Mt Olympus to open after avalanche

Canterbury's Mount Olympus skifield is opening this weekend even though one of its ski patrollers was caught in an avalanche on Thursday.

Frenchman Franck Grabais, 32, was having surgery today, Skifield committee member Richard Norris said.

He had injuries to his pelvis and face after being was swept away by a 150m avalanche while helping prepare the field for opening.

The field would usually try to open in July but there hasn't been much snow this year on the ski areas of Canterbury club skifields.

The Mt Olympus website says the field has great snow on the upper mountain. The snow depth varies from 55cm to 80cm on the field which operates four rope tows.

The Craigieburn range has a high avalanche hazard at the moment.

- NZPA