Six-month ski season for Whakapapa, white Xmas for Turoa

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 557, 11 October 1994, Page 1

Six-month ski season for Whakapapa, white Xmas for Turoa

Bad weather through much of September has left Whakapapa Ski Area with a 406cm snow-base, a record for October. The snow base is measured at the weather station at Knoll Ridge Chalet. As such it is just an indication of the overall snow-depth. Long-time skiers say they can't recall so much snow on the upper mountain. "The bad weather has been frustrating" said Scott Lee, marketing manager for Whakapapa. "But we now have an incredible amount of snow, the spring-skiing is going to be fantastic." Whakapapa has announced they will be open for springskiing until 4 December making 1994 the longest skiseason on record - a full six months. Turoa Ski Resort has announced it is extending its normal ski season through until 13 November. The lifts will then shut down for a summer maintenance period then re-open for a 'Summer Festive Season' between 26 December 1994 and 8 January 1995. The season was due to end on the Monday of Labour weekend but due to the huge snowfalls throughout the year and the late snow storms during September Turoa still has a superb base with skiing right down to base area. The average snow base is currently a record 4.20 metres - deeper even than the previouS record year of 1992. For the extended period all normal services will operate at Turoa until 30 October and after that the lifts will open from 9am to 3pm with half day prices being charged ($36 for adults and $18 for youths, 16 & under). Operating hours over the Christmas holiday period will also be 9am3pm with half-day prices. It would be the second time in its history that Turoa Ski Resort has been able to open for Summer skiing.