The Remarkables delays opening day

Continuing warm temperatures has resulted in Queenstown’s The Remarkables ski area delaying the start of its 2011 season.

The ski area was scheduled to open this Saturday (June 18) but warm temperatures between snow making periods coupled with a lack of natural snowfalls has resulted in little snow cover to date.

The Remarkables currently has approximately 160 staff on an induction and training week in preparation for colder weather and much anticipated snow.

“As with Coronet Peak before us, it’s massively disappointing and hugely frustrating to be in the position where we can’t get the season underway this Saturday, but we will open on the very first day we possibly can,” said The Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence.

“Our mountain staff are all on board and our snowmaking team is on 24-hour standby ready to make snow as conditions allow.

“We know winter’s going to arrive when it’s ready, so we just look to see what each daybreak brings.

“The forecasts we’ve been receiving have been changing on a daily basis, so all we can do is be fully prepared to take full advantage with our increased snowmaking capacity across large areas of the mountain.

“Even when we have had a day or night of colder temperatures, it has been followed by a warm spell, which isn’t great.

“We know everyone in Queenstown has everything crossed for that drop in temperatures and snow, and even our own staff have done a ‘snow dance’ or two!”