Snow Report 15 September 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND

Kia ora from Methven, New Zealand. The sun has been out in the Canterbury skifields since Friday and this is set to continue until Thursday.

It was a little warm during the week, so the South Island saw a mix of rain and snow, plus some incredibly windy days that uprooted trees across Canterbury in particular.

Ohau and Dobson did pretty well out of the recent storm, with 50+ cms up high. The Remarks and Coronet Peak got nice top-ups also.

Mt Hutt was quiet on Saturday and off-piste took well into the afternoon to soften. When it did there was some fun skiing off the Virgin Mile.

We trekked to My Olympus today (Sunday). What an incredible place! Powder up high, with everyone hiking to find the best lines. Corn snow lower down in the afternoon.

Snow Report 7 September 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Warm and windy days in the mountains, interspersed with rain, have seriously depleted the snow cover across the Australian skifields. Daytime temperatures reached into the teens at the resorts during one of the warmest winters on record.

The good times of late August are now a distant memory! However, the good snowfalls that fell then should at least maintain some decent snow cover at Perisher and Falls, especially if a little top-up comes along next week some time. Could be a good time to learn to ski with the discounted lift tickets that should be offered.

Mt Hotham - Natural Snow Depth: 56cms
The best weeks for Hotham were late August when the whole resort was open and skiing really well. Hotham has lost more than half a metre since last week's report. The Orchard and Blue Ribbon areas closed early on, and the best skiing is now limited to Heavenly Valley. However, even around and about Heavenly there are big patches showing now.

Falls Creek - Natural Snow Depth: 86cms

Perisher 7 Septmeber 2013 [Source: perisher.com.au]

A lot of snow cover lost with the great melt over the past week. Fortunately Falls Creek has a good base so should keep most of the back areas open for a few weeks more. International has closed and Summit can't be far off if this weather continues. As you'd expect in a poor year, Falls has had the best cover of the Victorian ski resorts.

Mt Buller - Natural Snow Depth: 8cms
The punishing warm days, followed by rain have wiped out Buller's natural snow cover. Skiing is now limited to groomed runs ... really only three of them: Bourke St/Baldy, Little Buller Spur/Wombat and Shakey Knees.

Perisher - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 25-125cms
Lots of melt across the resort and grass and rocks showing through now, especially in areas like Smiggins and Guthega. However, Perisher still has lots of terrain open and lifts running ... 35 of them this weekend.

NEW ZEALAND

A series of fronts is approaching the South Island of New Zealand and they could bring up to a metre of snow in the next week. That would set up some incredible Spring skiing!

Cardrona 5 September 2013 [Source: Cardrona FB page]

Conditions could return to those seen at the end of June and early July. All skifields should get big dumps, but winds in the weather forecasts could see some lifts on hold during the early parts of the coming week.


Its interesting how the best conditions for skiing in New Zealand will have been at the beginning and the end of the season this year. Just goes to show how you need to be flexible to get the best snow conditions!

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (60/40cms) is open but needs some more snow soon, while Mt Lyford (150cms) received another 45cms of new snow on Thursday and is skiing nicely into September.

Canterbury

Porters (150/40cms) got another 15cms on Thursday and will be right back in business after this week's storm, while Mt Cheeseman (100/40cms)looks good up top but needs (and will soon get) some snow around the base area. Mt Hutt (295/250cms) received another 30cms last week, and was in the news when hundreds of customers got stuck on the mountain well into the night when wild and windy weather came in and closed the access road.

The Mackenzie

The Remarkables 5 September 2013 [Source: Remarks FB page]

Ohau (140/60cms) is delivering some snowy goodness for the spring season this year with another 35cms on Thursday. Roundhill (150/40cms) got 30cms and has decent cover for September, and Mt Dobson (100cms) also scored another 30cms snowfall and is looking good for spring.

Wanaka

The lower slopes at Treble Cone (298/0cms) need the snow thats coming this week, and will soon look very different with all the tussocks covered and top-to-bottom skiing. Cardrona got 20cms on Thursday and is set  to enjoy the outcome of this week's snow storms (130/55cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (85/42cms) is looking OK while The Remarkables (135/85cms) look very nice and are set up for some fantastic weeks ahead.

Snow Report 29 August 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Those of you who have been up at the skifields will know from experience that this has been the best period of 2013 for skiing in Victoria and New South Wales. Continual top-ups of snow during the last week have reinvigorated the ski season. Good times ... with great cover and all areas open!

Things have been warming up considerably: when the five-day forecast in Melbourne is 22-26c you know you're going to be getting some soft, spring skiing up in the mountains. That will mean freeze-thaw conditions with crunchy starts, and some loss of snow cover over the next week.

Not a lot of snow in the upcoming forecast, if any, over the next week. Lots of opportunity for sunny, t-shirt days however. Enjoy the spring skiing, but get up there soon!

Mt Hotham - Natural Snow Depth: 113cms

Falls Creek 29 August 2013 [Source: Falls FB page]

It finally happened! The Orchard opened early last week and has given people luck enough to be up there some great skiing at times when the snow was fresh. The runs over there have suffered a bit from icy conditions, but its been a good week for Hotham with the whole of the resort open.

Falls Creek - Natural Snow Depth: 135cms
Everything is open again at Falls Creek with great conditions over the past week. Falls will ski well into spring and has had a stand-out season with a good period of ski-in, ski-out, despite the unfortunate landslide that closed the road last weekend.

Mt Buller - Natural Snow Depth: 75cms
The storms of the past week have finally delivered Buller some snowy goodness. Lower trails have missed out a bit, but there is plenty of skiing to be had.

Perisher - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 75-175cms
Fantastic conditions across Perisher over the last few weeks. A great follow-up to last year's incredible ski season. The great news is that Perisher will be building a new quad chairlift at Guthega this summer. This lift is something to look forward to next year.

Mt Hutt 29 August 2013 [Source: Mt Hutt FB page]

NEW ZEALAND

Wow! That was a long wait. a few little top-ups over the past week were a teaser for the great snowfalls that arrived yesterday across the South Island. A long time coming! Things looks so much better now everything is refreshed.

Spring skiing is looking promising in NZ with a return to more variable weather systems. Lets hope there are continual systems coming across bringing new snow.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (60/40cms) has got a nice new white coat, but Hanmer Springs has now closed for the season. Mt Lyford is looking good for when it reopens after 20cms of new snow fell yesterday.

Ohau 29 August [Source: Ohau FB page]

Canterbury

Wow, Porters (140/30cms) really needed that top-up and is looking so much more wintery after a 15cms snowfall. Mt Hutt (290/240cms) has retained its snowdepth form last week with a 25cms dump yesterday.

The Mackenzie

Ohau (110/55cms) scored the biggest fall of the last day with a whopping 40cms - they say it was the  - "biggest fall since June", while Roundhill (80cms) got 25cms, and Mt Dobson didn't miss out with a 15cms snowfall (100cms).

Treble Cone 29 August 2013 [Source: Treble Cone FB page]

Wanaka

A good little 10-15cms at Treble Cone (312/10cms) and Cardrona looks nice and white again to lower levels (130/55cms). Spring looks like being good in the Wanaka area!

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (85/42cms) and some fresh snow falling down to low levels last night. The Remarkables (115/70cms) is looking pretty good with 15cms powder overnight.

Snow Report 19 August 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

It has been good to see these winter weather systems crossing the high country areas of Victoria and New South Wales. Some rain, some sleet and some snow fell over the weekend. The higher resorts fared better but it was pretty touch-and-go all over.

The last week has seen many Australian ski resorts top the one-metre mark; something that was looking unlikely a month ago. This good August winter weather should set up some decent snow cover for late-August and well into September.

It became a lot colder today and snow is again falling, down to much lower levels than at the weekend. Snow is forecast through the week and then the forecast is for a lovely, fine weekend.

No photos this report as, well, nowhere in Australia or New Zealand has been particularly photogenic over the last week. Let the sun come out this weekend!

Mt Hotham - Natural Snow Depth: 108cms
We skied at Hotham this weekend and there was fresh snow each morning but the snowline was pretty high. Saturday was the pick with 17cms fresh reported. The snow became heavy as you headed down the pistes. Some fun runs in the trees at Blue Ribbon, and Heavenly Valley was skiing nicely all day.

On Sunday morning it was very wet and it was a relief when the rain stopped and our clothes could dry out. High winds eventually left only Village and Blue Ribbon running. Lower Playground was the pick of the day. The snow was very wet and not really building depth once you get down to the bottom and that is one of the reasons The Orchard is not yet open, but expect it to open tomorrow or later this week.

Falls Creek - Natural Snow Depth: 128cms
Skiing at Falls Creek has been good with fantastic cover across the mountain. Winds played havoc on Sunday, closing just about every lift. Its set up for a great week once the wind eases this week, while occasional snowfalls top up the pistes with fresh.

Mt Buller - Natural Snow Depth: 54cms
Buller missed out on much of the snow due to marginal temperatures. Nevertheless, most lifts are open and there is plenty of skiing to be had. This week should bring some much-needed fresh falls - expect a good top-up tomorrow morning!

Perisher - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 50-125 cms
Rain early in the warm part of the storm cycle soon turned to good snowfalls at the end of this weekend. Perisher has great coverage and most lifts open.


NEW ZEALAND

The big dry is finally over with a few small snowfalls at various skifields over the last week. Nothing major, but enough to freshen things up and bring some off-psite skiing online once again.

This Thursday looks like bringing some good snowfalls across the South Island. Bring it on!

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (50/30cms) has finally got some fresh snow, but Hanmer Springs (75cms) has gone on hold due to the lack of snow cover. Mt Lyford - 145cms after a good snowfall yesterday.

Canterbury

Porters (140/30cms) is skiing OK on the upper part of the mountain but is suffering in the warm, wet conditions. Mt Hutt (290/240cms) has lost a bit of snow in recent days with some rain. Snow is in the forecast for later this week.

The Mackenzie

Ohau (110/55cms), Roundhill (80cms), Mt Dobson has wet snow but all lifts open (100cms).

Wanaka

Lower slopes are disappearing at Treble Cone (284/0cms) this week, but should get some top-ups later this week. Cardrona (120/45cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (85/42cms) and limited off-piste. The Remarkables (105/70cms) is still looking OK in preparation for some good late-August falls.

Snow Report 10 August 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Snow at the weekend, followed by a little rain, then a good fall of snow again that lingered later through the week than initially expected. Although the icing on the cake - a predicted 60cm dump on Friday - didn't eventuate, the resorts are looking pretty good.

Blue Ribbon @Hotham 9 August [Source: Hotham FB page]

This weekend looks like being one of the best of the season so far, so enjoy if you're up on the mountains!

Another system is due through early next week - let's hope that brings another foot of snow!

Mt Hotham - Natural Snow Depth: 77cms
The Drift opened during the week, followed by - to some surprise and pleasure - Blue Ribbon on Friday. More snow needed to open Keogh's and The Orchard. Hopefully that will happen this week.

Falls Creek - Natural Snow Depth: 91cms
Falls is looking very good with all lifts open for the first time this weekend. The two pomas - International and Lakeside - are now running. Multiple runs now groomed in the summit bowl.

Mt Buller - Natural Snow Depth: 46cms
Buller opened more terrain during the week, and today only the Tirol and Boggy Creek T-bars are not operating.

Perisher 10 August [Source: Perisher.com.au]

Perisher - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 35-95
cms
New snow this week has refreshed Perisher, which is now looking in beautiful shape. 45/47 lifts open for those up there today.

Thredbo - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 20-90cms
All lifts open and groomed runs across the resort.


NEW ZEALAND

A little snow midweek and Friday freshened things up and is a foretaste of things to come.

August is looking like turning much more snowy, starting yesterday in the south and spreading across the South Island later in the weekend.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (40/15cms).  Hanmer Springs (72cms) will reopen its poma lift tomorrow. Mt Lyford - 140cms with all lifts still open.

Canterbury

Mt Dobson 10 August 2013 [Source: mtdobson.co.nz]

Porters (160/40cms) looks great on the upper part of the mountain. Mt Hutt (315/265cms) has been having a great, busy year and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

The Mackenzie

Ohau (100/55cms), Roundhill (80cms), Mt Dobson still has good cover across its slopes (100cms).

Wanaka

A couple of good snowfalls up high for Treble Cone (288/5cms) this week, but the area around the base needs a lot more to turn it white again. Cardrona (120/45cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (80/40cms) and limited off-piste. The Remarkables (100/55cms).

Snow Report 3 August 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

The good news everyone is that the snow has begun to fall nicely and the next few days (and indeed weeks) are looking very promising indeed. We want to see some decent cover build up across the Australian ski resorts. Most of them got around 10cms on Friday and more is forecast for today and into Tuesday.

The return to winter has been long-awaited. Today's report is a just a quick update as the snow begins to fall it should make everything white again for some nice pictures next week!

Finally, we are looking like getting a follow-up weather system to build on the snowfalls this weekend and early next week. Perhaps we're in for a fantastic late season in 2013!

Mt Hotham - Natural Snow Depth: 42cms - Good work by Hotham keeping Heavenly Valley open. Lifts not running at The Orchard, Gotcha, Blue Ribbon or The Drift.

Falls Creek - Natural Snow Depth: 53cms - Falls has done pretty well, as it does tend to do in leaner snow years, with most lifts open.

Mt Buller - Natural Snow Depth: 15cms - Buller lost most of its snow in the past few weeks but is white again today.

Perisher - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 10-60cms - 34/47 lifts at Perisher which has probably weathered the last few weeks the best.

Thredbo - Natural Snow Depth: Approx 10-70cms


NEW ZEALAND

Sunny, mild conditions in New Zealand for weeks now. Most ski areas haven't received new snow since 14/15 July. With the change in weather conditions in Australia, hopefully this will follow on in New Zealand also and return the skifields to winter.

Not a lot of snow in the next few days, but the coming weeks hold more potential.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow (40/15cms) - The T-bar is running but West Bowl is closed. Hanmer Springs (90cms). Mt Lyford - 155cms and still good cover.

Canterbury

Porters (160/40cms) has lost a lot of snow on the lower part of the mountain. Mt Hutt (320/290cms) has shipped in some tracked people-movers - Hagglunds - to shuttle people up from the bottom of the International area.

The Mackenzie

Ohau (90/55cms). Roundhill (80cms) is still looking ok considering the warm run of days, as is Mt Dobson (100cms).

Wanaka

Treble Cone (275/5cms) has been grooming some great pistes into the Saddle Basin to make it more skiable with the freeze-thaw conditions. Cardrona (115/45cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (80/40cms). Solid off-piste are the go around the Queenstown area in these conditions at both CP and The Remarkables (105/65cms).

Snow Report 23 July 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Well, that didn't quite go to plan! I decided to hold off this week's snow report until the conditions had improved, and thankfully they have now. Last Thursday things were very gloomy indeed across the Australian ski resorts. Rain and warm winds created havoc and the inclement weather stayed around a little longer than anticipated.

Fortunately, Saturday saw temperatures drop nicely and good, heavy snowfalls across the Australian mountain ranges. Between 50 and 75cms has fallen since then, to low levels at times, with a few more snow showers still persisting. The resorts have regained the winter wonderland look that was lost at the end of last week.

Falls Creek 23 July 2013 [Source: Falls Creek FP page]

There are no significant snowfalls in the current forecasts, which is a shame as we need another quick follow-up to build on what we have regained over the weekend. Things can change, however, and forecasts always do!

Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 48cms
A combination of wind and a lack of snow left Hotham with almost no lifts running late last week. The weekend snowfalls have brought Heavenly Valley back into business, so we're back where we were a few weeks ago but with nicer snow all around the resort.

Falls Creek
Natural Snow Depth: 71cms
Falls did particularly well from the recent snowfalls and has reopened areas like Ruined Castle that had to close last week. The Summit lift has also reopened for some advanced skiing, and the resort is ski-in/ski-out for now.

Mt Buller
Natural Snow Depth: 31cms

Mt Perisher 23 July 2013 [Source: Perisher FB page]

The Summit has reopened after the recent snowfalls, but Howqua is not running and Family Run is yet to reopen. Little Buller/Wombat and Shakey Knees provide the only other intermediate skiing and riding at Buller.

Perisher
Natural Snow Depth: Approx 50-70cms
42/47 lifts at Perisher and good conditions across the resort. Mt Perisher looks particularly good on the cams.

Thredbo
Natural Snow Depth: Approx 30-70cms


NEW ZEALAND

Sunny conditions have persisted in New Zealand and there has been a run of mild, clear days. Great for skiing and riding under clear skies, but you do need top-ups of snow when its mild or you lose your snow base.

All skifields are now losing a bit of snow, but the weather is due to turn cooler today. Snowfalls are more likely in Canterbury than the Southern Lakes this week.

Like Australia, not a lot of snow in the forecast, but hopefully that changes as the week goes on.

Ohau 22 July 2013 [Source: Ohau FB page]

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow has really struggled this year and is currently closed (40/15cms). Hanmer Springs (97cms) has now fixed its poma (one of two main lifts) and is looking to make the most of its typically short season. Mt Lyford - further east near Kaikoura, has 190cms and full snow cover.

Canterbury

Porters (160/40cms) in the unseasonably warm weather has lost a lot of snow in the last week since its opening but there is still great snow cover up high.

Mt Hutt (360/320cms) still has great cover but the news that the triple chair won't be fixed this year is disappointing as that particular skilift opens up much of the more interesting terrain at Mt Hutt. Kudos to nzski.com for thinking about how to open that terrain through the use of shuttles to take skiers and riders back to the base.

The Mackenzie

Treble Cone 22 July 2013 [Source: Treble Cone FB page]

Ohau (90/55cms) has lost a lot of snow since last week and off-piste is firm to start, while Roundhill (80cms) is still looking good for those staying around Lake Tekapo. Mt Dobson (100cms) will need some care off-piste at 1m.

Wanaka

Treble Cone (275/5cms) has got fantastic cover in the Saddle Basin, while the lower-altitude Home Basin is looking even more sketchy and tussocky down the bottom compared to last week. A top-up is needed and will surely come soon. Cardrona (120/45cms) is still skiing nicely thanks to its higher altitude.

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (80/40cms) has fired up its snowmaking where possible to combat the spring conditions. Solid mornings are the go around the Queenstown area in these conditions at both CP and The Remarkables (120/80cms).

Snow Report 13 July 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Here we are into peak season 2013 with the Aussie school holidays drawing to a close. Some good snow a week ago helped the Victorian and NSW ski resorts to open more lifts and terrain for skiers and riders to enjoy.

After warm temperatures and some rain at first, the latter half of the coming week is looking good for some serious snowfalls. Hopefully that will continue into August and push the snow depths above the one-metre mark.

Falls Creek 12 July 2013 [Source: Falls Creek FB page]

Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 44cms
Hotham has done well getting Heavenly Valley open as this great terrain provides a significant draw to the mountain. As of today, the Summit and Big D areas above the road are open. Below the road there is skiing on the Village loop and Heavenly Valley.

Falls Creek
Natural Snow Depth: 53cms
Falls always does well when the snow depths aren't great. The recent storm cycle brought the whole of the back of Falls open with its large amount of intermediate terrain from Drovers Dream to Ruined Castle. They've also opened up the Summit, but the snow is patchy in the bowl.

Perisher 13 July 2013 [Source: perisher.com.au]

Mt Buller

Natural Snow Depth: 29cms

The snowfalls last week at Mt Buller enabled the Summit/Howqua areas to open, adding to the intermediate runs around Wombat.

Perisher

Natural Snow Depth: Approx 50cms

Perisher now has extensive terrain open with 42 of 47 lifts spinning this weekend. Conditions look pretty damn good on the cams!

Thredbo
Natural Snow Depth: Approx 20-70cms
Just about all the lifts are now open at Thredbo and the snow cover improves as you get higher up the mountain.

NEW ZEALAND

Treble Cone 9 July 2013

Conditions have been fantastic in the South Island of New Zealand during the past week and all of the skifields have now opened. I've just been over there to experience it and it is with some sadness that I'm back on this side of the ditch!

The pictures below were taken at the skifields around Wanaka over the last week.

It started off very windy and warm at the end of last week, with rain affecting most skifields. By last Sunday the winds changed and it cooled. The snowline fell progressively from above 1500m, down to about 700m. Winds eased off during this past week and there were some glorious recent sunny days.

Some snow showers are forecast over the next few days, then a return to fine conditions.

Captains @ Cardrona 8 July 2013

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow - Up in the beautiful Nelson Lakes is Rainbow skifield, a field run by volunteers and now open with 40/15cms. Hanmer Springs (92cms) has a skifield close to the hot springs town which opened on the 4th July. Mt Lyford - further east near Kaikoura, has 160cms and full snow cover.

Canterbury

Porters (200/100cms) finally celebrated its opening day after completing work following the avalanche incident of late June. The ski area has magnificent cover following weeks of storms and snowfalls. Wind closures dogged Mt Hutt (350/310cms) during the recent storm, but things cleared up for some fantastic skiing during this past week. The triple chair, which was damaged during control work weeks back, is still not operational. Lets hope it comes back online soon.

Valley View @ Cardrona 8 July 2013

The Mackenzie

Ohau (160/80cms) is reporting great skiing on and off-piste, while Roundhill (80cms) is looking like it has good cover on the cams. Mt Dobson (100cms) lost some snow in the warmer weather but is still looking good for so early in July.

Wanaka

Treble Cone (300/20cms) has been skiing brilliantly this week. The Saddle Basin got a good fall of snow even while the temps were warm, and the later top-up was more than welcome in the Home Basin which had little cover at the bottom a week ago.

Once the avalanche control work was completed last weekend, the Saddle was skiing beautifully with dry, winter snow off-piste. Lovely turns everywhere! The Motatapu Chutes (seen from picture above) opened on 9 July and the Home Basin was skiing well off-piste almost to the base (1260m).

Shadow Basin @ The Remarkables 10 July 2013

Cardrona (125/45cms) got a good top-up of snow last weekend, right down almost to the bottom of the gorgeous valley it presides over. It was very windy on the days I was there, and the powder was variable and somewhat wind-affected at times.

Monday 8 July was a great day as the sun came out and the wind eased, and not least thanks to another top-up of dry snow the previous day.

Skied the Valley View area for the first time, both on and off-piste. Its quite gentle terrain, but makes for some fun variation down to 1260m, and Tailrace is a cracking wide run for some fast GS turns! Otherwise, riding around Arcadia/Powderkeg and in the Captains Basin was great fun over multiple visits to lovely Cardies.

Queenstown

Homeward Runs @ The Remarkables 10 July 2013

Coronet Peak (90/50cms), being lower, lost almost all its off-piste in the warm, windy weather last weekend. Fortunately it got it all back naturally when the snow level lowered, and supplemented it further with its massive snowmaking system in the following cold spell.

The Remarkables (130/90cms) did very well out of the storm and is skiing incredibly this early in the season. We don't usually get here until late Spring, so this was a treat to find the place in such good nick.

I managed to get a run in on Homeward for the first time and I have to say that was a highlight of the short visit last week! What an incredible experience, even after enjoying the dry, winter snow in the Shadow Basin all morning. I was buzzing in the shuttle that takes you back from the bottom of this huge, wide bowl.

Snow Report 1 July 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Clear, cold days provided more opportunities for snowmaking in Australia last week as the lack of moisture over the mountains continued during this dry winter continued. The last few days have been too warm, however, with temperatures above zero during the day and night at most resorts.

The school holidays have started with little natural snow on the ground. There has been little improvement in snow cover since last week. This is frustrating, but I think there will be a good bit of snow falling by the end of this week. I hope so, as we have a long way to go to catch up to the metre of snow we had at this time last year. Maybe this year will bring a good late season, similar to New Zealand last year.

Perisher 1 July 2013 [Source: Perisher Webcam]

Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 8cms
Hotham is struggling to provide much skiing with only Summit Trainer, Sun Run and Big D open.

Falls Creek
Natural Snow Depth: 0cms
Drovers Dream lift opened this week, adding some fun skiing to the existing runs open - Main Street and Wombats Ramble.

Mt Buller

Natural Snow Depth: 0cms

Mt Buller has done really well to keep Bourke Street/Baldy, Wombat/Little Buller and Shakey Knees open. Snow is desperately needed and should come at the weekend.

Perisher

Natural Snow Depth: Approx 10cms

Towers on Mt Perisher opened at the weekend which added to the open runs. Just managing to show a bit of natural snow cover.

Thredbo
Natural Snow Depth: 0-41cms
High Noon and the beginners area at Friday Flat are now open. Limited skiing on groomed runs early this week.

Hanmer Springs 1 July 2013  [Source: Hanmer Springs FB page]

NEW ZEALAND

A great week and weekend for all the skifields that were operating this early in the season. Winds picked up on Monday and have forced some closures at some resorts.

Gale-force winds are forecast throughout this week and this will make things difficult for those skifields working on getting things up and running.

The strong northwesterlies will also bring very large amounts of snow above 1500m to skifields across the South Island this week.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow - Rainbow skifield is due to open on Saturday 6th July. Hanmer Springs says it is now looking to open on Friday 5th July. The staff have been up and about preparing the skifield. Mt Lyford opened on the weekend with an average base of 2m.

Canterbury

Porters 30 June 2013 [Source: skiporters.co.nz]

Porters has continued to work on opening since the avalanche incident, delayed now since 21st June. Mt Hutt (340/300cms) had a great week, but increasing winds today forced it to close. Looks likely more closures will follow this week with the winds forecasted.



The Mackenzie


Ohau (160/120cms) opened on the weekend, but closed on Monday due to winds. Roundhill is due to open 6 July with 1.5 metres. Mt Dobson (180cms) opened for one day on Saturday 29 June, but closed due to winds. Reopens 6 July.

Wanaka

Treble Cone (200/94cms) opened on 27th June with more than 2m in the Saddle Basin. Looks set to get a metre or more of snow up high in the next 5 days. Cardrona opened Valley View Quad on the weekend (125/65cms).

Queenstown

Coronet Peak (105/65cms) and The Remarkables (110/75cms).

Snow Report 24 June 2013 - Australia & New Zealand

AUSTRALIA

Here we are less than one week out from the July school holidays in Australia. The lack of natural snowfalls in Southeastern Australia has been a little disappointing.


Falls Creek 23 June [Source Falls Creek FB page]



Fortunately the very cold nights over the last week have helped snowmakers create some magnificent quantities of manmade snow at all the major resorts over the last week. Remarkably this has helped all the ski resorts open at least a run or two against all the odds.



A bit of snow fell on Monday, especially at Perisher and Thredbo. Very little snow is forecast during the next week, so its going to be a while before we really get going.

Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 9cms
The Big D beginner run that sits all on its own above the road through Hotham Heights opened on the weekend. Nothing else open yet but you'd expect Summit to be the next lift to open at Hotham.

Falls Creek
Natural Snow Depth: 0cms
Beginners can ski up high at Mousetrap, and there is the short, fast ski run down Main Street on offer along with the lovely Wombats Ramble which opened on Monday after some great snowmaking runs.


Perisher 23 June [Source: Perisher FB page]



Mt Buller

Natural Snow Depth: 0cms

Mt Buller's huge snowmaking system has managed to get Bourke Street/Baldy open last week, followed by Wombat/Little Buller, and then Shakey Knees which opened on Sunday. More snow is needed to keep those runs open.



Perisher

Natural Snow Depth: 11cms

Happy Valley and Zalis opened on Sunday, adding to the runs open all around Front Valley. Some good snowfalls on Sunday and Monday (30cms) have boosted the ski area's cover.

Thredbo
Natural Snow Depth: 0-41cms
High Noon and the beginners area at Friday Flat are now open.

NEW ZEALAND

What a dramatic week and weekend in New Zealand. Snowfalls in the South Island last weekend and into seem tame now by comparison with what came later.

A huge storm hit from 19-21st June, affecting the whole country and bringing massive snowfalls across the skifields in the South Island.


Mt Lyford 24 June [Source: Mt Lyford FB page]



Unfortunately, most resorts were unprepared to deal with this amount of snow at this time of year, with operations only just getting going. For some, the sheer amount of snow made it hard to clear roads and conduct safety work for days.



Only Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona were open on this past weekend as the storm hit harder in Canterbury than in the Southern Lakes.

Not much snow in the forecast for New Zealand for the next week.

North Canterbury and Nelson

Rainbow - no news from Rainbow this week following the big storm. Rainbow skifield is due to open on Saturday 6th July. Hanmer Springs says it is looking to open on Saturday 29th June having got a good bit of cover in a few days of snowfalls. Mt Lyford is aiming to get the field open on the 27th or 28th June after receiving around two metres of snow from the storm.

Porters [Source: ONENews via Porters FB page]

Canterbury

Porters was engaged in safety work by helicopter which set off an avalanche which has delayed the planned opening, which was 21st June. Its not clear when Christchurch's closest ski area will open. Mt Hutt got a heap of snow in the weekend snowfalls a week ago ... then even more in the big storm. Over two metres by the end of the week and edging deeper and deeper and closer to three metres by Sunday 23rd June.

Unfortunately Hutt couldn't get open again on the weekend with all the work that has been required to get the skifield prepared. Mt Hutt had to do avalanche control by helicopter ("helibombing") this weekend. Bad news is that an avalanche took out the bottom lift station of the Towers Triple Chairlift on Sunday. The good news is Hutt will open on Tuesday 25th June.


The Mackenzie


The new lift at Ohau

Ohau received 60cms in the weekend storm, followed by a metre of snow and then some great news about the second lift they plan to put in at the end of 2013. Ohau opens on 29th June. Roundhill and Mt Dobson each received a heap of snow in the storms and open in early July.

Wanaka

Treble Cone is opening on 27th June with great cover in the Saddle Basin - around 1.5 metres. Cardrona was one of the only skifields open on the weekend with fantastic cover across the mountain (120/65cms).

Queenstown



At Coronet Peak, the Greengates Chair opened and the Peak now has a solid base for the long season ahead (105/65cms). Close by, across the valley, The Remarkables opened on 22nd June (110/75cms).

Ski Season 2013 - What's Open

AUSTRALIA

Perisher 14th June 2013 [Source: perisher.com.au]

I think it would be fair to say this wasn't exactly the start we hoped for in Australia. Warm sunny days were followed by rain which washed away all of the snow that fell in mid-May. While last year we had a good start to the snow season, this year's is unfortunately the far more common scenario ... so remember that its still early days.

The Front Valley run at Perisher is just about open for a few turns on the manmade snow. Elsewhere is snowplay only.

The good news is that the coming days look quite snowy, so hopefully that will kickstart the season and get some slopes open.

NEW ZEALAND

Queenstown's Coronet Peak was the first and only skifield to open in New Zealand on the 8th June 2013. Some of New Zealand South Island skifields scored up to half a metre in a timely storm in the week before but only a few have managed to hold onto any significant cover, notably Cardrona and Mt Hutt.

More snow is forecast this weekend after some rain on Saturday. The higher skifields and slopes should escape most of the rain.

New Zealand skifields usually open towards the end of June and early July, but here are this weekend's openings and the dates of the scheduled openings.

Coronet Peak - OPEN - 30-40cms snow depth. Opened on 8th June 2013 with the main lift to the peak running. Skiing is mainly on the groomed pistes. Rain in the forecast for this weekend is a concern.

Coronet Peak 14th June 2013 [Source: www.nzski.com]

The Remarkables - CLOSED (Opening 22nd June) - 30-70cms.

Cardrona - CLOSED (Opening 22nd June) - Cardrona has kept

Treble Cone - CLOSED (Opening 27th June) - 8-10cms.

Ohau - CLOSED (Opening 29th June)

Roundhill - CLOSED (Opening 6th July)

Mt Dobson - CLOSED (Opening 12th July)

Mt Hutt - OPEN - 50-70cms. Looks like getting some good snowfalls this weekend.

Porters - CLOSED (Opening 21st June) - no snow yet.

Mt Cheeseman - CLOSED (Opening 6th July)

Mt Lyford - CLOSED (Opening 22nd June)

Rainbow - CLOSED (Opening 6th July)

Whakapapa/Turoa - CLOSED (Opening 29th June)

What's New at the Skifields - New Zealand & Australia 2013

Well, well, well! Welcome to Season 2013. May it be cold, snow-filled, and not too windy!

We're less than a week away from the first ski season openings in New Zealand and Australia, so its as good a time as any to share a few bits of news for 2013. Then its on to regular snow reports, so stay tuned this weekend as I go around the resorts to see what's open.

Australia

Falls Creek

Falls Creek and Mt Hotham have put in RFID scanning gates on multiple lifts at each resort. These usually allow you to zip through by using a card kept in your jacket pocket. Falls, Summit, Eagle and Falls Express lifts now have RFID gates, while at other chairlifts staff use handheld RFID scanners to scan the reloadable lift pass card called Snowpass.

Mt Hotham

The new RFID gates at Mt Hotham (see above) are at Summit, Big D, Heavenly and Village.

Diamond pattern chains are now mandatory for ALL vehicles coming up the Great Alpine Road to Mt Hotham. Ladder chains, spider chains and snow socks are not permitted to be used at any time. This move has been to address the large number of times cars got into trouble last year, blocking the road.

Perisher

Perisher has added automated snowmaking to both Excelerator (at Blue Cow) and Lower Escapade (in Centre Valley), helping these areas open earlier and longer into the season.

Thredbo

Thredbo has made its beginner area, Friday Flat, bigger with a new first-timer area and a new ski run - Giddy Up. A new run-out from High Noon will attempt to separate more advanced skiers and riders returning to the Gunbarrell Express lift.

New Zealand

Roundhill

I'm not sure if it was new last year or this year, but some time over the last few years Roundhill put in a second T-Bar called T2 that opens up some more intermediate terrain at the Lake Tekapo skifield.

Ohau

Not sure what happened with Ohau's second lift to the ridge that I reported on last year. Maybe we'll get some news during the season.

Treble Cone

Treble Cone have created a new Jazz Kids Fun Trail in the Home Basin. The Terrain Trail includes fun pint sized park features accessible to even the littlest of skiers or snowboarders.

Snow Park NZ

Snow Park, the dedicated freestyle resort that sits in the Cardrona Valley opposite Cardrona Alpine Resort, announced it will not open in 2013. It has been sold to the neighbouring vehicle proving ground.

Skiing with Kids in Australia & New Zealand

En route to Mt Buller - 26 August 2012

Here is a round-up of day-pass discounts provided to young kids and older children at skifields around Australia and New Zealand.

KIDS

Generally speaking, you can start out on the slopes with kids at the age of about three and they can ski or ride for at least a couple of years for free.

From the age of around five or six they can then ski at about half price until they are about 14 years old (but interestingly up to 17 at most places in NZ).

My awards for the best deals on daily rates go to The Remarkables and Mt Hutt where kids ski for free up to age 10, and Mt Buller which extends the youth rate to Year 12.

Don't forget: first-timer and beginner tickets are usually much cheaper than all-resort day tickets and can be bundled with other services like equipment rental and lessons. These are always the best deal for starting out with kids at the snow.

Even experienced kids usually get discounted ski and board rental too.

En route to Falls Creek - 18 August 2012

Look for family packages that bundle adults and kids together in one deal as these can offer further savings.

Now, I haven't covered tertiary students who may also get discounted passes, and often special deals for certain days of the week - so check with your friendly resorts! At many NZ skifields, Australian students with cards can get the local student rate.

Australia

Falls Creek and Mt Hotham - Young children up to the age of 5 ski for free at Falls and Hotham. Children 6-14 years pay half price (that's A$55). A once-off A$3 fee is required to cover the new RFID card.

Mt Buller - Children 4 years and under ski for free at Buller. Kids aged 5-14 pay A$61 (you will need a A$5 B-Tag). The good news is at Buller, this kids rate also applies to older children up to Year 12.

Perisher - Perisher is yet to announce day-pass pricing for 2013, so check the website in the next few weeks.

En route to Mt Hutt - 19 September 2012

Thredbo - Little ones 4 years and under ski for free, while kids aged 5-14 get a discount to A$64 (less if you prepurchase the passes online).

New Zealand

Rainbow - Kids up to age 6 ski for free, then from 7-17 years lift tickets are priced at NZ$35.

Mt Lyford - Children up to 5 ski for free up at Lyford. Children from 6-12 years pay NZ$20, and when they're 13-17 they'll pay NZ$35.

Mt Cheeseman - At the Cheese, children up to 9 years old can ski for free, while those 10-17 pay NZ$39 for a day pass.

Porters - Kids up to 6 ski for free. Children up to 17 pay NZ$44 per day.

Mt Hutt - Children all the way up to the age of 10 ski for free. Those aged 11-17 will pay NZ$51 for a lift ticket.

Mt Dobson - Children up to the age of 4 ski for free. Those aged 5-17 pay NZ$44 for a day on the slopes.

En route to Mt Dobson - 21 September 2012

Roundhill - Little ones up to the age of 5 ski for free. Those aged from 6-12 years pay NZ$36, and those aged 13-17 pay NZ$46 for a day pass.

Ohau - Children up to the age of 5 can ski for free. Those aged 6-17 pay only NZ$32 for a full day on the ski field.

Treble Cone - Young kids up to the age of 5 will ski for free at TC. Those aged 6-17 get a day pass for NZ$48.

Cardrona - Children up to the age of 5 ski for free. Those aged 6-17 pay NZ$49 for a day pass at Cardies.

Coronet Peak - Kids up to age 6 ski for free at CP. Those aged 7-17 pay NZ$54 for each day's lift ticket.

The Remarkables - Children all the way up to the age of 10 ski for free. Those aged 11-17 pay NZ$51 for a day riding Remarks.

Skiing for Seniors in Australia & New Zealand

Did you know that, once you get to a certain age, you can ski for free at most ski resorts? The good news for seniors - whether you've been skiing for 50 years or are just a beginner - is that there are a bundle of fluffy white benefits for you up in the cool, clean air of the mountains.

Here is a round-up of day-pass discounts provided to seniors aged 65 and over by skifields around Australia and New Zealand. In my next post I will do something similar for kids!

[Pictures are mine and cover some highlights from a brilliant 2012 ski season.]

Mt Hotham July 2012

SENIORS

In summary, there are benefits for you whichever mountain you choose. You'll be able to ski for free earlier in Australia compared to the major ski areas in New Zealand, but while you're still aged 65-69, the daily lift prices will be cheaper in New Zealand.

It would definitely also be worth checking out senior season ticket prices for season-long discounts at your favourite mountain in Australia and New Zealand. These offer some great deals for those blessed with the energy and the leisure time.

Seniors also get discounts on equipment rental and lessons at Falls Creek, for example, so make sure you check with your mountain when you're booking a package. You may even get discounts at retail establishments on-mountain for food and drink, at Mt Buller, for example.

Check the websites for all the benefits. You'll never know what you may find. Like at Porters during the 2013 season there is a masters "learn to ski" package designed for those 50+ who have not skied before and want to tick it off their bucket list. The NZ$105 package includes introduction, one-day learner lift pass, equipment rental, beginner ski instruction, complimentary apres coffee or house wine, and a certificate of achievement.

Mt Buller August 2012

Happy skiing to all you seniors, and maybe I'll see you on the mountain this year!

"We've got quite a good following of regular seniors at Cheeseman - we always know that Ged and Gini are out skiing when we smell Ged's pipe smoke around the mountain!" - Mt Cheeseman Ski Area

Australia

Falls Creek - Over 70s ski for free at Falls, with seniors aged 65-69 paying half the adult price (A$55) for one-day lift passes. A once-off $3 fee is required to cover the new RFID card.

Mt Hotham - Over 70s ski for free, and seniors aged 65-69 get half-price Hotham lift passes at A$55 for a one-day pass. A once-off $3 fee is required to cover the new RFID card.

Mt Buller - Over 65s get a one-day pass for A$61, and over 70s ski for free (you will need a A$5 B-Tag).

Ohau September 2012

Perisher - Over 65s pay around 40% of full-price tickets and Perisher will announce pricing for 2013 shortly, so check the website in the next few weeks.

Thredbo - Over 65s pay A$64.

New Zealand

Rainbow - Seniors aged over 65 pay NZ$35 for a day pass.

Mt Lyford - Over 70s ski for free.

Mt Cheeseman - Over 75s ski for free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$39 for a one-day pass.

Porters - Over 75s ski for free. Seniors pay NZ$44 for a one-day pass.

Mt Hutt - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$51.

Mt Dobson - Seniors aged over 65 pay NZ$37.50 for a day pass, with over 70s skiing for free.

Mt Dobson September 2012

Roundhill - Seniors aged over 65 pay NZ$37.50 for a day pass.

Ohau - Seniors over the age of 65 years pay NZ$39.50 for an all day lift pass.

Treble Cone - Seniors aged 65-69 pay NZ$54 for a day ticket, while 70yrs and older can ski for free.

Cardrona - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$50.

"We definitely get a few - there’s even a local crew of them who call their group 'one ski in the grave'" - Treble Cone Ski Area

Coronet Peak - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$54.

The Remarkables - Over 75s ski free. Seniors aged 65-74 pay NZ$51.