Ski area staff were delighted to be told yesterday that The Remarkables ski area in Queenstown will open at 9am on Saturday (July 2) for the 2011 winter season.

Following the successful opening of its sister ski area Coronet Peak yesterday, The Remarkables will also open with limited beginner, novice and intermediate terrain.

Photo / Not a huge amount but enough to ski on, the Remarkables finally opens tomorrow / NZSki.com

Ski area manager Ross Lawrence said it was the first time in the history of The Remarkables that it had been able to open solely as a result of snowmaking.

“Previously there’s always been natural snow with the addition of snowmaking, so this is a first for us and really does reiterate the value of snowmaking to our business,” he said.

“The Remarks crew are very excited to be getting a start to the season.

“It’s been great to see the support they’ve been giving each other and the support we’ve had from the community in holding the team together while we have been waiting for this moment.

Mr Lawrence said all trails open had a base of between 20cm to 40cm snow coverage, but terrain was limited and runs were narrower in places than normal. “Unfortunately no terrain parks are set up yet,” he said.

– NZSKi.com