Queenstown’s Coronet Peak is fired up to be one of the first ski areas to open in New Zealand tomorrow (Saturday June 11).
This year’s opening will be a real celebration with the first 100 people who arrive at Coronet Peak before 8.30am receiving free coffee and a breakfast bap.
As skiers and snowboarders wait to load onto the high-speed Coronet Express chairlift, the party atmosphere continues with loads of spot prizes before opening, and free Amisfield bubbles as gates open at 9am.
Chairlifts will take skiers and snowboarders onto the groomed M1 and Big Easy trails, while Million Dollar and Wall Street trails may possibly open but won’t be groomed.
Keen skiers will queue early, possibly even camp out overnight, to secure the first chair of the season. Their reward will be first turns down the M1 and an exclusive ‘First on the Chair 2016’ T-shirt.
“Dust off those skis and boards and come and help us celebrate the start of winter,” says Coronet Peak ski area manager Ross Copland.
“We’ve had some of the best pre-season snowfall we’ve seen in years, however Mother Nature hasn’t been particularly kind to us these past couple of days. However it’s still early days and the weather looks like it’s going to cool down over the weekend.
“We’re sending snowmakers up the mountain tonight and hoping to make some more snow ahead of tomorrow’s opening. Winter’s definitely here and the forecast shows a cold week ahead and some light snow.
“It’s great as always to get the season underway and I know there’s plenty of locals out there keen to get on the snow, especially those who’ve got back into skiing with the great deals available on our 3 Peak Pass.
“We’re looking forward to a fantastic season.”
