Ski-field attracts 3000

Press, 15 August 1988, Page 9

Ski-field attracts 3000

By

JANE ENGLAND

A calm day and perfect snow led more than 3000 people to pack the slopes at Mount Hutt yesterday in conditions which contrasted with the blizzards that trapped 600 people there last week. The attendance equalled previous records, said the ski-field manager, Mr Phil Witton. He attributed the big attendance to “eager locals” wishing to make the most of a late season.

However, the day was not without its share of

incidents. A car was damaged and had to be towed from the access road after hitting another car which slid on an icy stretch. No-one was injured. Mr Witton said the car had slid because the driver had ignored instructions given over the public address system for cars to descend only with the chains which had previously

been supplied. Visitors to the field were often advised to drive carefully but careless driving was an ongoing problem, he

said. “The adrenalin gets going after a good day ski-ing and some people just do not listen to the advice we give.” One skier suffered a broken leg on the field yesterday and others suffered minor injuries. Mr Witton said there was no serious accident. “It was a very good day considering the high number of people.”

He said the day reflected a trend of New Zealand ski conditions — “one day there are blizzards, the next day it’s perfect.”