You can't slide without good snow, hence the decision by the operators of Coronet Peak to beef up its snow making system this winter.

This season the system's pumping capacity is increasing by about 50% which means on a cold night the snow cannons will be able to fire 9,000 litres of water a minute.

Coronet Peak has the largest snow making system in New Zealand (followed by Mt Hutt) and the resort closely monitors weather forecasts to ensure any snowmaking 'window' is maximised. This should mean that this year the mountain will be able to open in early June, around a month earlier than in the 'old days'.

Duncan Smith, general manager of nzski.com, said, 'We can make enough snow within 50 to 60 hours (from 45 snowguns) at Coronet Peak to open 2.1 kilometres of ski slope by early June, guaranteed. The Coronet system can produce 1000cubic metres of snow per hour, that's enough to cover a football field 2 metres deep, enough to bury a Jonah Lomu, in one overnight session.

As well as making sure the snow is there, the resort is keen to keep it in good shape. A new Kassbohrer PB 300 Winchcat will mean that the steeper slopes can be groomed and a half pipe shaper can be attached to create and maintain the resort's half pipes to an international standard.

Last year Queenstown had a record-breaking winter with about 280,000 visitors and is expecting another record this year.