Blizzards keep skiiers away

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 503, 14 September 1993, Page 2

Blizzards keep skiiers away

Blizzard-like con-di-tions forced the closure of skifields on both sides of Mt Ruapehu at the weekend. Turoa Turoa Ski Resort opened Saturday morning but was forced to close at mid-day. Skiers were appeased however, with a complimentary day pass for a free day's skiing. The mountain was closed again on Sunday. A number of fun events are scheduled for this Saturday 18 September, with the annual Turoa Media Celebrity Day promising great fun. Mumm Champagne will be flowing freely for the many media and national celebrities who will be competing in a novelty obstacle race later in the day. Sunday, and to celebrate Women's Suffrage Year in New Zealand, a women's walk to the crater is organised, leav-

ing from the Top of the Giant at 11.30am. Registration takes place at Yeti's Bar in the bottom cafe, between 910.30am: numbers are limited, so those wanting to participate are advised to get in early. Also on Sunday is another Mumm Champagne Demo Day, with the Turoa Ski School strutting their stuff on the slopes. The entertainment starts at the Top of the Giant at 1pm. Whakapapa Skifield Whakapapa Skifield welcomed 4800 visitors to its slopes on Saturday but was unable to turn on the same great weather on Sunday, with only 100 skiers braving cold conditions to utilise Happy Valley's beginner's facilities. The upper field was closed on Sunday due to high winds. Promotions assistant Pam Wood said the skifield enjoyed a tremen-

dous turnover of skiers in the last week of the August School Holidays, with around 33,000 people enjoying the fine weather and Whakapapapa's brilliant snow coverage. The Coca Cola School Holiday Programme finished with a flourish on Saturday, with the Chill Treasure Hunt run by Ski FM. 8000 at Whakapapa Whakapapa Ski Area enjoyed their biggest day ever on Tuesday 7 September. Over 7000 people skied on the 'Magic Mountain' with an estimated 1000 additional people visiting to play in the snow, ride the chair-lifts or toboggan. The huge crowds caused problems on the Bruce access road and the ski area ran out of carparks. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, the ski area's owners, put on a free shuttle service from the Chateau, six kilometres down the Mountain Road. Perfect weather and excellent skiing conditions contributed to visitors' enjoyment. "We have all our facilities operating at pre-

sent" said Scott Lee, Whakapapa Marketing Manager "with groomed trails and great skiing right to the 'Top of the Bruce'." Whakapapa currently has a snow base of 178cm and management

expect to be open until at least the beginning of November. The Fresh-up National Ski Championships will be held at Whakapapa next week, starting on Tuesday.