Wanaka skifield workers took their financial frustrations out on the sports field yesterday during the inaugural Brown Hill Cup sports day, organised to help beat the boredom while the fields remain closed and the wait for snow continues.
"Snow in May never stays, snow in June is a welcome boon, but on snow in July you can rely" is the message from long-time Queenstown resident Vance Boyd, who says the fuss over the resort's snow drought is a byproduct of expectations raised by snowmaking technology.
"Frustrating" was the only word NZSki chief executive James Coddington could find yesterday to describe the complete lack of snow on skifields, which is now leaving 540 NZSki staff without income.
The managers of the Snow Park ski and boarding field on the Pisa Range have contacted Work and Income New Zealand about emergency benefits for the field's 60 staff, who are still on standby after the scheduled opening on June 11 failed to happen because of lack of snow.
The Snow Park did not have enough snow to open today, general manager Robin Sadowski-Synnott said yesterday.
Otago rural servicing companies will put competition to one side today as they start delivering food parcels and checking on the needs of Clutha farmers hit by last week's storms.
There were no obvious signs yesterday of the stress and anxiety Ross Wilson must have felt a week ago.
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson is going to Invercargill to find out why the roof of the $10 million Stadium Southland collapsed under the weight of snow on Saturday.
Snowsports New Zealand is seeking two new directors to add to its executive board and wants an applicant with links to North Island skifields.
On the surface, mid-May seems very quiet in Queenstown, but behind the scenes the resort is buzzing with activity in preparation for the influx of winter tourists and seasonal workers.
Treble Cone is reviving the "TC Triple Comp" - a multidiscipline ski and snowboard event being held this week-end.
The Remarkables will celebrate spring - and a well-timed small snowfall - this weekend, during the Spring Carnival.
Mini shredders will be revealing their latest tricks next weekend during the final of the mini shred season at The Remarkables.
Spring may be here, but some people just can't bear the thought of putting their skis away as the snow melt begins.
The Remarkables skifield had almost double the number of skifield accidents as Coronet Peak this season.
Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White, of the United States, was all class on his way to winning the FIS World Cup Winter Games halfpipe yesterday, while rising Chinese snowboarding star Jiayu Liu shone in the women's event.
An Australian doctor has died following a skiing accident in Canterbury.
World Heli Challenge organiser Tony Harrington is delighted with the success of his revived back-country snow sports and media showcase, based in mountains around Wanaka during the past fortnight.
Youth workers from Alexandra teamed up with staff of Snow Sports New Zealand and the Wellington Boys & Girls Institute to successfully launch SOS (Snowboard Outreach Society) Outreach New Zealand at Cardrona Alpine Resort last weekend.
Treble Cone skifield, near Wanaka, will hold a mini-mountain open for young skiers and snowboarders later this month.
