Hitting the slopes at the Manganui Ski Area were (from left) CJ and Peter Lepper with ski buddies Amelia and Juliet. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Hundreds of Taranaki snow sports enthusiasts lived up to their 'hardcore' reputation to enjoy the first - and perhaps last - day of the season at the Manganui Ski Area.
Before hitting the white stuff yesterday, they faced lengthy delays waiting for the access road to be cleared, chaotic scenes in the car park and a trek through driving sleet.
The Manganui Ski Area springs into life when the snow arrives.
It came this week - between 15 and 30 centimetres - enough to cover the field's vulnerable mountain grasses and for the T-bar and rope tow to operate.
Ski area manager Damian Muir praised snow enthusiasts for their patience getting to the ski area. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Field manager Damian Muir was up at 5am getting the operation prepped.
"It's a club facility so it's all run by volunteers and there's only a few of us up here today so it's a little bit of extra work.
"We came up last night and spent the morning prepping the mountain and obviously the road was a challenge today.
"From a field perspective operations were all good because the obviously we had a little bit more time [because of the road closure] but when we came up last nigh the road was pretty bad then so it didn't surprise me."
Cars were lined up for more than two kilometres while the road was closed and parking was at a premium at the Stratford Plateau. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Access to the ski area through Pembroke Road remained closed above the Stratford Mountain House until about 1pm.
Motorists were warned of the delay, but many still headed up and the line of cars stretched for more than two kilometres.
Snowboarder Paul did not bother waiting.
"Yeah, the queue seemed a little long. We were right at the front of the queue, we got here real early and we decided it was worth just trekking on up.
"So, we went for it and hiked for about an hour in the sleet and got up here and it was a beautiful bluebird day here this morning. It was magic."
Snowboarder Paul trekked on foot for an hour through sleet to reach the skifield ahead of the road being opened. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The club asked bosses to let staff who were snow sports fans have the day off to hit the slopes rather than pull a sickie, but Paul had that covered.
"Well, actually I'm self-employed, which is the way to be, so I gave myself the day off and I guess my pay cheque might suffer."
His legs were suffering after all that walking.
"Oh the legs are cooked, eh, we've probably done 20 or 30 runs so far today and I'm about ready to go home."
Snow sports fans line up for the T-bar tow. Between 200 and 300 people were expected at the Manganui Ski Area yesterday. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Steve Lepper - a retiree - started skiing here when he was about 12, "so you can do the maths and tell me how long that was".
He loved the Manganui Ski Area.
"Look you can be up here in an hour from home have a few runs and get back home again.
"It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful and it's a good friendly crowd a lovely club. Yeah, it's a positive little place to be."
The 69-year-old was skiing with son CJ.
"It's great the last time we were up here together I was probably nine or 10, so a bit of times past, but it's good."
Dad had not organised his time off.
"Nah, he's not my boss. Don't tell my boss, I don't know if he knows."
Amelia had a workaround.
"I convinced enough colleagues to come, so we did all our meetings in the car and it was a good lesson in patience and persistence I would say and good personal development, you know."
While mum had 15-year-old Vadim's back.
"I took a day off school. My mum's called in sick, you know, it's a good day up here.
"It's once in a blue moon, like, you hardly do it, like, it's the first time it's opened all year you may as well enjoy it."
Snowboard buddies Hugo and Vadim. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Meanwhile, Muir reckoned there was a good chance the field would be open today.
"The temperature is holding so we should be all right for tomorrow.
"There's more snow forecast for tonight so as long as the freezing level doesn't lift too high we should get some more tonight and that should see us right for tomorrow and then we'll hopefully be okay through to Friday
"And then we'll reassess for the weekend, but the temperatures are set to rise which will cause us an issue."
But be sure to check the Manganui Ski Area - Stratford Mountain Club Facebook page before hitting the road.
For many, it was their first crossing of the Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin