J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

The Remarkables delays ski season opening

From the Otago Daily Times today :-

Staff at The Remarkables say the warm weather that has delayed the start of the 2011 season is ''hugely frustrating'' for the skifield.

The ski area had been scheduled to open this Saturday but warm temperatures between snow-making periods and a lack of natural snowfalls mean there is little cover on the slopes.

...

Coronet Peak had been scheduled to open on June 4, but the opening has been on hold since June 1.
...
Mt Hutt was put on hold on June 8, having been scheduled to open on Saturday - its last snowfall was 3cm on May 15 and, as of yesterday, no snow was on the mountain.

Treble Cone and Cardrona are aiming to open next week, the Snow Park could open this weekend and Snow Farm has no scheduled opening.

For more information, see the complete article here

The Denver Examiner reports that Colorado's ski areas saw around 3% more skier visits in 2010/2011 than the previous season, due to the excellent snow conditions throughout the season.

Despite a still-struggling economy, but bolstered by one of the best snow seasons in recent memory, Colorado's ski resorts hosted between 2.6 and 3.9 percent more skiers and riders this season than last season.

And the season's not over yet...

Don't forget that the season has not officially ended since Arapahoe Basin is open for at least two more three-day weekends, starting today through Sunday, and then back up and running the following weekend, June 17-19. July 4 weekend is up in the air, but still a distinct possibility. A-Basin currently has a 77-inch mid-mountain base so it will be a race against warmth and the resulting snow melt to see if July 4 is viable.

For the full report see the Denver Examiner.

So this is what skiing in Australia really looks like :-



Courtesy of Snow Australia. :thumbup:

The Otago Daily Times reports an improving weather forecast for New Zealand's ski areas :-

Forecasts of colder temperatures in the middle of next week are looking "very positive" for snowmaking, but it is too early to say when Coronet Peak and the Remarkables Ski Areas will open for business, NZSki chief executive James Coddington says.

As well as New Zealand's skiers and boarders, the wait has been tense for the ski resort staff too...

The 220 Queenstown-based NZSki staff members employed at Coronet Peak were not working and were not paid until the mountain opened.

The New Zealand Herald gives a good summary of the pre-season state of play in New Zealand's ski areas, in an article entitled They're skiing in Oz, but there's no snow at home.

So far this season, Australia has edged ahead...

Snowstorms and cold snaps allowed several New South Wales and Victoria slopes to open as early as May 20, with the added assistance of artificial snow.

While the snow bases at those resorts were small - 20-50cm - and changeable, the early snowfall has given Australian operators hope of a bumper season.

Some New South Wales skifields did not see natural snow until August 6 last year.

New Zealand operators, on the other hand, are yet to get the snowfalls needed to kickstart their seasons.

...

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said a weather system in the Tasman Sea had been fixed for weeks, with cold air driving towards Australia and warmer air shunted across New Zealand.

The latest planned opening dates for the main ski areas are now as follows :-

Whakapapa: Opening date July 2 - 5cm snow base.
Turoa: Opening date June 25 - 1cm.
Mt Hutt: Opening date June 11 (delayed) - 0cm.
Coronet Peak: Opening date June 4 (delayed) - 1cm.
The Remarkables: Opening date June 18 - 5cm.
Cardrona: Opening date June 24 - 0cm.
Treble Cone: Opening date June 23 - 0cm.
Snow Park: Opening date June 11 (delayed) - base unknown.

To get things moving with our brand new Facebook page, we're giving away a handful of Warren Smith Ski Academy DVDs over the next few days.

To be entered into the competition, all you have to do is like our J2Ski page on Facebook - that's it.

With four lucky (for someone) draws between now and the 13th June; the sooner you like us, the more chances you have to win a DVD.

There'll be more freebies and competitions over the summer, and lots more features to be added before next winter, so keep an eye.

Good luck!

Tony_H wrote:they had 1.5 metres of snow on the ground in April.

:shock:

Amazing - and more than some of The Alps at that time!

You not on holiday this week then Tony? :lol:

Courtesy of our friends at SkiSet, here's the view at La Croisette, Courchevel this morning...



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