Ski area manager Ross Lawrence estimated about 900 eager skiers and snowboarders hit the Curvey Basin slope yesterday as the chairlift started spinning for the first time this season.
Queenstown’s Natalie Urbani added to her "First on the Chair" T-shirt collection, arriving up the mountain at 6am yesterday to bag pole position, having already done the same at Coronet Peak last Friday.
Mr Lawrence said he had one run late yesterday afternoon to test conditions, and said while people needed to be aware of "unmarked hazards", the skiing was good for those wanting to "get out and test your ski legs".
As for opening further runs, Mr Lawrence said that would depend on when, and how much, snow they could make.
"We had a look at Alta and it’s not quite there yet ... watch this space."
At this stage, the first sign of any forecast natural snow was next Friday, he said.
"But it’s still [eight] days away, so I’m not going to count my chickens."
