Skifield operators are counting this year's "spread-out" run of Australian and New Zealand school holidays as a blessing.
School holidays finished on August 1, marking the end of a five-week spread of Australasian holidays, after New Zealand school holidays were pushed out two weeks for the Rugby World Cup.
While the local ski season's late start meant the district missed out on the start of the Northern Territory and Queensland holidays on June 24, Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said it did not deter the Australians.
Mr McCrostie said there were many Australians in town when Coronet Peak opened on June 30, "at which point they were certainly up here".
"It's the first time we have had the Aussies without the Kiwis, and the Kiwis without the Aussies, and they are two different markets, but definitely good all the same."
Despite the usual "dip" after the school holiday period, numbers remained "pretty steady".
Remarkables Ski Area manager Ross Lawrence said the holiday period went "fairly well", with numbers on par with previous years.
The spread-out holiday period had been beneficial because with less snow on the skifield, and in particular off-piste, potential overcrowding was avoided.
When asked if the Remarkables management would be happy with the same timing next year, Mr Lawrence replied: "It's certainly not a bad thing for us . . . It's great. It allows us to grow the business and also helps to spread the demand."
On the slopes
CORONET PEAK
Snowbase: Upper, 115cm; lower, 92cm.
Last snowfall: 1cm, August 7.
THE REMARKABLES
Snowbase: Upper, 70cm; lower, 40cm.
Last snowfall: 5cm, August 7.
TODAY
Forecast: Fine with morning frosts.
Wind at 1000m: Light at first, but southerly 30kmh developing at night.
Wind at 2000m: Westerly 40kmh, tending southwest in the evening.
Free air freezing level: 2000m, lowering to 1000m at night.
Coronet Peak
Temperature: Maximum, -2degC; minimum, -5degC.
The Remarkables
Temperature: Maximum, -6degC; minimum, -9degC.
TOMORROW
Forecast: Fine and frosty.
Wind at 1000m: Light.
Wind at 2000m: Light.
Free air freezing level: 800m.
Coronet Peak
Temperature: Maximum, -2degC; minimum, -8degC.
The Remarkables
Temperature: Maximum, -4degC; minimum, -12degC.
FRIDAY
Forecast: Fine and frosty with light winds.
