Plans for snow-making system at Mt Hutt

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 32

Plans for snow-making system at Mt Hutt

During the summer, the Mount Hutt ski-field received approval from the Department of Conservation and the catchment board to go ahead with snow-making. “Mount Hutt is looking forward, subject to finalising the snow-making system and design, to being able to provide guaranteed opening and closing dates,” said the chief executive of the Mount Hutt Ski and Alpine Tourist Company, Stephen Cohen.

Mr Cohen said that snow-making was a logical step for Mount Hutt to satisfy its customers. Group Delta, based in Ottawa, Canada, is the consultant for the project. “They have a reputation for being one of the

worldwide leaders in snow-making design, so we are confident of having a superior snow-mak-ing system,” Mr Cohen said this week. “It will be the largest of any system that is being proposed in New Zealand at this time.”

While snow-making is still a season away that would not seem to matter a lot right now with Mount Hutt enjoying its earliest opening — May 26 — since 1985 and having another big dump since then.

A spokesperson said that the heavy snowfalls so far, coupled with short and long range weather forecasts promising a succession of snowbearing “southerlies,” augured well for a long season

with excellent snow conditions. The field has an average base depth of 1.5 metres each season.

One of the changes on the mountain for 1989 is the offering of snacks and drinks for sale at all lift lines. And the free tissues now on the field will be snapped up by those several skiers with watering eyes and running noses. Once again the Sky High Cafe will be opening early each day for the “Earlybird Breakfast” from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.; there will be live music on the sun balcony; the Mount Hutt barbecues will be sizzling away again; and the snack shack will provide hot snacks and cold drinks midway up the mountain.

Other features include the increased emphasis on snowboarding this season. Two-hour group lessons will be available twice a day in both snowboarding and telemarking with hire equipment available. Ski holidays at Mount Hutt are apparently being well supported by Australian tour operators this season.

© Mount Hutt, 23km from Methven, 100 km from Christchurch Airport, triple chairlift, four T-bars, two platters, fixedgrip learners tows, vertical lift 655 m, capacity 8400 skiers per hour. Adult lift pass: $39. Slope difficulty, 25 per cent beginners, 50 per cent intermediates, 25 per cent advanced.