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Rain up to 2000m at times has dampened the snowpack this week. Porters closed for a day because theirs got too wet for a while. Other areas got off more lightly but generally off-piste riding is limited or at least not very exciting right now. For today and tomorrow expect melt freeze conditions (that means it freezes at night and softens during the day) so the best riding will be early to mid-morning on the groomed trails or maybe late afternoon off-piste on better covered areas.

The next low pressure system is due over the country on Saturday (of course) with snow lowering to more useful levels and becoming heavy for a time on Sunday and into Monday. I am speaking generally about the entire country because although the storm will bring winds from different quarters to different parts of the country the result will be generally the same. Snow!! Make sure you are safe if venturing off-piste during or after this storm, with the amount of snow and winds forecast expect the hazard to rise accordingly.

It’s events time and this weekend, despite the weather, organisers will be trying to get their respect events to happen despite the weather. It’s Christie weekend at Whakapapa this weekend so if you’re a clubbie you'll be cheering your club on. The fluoro one-piece brigade will be moving from The Remarks last weekend up the country to Roundhill this weekend for their 80's weekend complete with water jump. If you're in the Southern Lakes this weekend there are two 'downtown events' happening with the Parklife International at Earnslaw Park on Friday night and the World Heli Challenge Street Style event at the Lake Hawea Hotel on Saturday. This, and night riding on Fri & Sat at Coronet and you've got your day and night times full.

We know times are tough and charities from all walks of life are working hard to raise money for their causes. Snowco has just put together a Snow Sports Fundraiser page . There's nothing in it for us except the warm fuzzies of knowing that it is now easier to find when, if you have $5 or more of spare cash, you can give it to help the sport that you love.

Get into it, have fun and be safe.