The Year Skiing Died

Written By: - Date published: 4:47 pm, November 11th, 2022 - 13 comments
Categories: climate change, Europe, science, sport, uncategorized - Tags:

This is the winter that broke skiing.

Reduced or collapsing ski fields, lack of staff, COVID travel and tourism impact are killing it in the United States.

And there’s a fair $$billion of real estate value based on proximity to ski fields, now at risk.

Australian skiing is increasingly reduced to Tasmania.

In France  an entire ski resort has been demolished due to lack of snow.

Europe’s ski industry at any altitude below 2,000 metres is just done. That will quickly get to 2,500 metres and you are pretty much limited to bits of Switzerland then.

And of course New Zealand skiing is now reduced solely to the South Island, which pretty much wipes out Ohakune, National Park and increasingly Taumaranui. Nope, no more government bailouts for that one.

In the South Island at least we are going to sustain the season with large scale snowmaking technology and machinery. It’s too much regional wealth generation to lose completely. Like dairying it just takes a fair volume of water.

We’ll find slight recompense that the Great Walk season may be extended, with tracks like Hump Ridge and Kepler free of snow for longer. Both have high impact on isolated economies and societies. Just for God’s sake make sure you train for three months for the Hump Ridge as it’s essentially a half marathon each day for 3 days and it is unrelenting.

Increasingly the world’s devoted skiers will look for reliable snow in safe holiday destinations, such as New Zealand. So nothing’s ended here.

But this is no doubt the 2022 season globally has forced a permanent shift in the ski industry and it won’t be what it was.

13 comments on “The Year Skiing Died ”

  1. Poission 1

    Winter snowmass in the south island was above the 30 yr mean (aug-sept it explored 30yr max)

    https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/power-stations/snow-storage

    • Ad 1.1

      Came over the Crown Range on November 6th at 7am and it shut for snow 20 minutes behind me. Also shut the next day, also for snow.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 1.2

      Go South Young Man (problem solved?) – imagine skiing on Mount Erebus.

      Skiing Exotic Volcanoes – Antarctica's Mt. Erebus
      Japanese adventure skier Yoshi Wada was probably the first person to snowblade Erebus when he concluded his 10-Challenge Victory Series there in 2003. The skiing on this gentle sloped volcano will probably be relatively easy for those with a modicum of backcountry experience. Hazards include avalanches, hidden crevasses formed from gas vents, and the incredibly cold temperatures and remoteness should any mishaps occur.

      The world's most southern ski field

      • Poission 1.2.1

        You can't get in as Mcmurdo is closed due to Covid,some Jinx was down there.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 1.2.1.1

          Mcmurdo is closed due to Covid

          Ah well, it's not like it's forever.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Antarctica

          November 5, 2022 – Consistent with the U.S. National Science Foundation's commitment to balance research and operational needs while containing the spread of Covid cases in Antarctica, NSF is implementing a pause* on all travel to the continent for the next two weeks, effective immediately, while we reassess the situation.

          At the current rate of infection of 10% of the deployed population, our expert epidemiologist highly recommends KN-95 masks be worn at all times and NSF will ensure these are available to all residents at McMurdo.

          *The pause does not apply to essential travel required for health and safety reasons.

          So, an "expert epidemiologist highly recommends [!?] KN-95 masks be worn at all times" – who would have thunk it? Maybe this outbreak has a better chance of being contained than most – hope the station has good ventilation!

          Look at all that lovely snow. Seems there are no cases at Scott Base – yet.

  2. Ad 2

    Global carbon emissions in 5 charts. China and its' coal, and its' cement production.

    Global carbon emissions at record levels: Six charts to explain why (theage.com.au)

  3. Ad 3

    I hear that the Ruapehu lifetime ski pass holders are being offered $1.

    It's not like there's going to be no snow, just less certain.

    • bwaghorn 3.1

      While this year was shit for ruapehu snow, I'd say rals problems are covid and poor management, lots of over paid middle management living in taupo coming down to tell the people who do the work what to do is one tail I've heard.

      Last year during lockdown the mountain was loaded to the treeline and we had 2 weeks of blue bird days,the money that 2 weeks would have made would have been off the charts, 3 years of el Nino are coming to an end I believe so that'll help.

      As someone who has bought season passes for 4 years for me and the kid it erks that lifetime pass holders think they deserve special treatment.

    • Graeme 3.2

      It would be interesting to know how many 'lifetime' passes they sold.

      When RAL were selling them the question down here was who’s / what’s lifetime where they referring to, the punter's, or the mountain's…

      Climate change, and how to manage the industry through it, has been from front and centre of thinking in the NZ ski industry since the early 90's, and really late 70's when the lower fields like Coronet Peak were becoming less reliable and unable to support further investment.

      Development focused on higher fields, Cardrona and Remarkables, then snow making came along and operators were offered a little control over the climate / weather. In the Queenstown area the unreliability then wasn't temperature but moisture, it was more than cold enough, just dry, so snowmaking was transformational. Coronet had about a 10 day season in early 90's, and same year we were trucking snow around Remarkables to get a white track to Sugar Bowl.

      The water usage, while considerable, several large dairy units, is different in that the water isn't removed from the natural water cycle but recirculated within the catchment water cycle. Still disrupting the water cycle but not really taking any water away.

      The simple analogy of where the industry will go is that snowfall patterns will move south by 2-400 km. This has been knowledge from 80's. So Southern Lakes will get Canterbury like snow, much more, wetter and from east rather than SW. Canterbury will get the sort of snow Ruapehu used to get, huge falls, really wet / rain and gone in a week. Add in the Foen effects and Canterbury fields could become as reliable as Taranaki, awesome on the day but have the surfboard ready for the next.

      Ruapehu will get Auckland's traditional snow pattern.

      Snow patterns this year have followed this, with a stunning season in the south, huge falls initially in Canterbury which then disappeared, and Ruapehu and Taranaki just didn't happen.

      The ski industry will be reasonably secure in Southern Lakes, but capacity will be an issue. Cardrona and Remakables are going hard out to bring in more area in Soho and Doolans, both are very good skiing but will be expensive. There will be huge pressure on the environment to absorb the effects of 20,000 people / day on the mountain (6000 is a big day now), so sewage systems will need to be connected to town, along with water treatment on field. Access will need massive investment to move that many people on and off the mountain each day. All adds up to very expensive skiing, or expensive staying in lift queues.

      There are varying opinions on how the Australian fields will fare, range is from all over rover, to this year will become the norm with snow up into QLD. Our climate is an interaction between three oceans, theirs has a large, hot landmass thrown in to liven things up. Traditionally good seasons in Aussie introduce a lot of new skiers which result in huge influx of Aussie skiers to Queenstown the following year to take in a real alpine experience.

      Interesting times ahead.

  4. Hunter Thompson II 4

    Check out "Climate Change: Europe's Melting Glaciers" on DW television (available on Youtube).

    Not a good look.

  5. Maurice 5

    Don't worry! The Next "Little Ice Age" will fix skiing …….

  6. Adrian 6

    The problem this year is the aftereffects of the Tonga-Hunga eruption, the resulting atmospheric density, i.e the amount of water vapour, along with a lot of other detritus, was as high as even the mesosphere and is mainly responsible for the warmer nights. In Marlborough we have had one frost this growing season in late Sept albeit a good one, minus 3.7, at our place. Luxury! The water vapour reflects the transevaporative heat from the land and water back to the Earths surface. It also explains the very pretty sunrises and sets this year.

    A few years ago I was frost fighting for 17 nights in October to late November, nothing felt like anything was warming up that year.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T22:51:15+00:00