Les Brough (83), of Queenstown, has witnessed big changes to the skifield since the first rope tow was installed in 1947.
From 3s 6d day-tickets and catering consisting only of frozen pies and tomato soup, he has seen the skifield established by the Wigley family of the Mount Cook Company evolve into a full-service international facility.
"In those pioneering days, we didn't imagine it could change this much. But things have to move on and progress, and it is still a fantastic place to ski," Mr Brough said.
In the 1940s, he was part of a group of five to six young lads from Dunedin, keen on all things outdoors.
Along with rock climbing and mountaineering, skiing became his passion.
The group of young men would meet almost every weekend during the winter and head to Queenstown.
"It took us five hours to drive from Dunedin, and then another five hours to dig our way through the snow up to the huts on the slopes of Coronet Peak, where we would spend the weekend skiing," he said.
From cross-country skiing he got into ski racing, and later worked as a ski patroller.
In the early 1960s, he was employed, along with his brother Doug, to help build the first chairlift on the skifield.
"We dug all the holes for the pylons by hand, had to drag all the gravel up there, and had just one small concrete mixer available. We simply learnt as we went along."
With the chairlift completed in 1964, ticket prices soon rose to 1 10s.
Groomed slopes were established between 1965 and 1968.
As a lifetime member of the Wakatipu Ski Club, housed in the lodge just below the Coronet Peak base building, Mr Brough kept his connection with the skifield over the years.
Until a few years ago, he was still competing in the masters' ski races at Coronet Peak, but although he said he stopped when he felt he was getting too slow, it did not stop him from skiing.
Two years ago, he became a member of the 12-person team of skifield "ambassadors" who volunteer to show people around their favourite mountain.
They are not paid by NZSki, but get season passes, ski jackets and other perks from the company.
"The role is all about making people feel welcome and introducing them to the mountain. We take them for orientation ski tours, but do not teach at all. We also show people where to go and which facilities are available around the base building," he said.
"There has always been a great atmosphere up at this skifield. In the early days, we were all like one big bunch of friends. It has grown so much ... and while some might call it commercial, it still has a great atmosphere."
Though he said he would not be skiing much this year due to his health, Mr Brough promised he would still be at Coronet Peak, to greet new and old skiers and boarders with a smile and share a secret or two about the skifield's past.
