They described snow conditions as "excellent".
It was the eagerly-awaited launch of the 2009 season on the mountain, but it could have been named "locals' day", as the trails teemed with long-term Wakatipu residents, more recent arrivals and folk who returned from around New Zealand.
There was a community atmosphere of excitement and exhilaration on the slopes, in the queues for lifts and in the base building, where friendships were renewed, ski fashions compared and laughs shared about aching muscles.
By 8.30am, dozens of earlybirds were in the queue for the Coronet Peak Express lift.
NZSki activated the lift 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
Queenstown 17-year-olds Mark Denton, Daniel Jenkins, Ben Rotto and Tim Lawrence were the coveted "First On The Chair".
The teenagers had spent 16 hours since Friday evening by the base building, with only a gas cooker for soup, caffeine-packed snacks and a tarpaulin in order to be the first on the virgin powder.
They collapsed at the bottom of the slope in jubilation after their run with huge grins on their faces.
"It was worth it," Ben said.
Queenstown resident Robyn Fisher has skied on the peak for the past 22 years.
The veteran said the opening day was busier than usual and it was great to be able to ski the whole mountain on the first day.
"It's a great start. I think the snow's in really good condition - the body's not - [the snow's] not sticky, not icy, the trails are easy skiing."
Dunedin resident Bridget Taylor and her Christchurch-based father, Michael Taylor, made the trip especially for the opening day.
They were among the first to hop on board the Coronet Peak Express and were treated to glasses of bubbly by sponsor Lindauer.
Mr Taylor said he had skied at the peak for 40 years and said NZSki had done well to get conditions so good in early June.
He was looking forward to the Winter Games NZ in August.
Queenstown police constable Sean Drader was on the slopes with son Solomon Drader (11).
The family had skied on the peak over the past 10 years, and Const Drader said as a baby, Solomon used to ski in his backpack.
Coast-to-Coast founder Robin Judkins, of Christchurch, who became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to sports administration on Queen's Birthday Weekend, was among the earlybirds.
He said conditions were beautiful and he had been skiing at Coronet Peak since 1967.
He worked as a chair lift operator in 1975.
The difference between the job then and now? Now they get breaks, he said.
"I have a great deal of sympathy for all the lift operators in the world."
