The ski season is off to a cracking start, with many South Island resorts offering a sneak peek this weekend after receiving unprecedented amounts of snow.
Cardrona and Coronet Peak won't officially open for another two weeks, but some lucky snow lovers have had a chance to hit the slopes early.
At Cardrona the flags are going up and the eager punters are waiting to be first on.
There are a good 90 centimetres of snow, and so the ski field has opened its slopes two weeks earlier than planned.
"We've had two weeks of supremely cold weather, so we've been able to make tons and tons of snow too, so the base is incredible," says general manager Bridget Legnavsky.
"People want it so we have to deliver on it."
That means the operators have been caught out because not all the staff are there yet. Cardrona brings on 650 staff for the winter season, but training hasn't been scheduled till next weekend.
Even Olympic medallists were getting amongst it.
"I don't think I can remember skiing on Queen's Birthday weekend," says freestyle skiing Olympic bronze medallist Nico Porteou. "I don't think I've ever done it. So it's a very cool opportunity."
Over at Coronet Peak there were huge crowds at one of the ski field's biggest opening days.
"We're sending a signal to all the ski fraternity in New Zealand and Australia that we're looking ahead to a really good winter down here," says ski area manager Nigel Kerr.
Cardrona and Coronet Peak won't officially open till June 16; this weekend is just a taster of what's to come.
Ms Legnavsky says she doesn't believe the myth that snow in May will never stay.
"The snow in May has stayed and is staying," she says.
Skiers and snowboarders are excited for what looks to be a bumper ski season. And with a front coming through on Tuesday, even more snow could be on the way.
Newshub.
