come.

“As we’re in full swing with staff training it’s certainly a great sign when the temperature starts to drop with five weeks to go until we open.”

Coronet Peak is scheduled to open for the 2013 season on June 8 and The Remarkables on June 22.