Over 2500 skiers and riders visited Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt in NZ this weekend, when both resorts opened for their first days' skiing of the season.

In Queenstown, ski area managers started the lifts half an hour early to cater for riders and skiers raring to make first tracks with some of the best snow conditions seen on opening day for years.

Coronet Peak also opened one of its two Primo half pipes for the 2001 season, the first time it has ever been able to open a half pipe this early in the season. Cold southerly conditions over the fortnight leading up to opening day enabled the snowmaking team to maximize snowmaking firepower in the half pipe before it was shaped and groomed by Coronet Peak's Pipe Magician.

Riders and skiers hitting the mountain were reported to be "Super stoked" at the excellent early season conditions."

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