Methven, New Zealand (Wednesday, May 19, 2004) - A cold snap saw snowmaking operations get underway Monday night at Canterbury's Mt. Hutt ski area.

Temperatures dropped to -5șC on the upper mountain throughout the night allowing the snowmaking crew to set up hoses and guns from the top of the Exhibition Quad chairlift along Broadway Trail to the base facilities.

Twenty-six guns operated from 11 p.m. Monday night through to 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"Already the ground is turning from black into white as snow accumulates under the plumes," said Mt. Hutt mountain manager Ross Lawrence.

"Ideal conditions have created an awesome start for the snowmaking crew," he said.

The snowmaking team of nine, under the leadership of team leader Blair James and senior snowmaker Dan Drabble, are now on 24-hour standby, day or night, to make snow whenever conditions allow.

"It was fantastic to get underway last night and we believe we were the first in the Southern Hemisphere to make snow," said Dan Drabble.

"Tonight's forecast is for possibly even colder conditions so we're all ready to go," he said.

Mt. Hutt is scheduled to open for the 2004 season on Saturday June 5.