Latest news with #JamesUrquhart
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Skiers hit Mt Hutt slopes for first time this winter
Photo: Supplied Skiers are hitting the slopes at Canterbury's Mt Hutt for the first time this winter after the ski area was forced to postpone its opening day. Mt Hutt was supposed to open its doors for ski season on Friday, but morning rainfall caused the snowpack to become unstable. On its website Mt Hutt said crews were out all night laying down new cord and preparing the area for the public for Saturday morning. People were advised to avoid some off-trail areas which still had a high slide risk. Manager James Urquhart said they were grateful to finally be able to open. "It's a relief to see everyone be back skiing and riding. It's a great buzz at the moment." He said more than 1500 people were at Mt Hutt on Saturday morning braving the -3C temperatures. He said those queuing outside in their cars on Friday were not there when they opened the gates at 7am. "They must've got sick of waiting and went home, the poor ones yesterday. I do feel bad for them." One of their chairlifts had to be de-iced and they were still sorting out a few kinks. "There's a few out there riding, but we've got a lot of people hanging around waiting for that lift to get going. We've been up since 4am trying to get it done, but it's taking some time to thaw things out and we need the sun to make it easier for us. "We're still trialling a lot of systems and staff are trying to get used to their roles. Considering the conditions we've had in the last few days, it's going well." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Queues outside Mt Hutt despite ski resort's forced opening day cancellation
Mt Hutt ski field. Photo: Supplied People are still queuing outside Canterbury's Mt Hutt despite the ski resort being forced to cancel its opening day. Mt Hutt was supposed to open its doors for ski season on Friday, but rainfall warmed the snowpack and caused it to become unstable. It was the second time Mt Hutt had to delay opening this year. Plans to open the ski field early on 31 May after favourable weather conditions were scrapped when it ended up being too warm. Mt Hutt manager James Urquhart said it was a frustrating situation. "We've been up since 4am getting ready for our opening. "But Friday the 13th was unlucky for us and our opening day wasn't to be." He said diehard skiers had been waiting outside the ski area since Thursday evening. "By 6.30pm there were cars already parked up and sleeping bags and barbeques out. "We have them in a safe zone at the bottom of the access road away from the ski area." He said by 7am on Friday there were about 17 cars. He expected those in line would stay there to be one of the first on the slopes. "I feel for them that they're still probably still sitting there waiting for the opening but people who understand the mountains and ski a lot know you've got to be prepared for the unexpected and this is just one of those days. "I'd say they'd definitely be keen to stay there to get that first on the chair t-shirt. That's the big win the big hoo-ha for them. "They'll be there until they run out of sausages and eggs and have to go into town to restock." He was optimistic they would be able to open tomorrow, weather permitting. "Right now we're in this warm, misty, cloudy weather, and we've just got to wait it out. "But we're going through the weather charts with our patrollers and snow safety officers and it looks like the warming cloud is going to leave this afternoon or early tonight and that'll give us a chance to prepare our ski area for tomorrow." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nashville kids receive new bikes through special donation
Kindergarteners at Norman Binkley Elementary School were the first to try out a newly donated fleet of Strider bikes on Thursday morning. A total of 24 balance-to-pedal bikes, along with helmets, pedal conversion kits, bike racks and other equipment, was given to the school by All Kids Bike, according to a news release sent by the national nonprofit Thursday. The donation came with funding and other resources to teach the kids to ride the bikes as part of their physical education at the school. Glengarry Elementary School also received bikes through the program. In the release, the organization said its goal is to "impart the joy of bike riding and promote essential life skills among young learners." The two Nashville schools are among 36 nationwide that received the same donation, which was made possible by a $324,000 gift to All Kids Bike from the HDR Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American design and engineering firm. a national engineering firm with an office in Brentwood. Norman Binkley Elementary Principal James Urquhart said he's excited to see the school's kindergarteners and first graders learn through the new program. "A very special thank you to HDR, our students will now have the opportunity to develop important physical skills, foster healthy habits, and build confidence through the All Kids Bike Program,' Urquhart said in the release. Over the last three years, HDR has donated more than $800,000 to All Kids Bike. "As a 100% employee-owned company, HDR is dedicated to this cause. It's close to home and to our hearts," Kyle Guthrie, who manages HDR's operations in Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, said in the release. "With this grant, we'll assemble bikes and racks, deliver them to schools and join in the announcement. Seeing the joy on those faces when they see this gift to their school is priceless." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville kids receive new bikes through special donation
