Sunny skies, bubbles and smiles all round were the hallmarks of the opening of the ski season at Mt Hutt in New Zealand after cranking up the lifts for one of its earliest openings in recent history.
More than 2000 Cantabrians and visitors to the region turned out to welcome the snow and celebrate skiing in May at Mt Hutt.

 
The high country ski area opening was two weeks ahead of schedule as a result of early snow coverage.
Ski Area Manager Dave Wilson says it was the first time the mountain had opened in May for more than a decade.

“We have a one metre snow base which is phenomenal for this time of year. Getting the mountain open early has been a huge challenge for staff but we had a great day today making it well worth the effort.

Feedback and support from the local Methven community has been very much appreciated – everyone is delighted to be open early. It’s a fantastic start.”

First on the chair honours, complete with t-shirts, went to Suzanne Fenwick, Ian Beale, Mike Roberson and Stef Waldon of Christchurch on the Quad while Ashburton’s Michael Borland, Michael Geddes, Benjamin Mort, Lance Cotter, Callum Brooker were first on the Summit Six along with 11-year-old Sophie Sinke of Christchurch.
Lindauer flowed for the early birds and glasses raised to toast the 2009 season just on 9am as the chairs opened.
Mr Wilson said stormy weather bringing more snow was expected to hit the mountain tonight (Saturday) and Sunday with weather clearing again for Monday.
“Today’s weather was really one out of the bag. The forecast wasn’t too flash so we were rapt to wake up to a bluebird day. Definitely life as it ought to be today.”
Mt Hutt is expected to remain open until early October. Coronet Peak in Queenstown is scheduled to open next Saturday, June 6 with The Remarkables following on Saturday June 20.

Yet another 25cm (10 inches) of fresh snow yesterday (Sunday 24th) and temperatures hovering just below zero means that Mt Hutt is on course for it’s first May opening this millennium with the New Zealand resort still reporting mid-winter conditions that have lasted throughout May and a base depth of one metre (40 inches).

It’s the best early snow the ski area has had in decades, according to Dave Wilson, Ski Area Manager for Mt Hutt.
Continue reading ‘Snow conditions kicks off southern hemisphere ski season kicks off tomorrow’

Guests at Pyhä resort in Finland will find a new ski run from the Family slopes to the Polar slope will be open next winter, conveniently connecting the two slope areas.

In addition the resort’s successful FunPark will be developed further by the park team members and the snowmaking system on the Family slopes will be made more efficient.
The Rosa & Rudolf children’s adventure route will also be developed further and new features will be added.
Pyhä is also expected to add a new fast six person chairlift in time for the 2010-11 season.

• Pyhä : More related stories by clicking here.

Iglu-Dorf, the company which runs six igloo villages in top European resorts each winter, has launched a new inflatable igloo – the ‘Iglounge’ - to those wishing to experience the “igloo feeling” during the summer.

The new Iglounges are available in 8 and 13 metre diameters and options include a full ice bar inside. They are being promoted as ideal attractions for hot summer events.

www.iglu-dorf.com

Glaswegians should prepare them selves for some very unseasonable weather this weekend when the local SNO!zone indoor snow centre at Braehead will dump more than 60 tonnes of snow on Kelvingrove Park in the centre of the city this Sunday, May 23rd, to create a real snow slope from noon to 6pm.

Continue reading ‘Snowing in Glasgow this weekend’

This weeks’s feature video is Warren Miller’s Higher Ground trailer. Captivating as ever, Warren takes us down some of the most impressive slopes in the world.

Some of the most extreme movies of performances in snow I’ve seen! The whole movie in a stunning 720p Hi-Def!

• SRTV: Watch more awesome clips by clicking here.

British ski industry trade show Slide 2010 has announced a radical change to its dates for 2010, moving from mid February to late January (27th-29th), bringing the show in advance of ISPO, the European tradeshow (7th-10th Feb).
Damon Street, president of SIGB explained, “SIGB has been monitoring the timing of Slide relative to order deadlines and other relevant events, both in the UK and worldwide. Due to the changing nature of the way business is conducted these days, the time is now right to bring Slide into January, when we believe it will be of most value to the majority of our members and to the industry as a whole.”à
Continue reading ‘British ski show rethinks dates due to competition’