Let it snow, say southern ski fields

All skifields have want good snow and a better season than last year.

South Island ski fields are installing snowmaking machines as fast as finances will allow in the hope of ensuring there is plenty of snow for the coming season.

Most of them are putting a brave face on it, but last year's season was very average. Average in modern parlance actually means well below average. The snow came late and went early.

The small North Canterbury club field of Temple Basin near Arthurs Pass had to call on old members and friends to keep it afloat. Nearby Porter Heights was another to have a poor season.

"It was just one of those years. It was a low snow year," said general manager Uli Dinsenbacher.

That field has not only held last season's pass prices ($299 for adults, $199 for tertiary students and $99 for under 18s) but is offering last year's season holders a 20 per cent discount to compensate for the disappointing snow.

The marketing people from other fields maintain that 2005 wasn't too bad. However, Dinsenbacher reckons that is mostly spin. "It wasn't a great year and anyone telling you differently is not being straight."

Certainly the other fields are doing what they can to solve the snow shortage.

A ring around the fields to check developments for this season yielded an almost universal response: snowmaking machines are top of the agenda.

The aim is to have snow ready for the new season to open in time for the early July school holidays and that it lasts into October so customers feel satisfied.

Spokesperson Anna Yeates said Treble Cone was increasing snowmaking capacity by 50 per cent with most of the field's $4 million investment this year going into snow guns and reservoirs to feed them.

"How the season started tainted the whole season, I guess," she said. "It was the latest start in 18 years and the warm September meant the field closed by October 1."

She said last year was "actually pretty successful but it definitely started late. New investment is to try and guarantee the field opens by late June."

Treble Cone, known for its challenging skiing, is also spending money widening trails and opening less demanding terrain parks. There will be more grooming for those who like more genteel skiing and boarding.

Its season passes have been held at $799 and the field has a new season pass for 18 to 21-year-olds at $499 to attract Queenstown's and Wanaka's growing population of workers. Yeates says the high price of the season pass reflects the good usage most Treble Coners get from their tickets.

Duncan Smith, manager at Southern Alpine Recreation, which runs Coronet Peak, the Remarkables, and Mt Hutt said last year showed the need to maximise snowmaking.

"That was a key driver for our investment. We have put in a lot more snowmaking equipment," he said.

"It wasn't that much shorter than normal, but certainly the snow was a lot leaner than normal throughout the season, particularly the latter part."

While Queenstown's Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt in Canterbury had a below-average season, the Remarkables had its second-best season.

Mt Hutt is installing 40 snow guns and increasing water supply. The Remarkables is installing automated snowmakers in the Sugar Bowl area (higher up the mountain) while Coronet Peak is adding 23 fully automated snow guns to the existing 75. It is increasing water supply and pumping capacity.

"Snow is fundamental for our business," said Smith. "The more reliability and consistency we have on the snow front, the greater the certainty in terms of the visitors for their winter holiday."

He believes Queenstown and New Zealand are well positioned as a "total destination of a high standard and giving more certainty on skiing will cement its reputation".

"By ensuring we can deliver the reliability and consistency of the snow product and the quality of the experience on the mountain we will see the popularity of Canterbury and Southern Lakes continue to grow overseas and in the North Island."

Southern Alpine last year made a big investment in lifts at Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt and two years ago at the Remarkables.

Smith said Southern tried to hold lift prices but wage and energy bills meant it had to hike a bit.

Its Earlybird NZ Ski season pass for use on the three fields plus Ohau, which you had to buy by March 9, was increased 5 per cent to $679.

Adult day passes have risen 6 per cent to $79 at Coronet and 8 per cent to $79 at Mt Hutt. The Mt Hutt season pass went up 9 per cent to $499.

Sales of Earlybird passes were right on target.

Although Queenstown has had steady growth in overseas visitors, the high New Zealand dollar hurt last year and in 2004 so Smith says the fall of the New Zealand dollar has been timely for the coming season.

The high altitude Cardrona field, which had a good season last year, partly because of problems at other fields, is also pumping money into snowmaking. It is spending $2 million on snow guns for the main basin and a 40-million litre reservoir to feed the guns.

Last year, it had no snowmaking and, although its base is more than 1600m high, it couldn't use the bottom section of its new White Star quad chairlift for parts of the season because of lack of snow.

Marketing manager Bruce McMeechan said Cardrona was spending another $2 million on 15 new on-field apartments. It is also developing a beginners' terrain park.

Cardrona's season adult season pass cost $470 if you were early, but now costs $600 and goes up to a whopping $1140 if you wait until after April 30.

Further information

For details of Mt Hutt, the Remarkables or Coronet Peak visit NZski.com (see link below) or ring the Queenstown Snow Centre on (03) 442 4640 or the Mt Hutt Snow centre on (03) 302 8811.

For information about Cardrona see link below or ring (03) 443 7411.