Weather brings many out to play

IAIN McGREGOR/The Press

AIRBORNE: Christchurch snowboarder Niels Ijpelaar performs an aerial trick at Mt Hutt. He was one of almost 3000 people enjoying the ski-field yesterday.

Relevant offers

Thousands of people hit the slopes at the Mt Hutt ski-field in stunning conditions during the weekend.

Snowboarder Niels Ijpelaar was among the thrillseekers – doing a trick off rocks – enjoying the sunshine yesterday.

Ski area manager Dave Wilson said 2800 people were on the mountain on Saturday and close to 3000 were there yesterday.

He said "the snow is great".

"It's very wintry – chalky and soft. We're really happy with the whole week and the weather's looking good for next week."

In Christchurch, freezing temperatures gripped the city.

The MetService reported a minus 5 degrees Celsius frost yesterday at 6am.

MetService spokesman Tuporo Marsters said the Christchurch International Airport reading was one of the coldest of the year.

The temperature stayed in negative territory until 11am, when it reached 2C.

"Until then, it was like a fridge," Marsters said.

A large anticyclone was "hanging around" most of the South Island and was expected to mean more frosty mornings until at least Wednesday.

Marsters said light winds forecast for Thursday could end the crisp mornings.

- © Fairfax NZ News