Industry News
Mount Hutt, New Zealand, announced today, June 19, 2023, that the resort will close again — temporarily — after opening for the season on June 10. The resort operators stated on social media that they received 40mm of rain in the last two days, which eroded the thin snow cover. So far this season, the resort has only received 19cm (7 inches) of snow. The rain was also accompanied by some warm weather, which made snowmaking difficult, especially at lower elevations. The snow line is currently at 1,800m (5,906ft).
The Mt Hutt ski resort is located just 90 minutes from Christchurch, on the south island of New Zealand, and offers 365 hectares (902 acres) of treeless terrain and off-piste lines. The ski field boasts a considerable vertical drop dubbed ‘the capital of speed’ and is popular for race training with alpine athletes. The area also offers some incredible off-piste, as Mount Hutt receives, on average, 4m (13 ft) of snow each year, more than any other resort in Oceania.
Mt Hutt is located on the edge of the mountain range and therefore exposed to some strong cold southerly winds, which has given it the moniker ‘Mount Shut’, as the resort is closed on average 14 days each season. However, it has the longest season in Oceania, making up more than enough for those closures.
We hope Mount Hutt will be able to open again soon. While we cannot control Mother Nature, she might be swayed by some snow dances, so why not share your best snow dance on Mount Hutt’s social media pages?
