KEY POINTS:
Australian tourist Ken Strudwick enjoys an early taste of winter action at Coronet Peak yesterday after snow machines, helped by a dusting of real powder, set the scene for the start of skiing this month.
Between 5cm and 7cm of snow fell on parts of the skifield overnight on Saturday and mountain manager Russell Hall said the temperature drop meant the skifield's 100 snow machines could be started for the first time this season. The machines ran for about 12 hours until about 11am yesterday, adding to the base forming on many of the slopes.
Mr Hall said the dump had raised hopes the South Island skifield was on course to be the country's first to open, on June 9.
Across at the Remarkables, between 3cm and 5cm of powder - and up to 10cm in places - had fallen by early yesterday. Manager Ross Lawrence said 26 machines were in operation for 13 hours from 9pm on Saturday.
The skifield's rocky terrain meant a base of between 40cm and 50cm was needed before the slopes could be opened, but hopes were high the course would open on June 23.
Other southern skifields are also aiming to open at the end of June, weather permitting, including Treble Cone, on June 26, and Cardrona, on June 30.
-OTAGO DAILY TIMES
