"It's very disappointing for us and our staff as we're ready and raring to go, but Mother Nature hasn't been playing ball. We've been knocked around by some pretty horrendous weather this past week. It's been warm, wet and then very windy, all of which has had an impact on our natural snow base."
He said the crew had had some "fantastic success" with snow making on the main trails in the run up to the season.
"Our groomers have been spreading out huge man-made snow piles to create a pretty respectable 30-40cm base on Highway 72, Broadway and the Learners Area.
"Higher up on the mountain, Fascination and Morning Glory are in good shape also but unfortunately most of the snow on the Summit Road has been swept away by wind."
Coronet Peak near Queenstown will also open tomorrow.
The Remarkables, also near Queenstown, was due to open on June 20. Ski area manager for the Remarkables, Ross Lawrence, said they were excited for next weekend's opening.
"We are certainly anticipating things to be busy, especially with the snow coming on now - that gets people excited.
"There is an air of excitment around winter with all the snow that's about and we're looking forward to opening with all chairlifts, and probably with at least 70 to 80 per cent of our terrain."
This season a new base lodge would also open, as part of a $45 million development that has taken place at the ski field over the last two years.
Further north, Turoa and Whakapapa would both open to the public on June 27.
Mt Ruapehu executive commercial manager Simon Dickson said the beginning of the season was always the busiest time of year at Whakapapa and Turoa, as it coincided with the school holidays.
"They are a busy period for us. Both ski fields will be exceptionally busy for us in the holidays.
"Our weekends are our busiest times, obviously our mid-week days, skiers are visiting less than in the weekend.
"It's snow dependant at the end of the day. The ski season will be busy, but it gets busier if there is plenty of snow around as well."
Before the season starts, season passes - always a popular choice for keen and avid skiers - would be available to purchase, Mr Dickson said.
"They enjoy the fact they have got a whole season ahead of them and they ski for the season as much as they like, which is fantastic.
"We've sold out our traditional rate of those season passes before the season starts, as we do every year."
Mr Dickson said the mountain had seen some "good snow" in the last 48 hours.
"We have had a good 15cm over the upper mountain... This is a really nice reminder that Mother Nature delivers at this time of year for us and we'll get in to our snow making as well, to assist Mother Nature next week as the temperatures drop.
"We've had a really nice little dusting that just tops everything up in the last two days which has been great."
MetService meteorologist John Law said the cold southwesterly winds whipping through the country this weekend could bring with them some snow.
"Once you get higher up you tend to get those stronger winds, so it's definitely a good case of keeping an eye on the forecast.
"On the plus side, this is bringing in some cold air, which should hopefully bring a little bit of snow, particularly for the likes of those at the central Otago ski fields and the Remarkables.
"We'll hopefully see some snow fall there. How much we'll see in those Canterbury fields, it might not be huge amounts of fresh snow, but definitely cold enough."
He said there may also be snowfall about the top of Mt Ruapehu as well.
Ski mountain openings:
Mt Hutt - June 13
Coronet Peak - June 13
The Remarkables - June 20
Turoa - June 27
Whakapapa - June 27
