Southern Lakes ski areas may have had a bumper season this year, but failed to beat their 2004 record despite a record 1.4 million visits to New Zealand ski areas this winter, nzski.com manager Duncan Smith said this month.
The Ski Areas Association New Zealand recorded one of the best ski seasons ever this year, hauling in a gross revenue of $75,434,233.
Provisional statistics show the industry earned $9,700,000 more revenue than last year, 251,000 more ski area visits and 206 more open days.
Association spokesman Miles Davidson said ski areas opened on time in June with fantastic natural snow and ideal snow making conditions. There had been plenty of top quality snow from day one this year.
Regular storm cycles and suitable snow making conditions meant ski areas could build up on snow bases throughout the season, which lasted until October.
However, while Coronet Peak and Treble Cone ski areas clocked up huge numbers, the Southern Lakes did not quite beat 2004 records.
While it had been a record season for Coronet Peak, overall, numbers had not quite surpassed those of 2004, Mr Smith said.
“Regionally, we had a good strong season overall but the Southern Lakes had an exceptionally long season in 2004. My pick is that we haven’t quite beaten that one.”
Last month Treble Cone ski area manager Jackie Van der Voort said skier visits were up by 10 to 15 percent compared with its record 2004 season.
