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Ōhau Snow Fields pictured on opening day on Saturday.
With the start of the ski season for South Canterbury’s ski fields coinciding with the start of the Australian and New Zealand winter school holidays – operators are expecting solid numbers.
Two of the region’s ski areas opened over the weekend with fantastic opening weekend conditions.
Ōhau Snow Fields owner-operator Mike Neilson said they usually have about 160 skiers and boarders each opening day and this year was no different – with about that number hitting the slopes on Saturday.
“It was really great, lots of good snow and happy skiers,” Neilson said.
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Ōhau also has a 72-room lodge, and Neilson said this was all booked out over the New Zealand school holiday period, which starts on Friday, July 8.
“Most of our bookings were made when people checked out last year,” Neilson said.
He said a lot of the snow-enthusiasts who come to stay at Ōhau are regular and repeat visitors, describing Ōhau as a “holiday destination”.
An official tally had not yet been done for Round Hill Ski Area, but general manager Tim Douglass said there was “lots of people out on the ski fields and holidaying in Tekapo”.
“There’s lots of smiling faces out there,” Douglass said.
Round Hill opened on Friday, with all beginner and intermediate courses open, and they were just waiting for a bit more snow to open the Heritage Express Rope Tow, he said.
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Pictured at Ōhau Snow Fields on Saturday is Kaitlyn Cassidy, of Timaru, and instructor Kerry Bellringer.
Douglass was impressed with the amount of snowfall the ski field had experienced in the lead up to the season opening.
“It’s one of the better starts.
“It’s shaping up to be a really good season.”
Douglass said he had noticed there were a few Aussie’s lurking around the area and making the most of the good snow.
“I’ve definitely heard some Australian accents at the ticket booth,” Douglass said.
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Skiers and boarders pictured at Ōhau Snow Fields on opening weekend.
Book Twizel owner Amy Lamb said she had made similar observations to Douglass’ in Twizel.
“There’s definitely some Aussies around, they’re out enjoying everything on offer.”
Lamb said there had been a real buzz about Twizel over the weekend with lots of people out and about.
“There were heaps of people in town loving the weekend,” Lamb said.
Lamb expects Twizel to be busy through the ski season and said that accommodation bookings were strong for the school holidays.
Business was going similarly well in Tekapo, according to holiday home manager Alex Gualter.
The Discover Tekapo Accommodation manager said there were “lots of people coming down from the North Island” with week-long stays booked over the school holiday period.
Mt Dobson Ski Area is now due to open on Wednesday, July 6, after postponing from its original July 1 opening date.
