Skiers and snowboarders were itching to get back on the slopes after heavy snow forced some fields to close last week.
At Mount Hutt on Saturday morning, there were even a few small avalanches. Those avalanches, though, are good news for experienced skiers. They were set off by heli-bomb - part of a mission to clear heavily snow-laden areas on Mount Hutt.
The Mount Hutt Snow Safety Team throws the explosive devices out the side of a helicopter, targeting spots it believes have the most instability in the snow.
Snow safety officer Luke Ox says the technique brings the avalanches out of hiding.
"When we use explosives we're actually able to make avalanches happen, whereas in the back country they're not actually happening; they're just hiding."
Safety manager John Hooker says they are working in the back country and outlying areas that are difficult to reach in an attempt to get them opened for the public.
"We're looking for the place where we think the most instability in the snow is on the slope. And that'll show itself in the textures on the surface of the snow and the depth you see from above," he said.
Control work on skis is carried out a dozen times each season, but heli-bombing operations require perfect weather conditions and visibility.
The ski field was forced to close for much of last week, due to the stormy conditions.
Mount Hutt Ski area manager James McKenzie says it was "bit of a desperate hurry" to get the road cleared and the lifts de-iced after the winter storm hammered the mountain.
The wintry blast left behind 60 centimetres of new snow.
Mount Hutt is expecting the biggest weekend of the season, with cars lining up from first light. With school holidays set to keep the main fields full, expert skiers can now enjoy freshly blasted areas for a safe challenge.
Newshub.
