Last updated 13:42, May 30 2018
ANDY JACKSON/STUFF
Mt Taranki's skifield will be open for a few days this week.
Mt Taranki's skifield will be open for a few days this week.
Mt Taranaki's Manganui Ski Area is set to be the first field in the country to open.
"And probably the first to close," Stratford Mountain Club spokesman Rob Needs said.
Needs said the club, which runs the field, had been working hard to have everything ready for a Thursday opening day.
"It looks like we're good for tomorrow, Friday and maybe Saturday. We don't know how long the snow will last.
Unless there was another dump of snow in the coming days the field would close after a few days and the region's snow lovers would be waiting eagerly for the next dump, Needs said.
Ruapehu's Happy Valley area is set to open on June 2, with Turoa scheduled to open later in June along with the major South Island fields.
Needs said because the Manganui Ski Area was a "turn key operation" it could get underway quicker than most and capitalise on the early snow fall.
"It's the uniqueness that we have. When there's snow we're good to go," he said.
Peter Quinn, 78 life member of the Stratford Mountain Club. (File photo)
Needs said skiers and snowboarders needed to make the most of the snow and either call in sick or work a few extra hours on Wednesday so they could take off on Thursday and Friday.
A team from the club was on the mountain on Wednesday preparing the field and Inframax had cleared the road, Needs said.
Taranaki Ski Hire's Alan Jamieson said he would open the shop at 8.30am for those wishing to hire gear.
Caleb Smith gets air. (File photo).
Jamieson said it was not unheard of for Mt Taranaki to be the first field to open because the club could "fire up" faster than most.
"It's been open in December too," he said.
Seasons Cheapskates' Candace Smith said she expected a few customers to turn up on Thursday morning to hire gear, once the field was confirmed open.
Smith said she had the day off and would be heading up herself.