Mount Olympus Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Olympus Ski Area |
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Mt Olympus, on the LHS
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| Location | Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Nearest city | Windwhistle |
| Coordinates | 43°11′33″S 171°36′23″E / 43.192446°S 171.606344°E |
| Top elevation | 1,875 m (6,152 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1,425 m (4,675 ft) |
| Runs | Backcountry |
| Lift system | 3 Rope tow |
| Terrain parks | 0 |
| Snowmaking | No |
| Night skiing | No |
| Website | http://www.mtolympus.co.nz/ |
Mount Olympus Ski Area is a special place for skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand. It's often called the "playground of the gods" because of its amazing views. This ski area is a "club field," which means it's run by a club, the Windwhistle Ski Club.
You can find Mount Olympus in the Craigieburn Range on New Zealand's South Island. It's close to the town of Windwhistle. Other club fields like Mount Cheeseman and Broken River are also nearby. It takes about two hours to drive there from Christchurch.
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Discovering Mount Olympus Ski Area
Mount Olympus is a unique ski area. It's known for its friendly, community feel. The Windwhistle Ski Club manages everything here. This makes it different from bigger, commercial ski resorts.
What is a Club Ski Field?
A club ski field is run by a group of people who love to ski and snowboard. They often volunteer their time. This helps keep prices lower and creates a welcoming atmosphere. It's like a big family where everyone helps out.
Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
The ski area sits between 1,430 meters and 1,880 meters high. This gives skiers and snowboarders a lot of different slopes to explore. About 10% of the slopes are for beginners. Intermediate skiers will find 55% of the terrain perfect for them. The remaining 35% is for advanced riders.
Mount Olympus has four rope tows to get you up the mountain. A rope tow is a simple lift where you hold onto a rope. If you're willing to walk a little, you can explore about 60 hectares of terrain. This means there's plenty of space to find fresh snow.
Challenges and Comebacks
Like many outdoor places, Mount Olympus sometimes faces challenges. In 2020, the ski area could not open. This was due to the Covid-19 pandemic and not enough snow. It was the first time since 1978 that Mount Olympus stayed closed for a whole season.
In 2021, a big winter storm damaged the road leading to the ski area. It was going to cost a lot of money to fix it. But many people donated to help. Thanks to their support, the road was repaired in June 2021. This allowed the ski area to open for the season.
