Anyone for some awesome spring skiing or snowboarding? The mountain is coated in snow and the ski area is scheduled to close at the end of this coming weekend (16 October) – better get your skis and board ready and get up to Mount Hutt for one more blast before the season’s over.

The past week has seen good dumps of new snow – perfect timing for the school holidays and for the Mt Hutt Spring Festival! Running from 8 to 14 October, both at Methven and on the mountain, the annual celebration is the perfect way to cap off the season. The week-long schedule includes such unique events as a Pond Skim competition and Ski Joring, a unique competition where a horse and rider pull a skier at a fast pace through a course that has gates, jumps and rings. There’s also plenty of music and ski racing, as well as a Kids Fun Day.

Then, on 15 October, it’s time for the Columbia Peak to Pub. One of Canterbury’s iconic multisport events, this triathlon starts at Mount Hutt with a mad dash to don skis or a snowboard, followed by a giant slalom to base. Competitors then swap skis/board for a bike and launch themselves headlong down the mountain for a 19-kilometre bike ride down the Mount Hutt access ride. An 11-kilometre run follows, before hardy competitors finally arrive at the finish line – the Blue Pub in Methven – for a well-deserved cold one!

There’s no time to waste – this could well be the last chance of the season to enjoy spring skiing at Mount Hutt ski area. Get your gear sorted, plan your transport and get up there.