Warm weather plays havoc with ski season

Skiers are reaady, but unseasonably warmer weather is preventing New Zealand's skifields from opening. File photo / Sarah Ivey

Balmy weather is being blamed for delaying the start of the ski season in many South Island ski fields.

In Central Otago, The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and the Snow Park have all suffered from warm temperatures keeping the snow away.

Coronet Peak was due to open on June 4, the Snow Park last weekend and the Remarkables this weekend, but all have had their plans thwarted.

The Remarkables' ski area manager Ross Lawrence said the delay was disappointing and frustrating for them.

"Even when we have had a day or night of colder temperatures, it has been followed by a warm spell, which isn't great," he told The Southland Times.

"We know everyone in Queenstown has everything crossed for that drop in temperatures and snow."

In the North Island Mt Ruapehu is waiting to see if a forecast cold snap this weekend will hit before making a decision on whether to delay the opening of Turoa skifield on June 25 and Whakapapa on July 2.

Snow was forecast on Sunday and a southerly was due to chill the country next week, Mt Ruapehu spokesman Mike Smith told NZPA.

Snow Farm director Mary Lee said the Cardrona cross-country skifield would open as soon as possible.

Treble Cone marketing manager Nigel Kerr said the Wanaka skifield, which has 20 snowmaking guns at the ready, was due to open on June 23 and a decision on whether this would be delayed would be made early next week.

- NZPA