After a late start to the season, the snow finally arrived on Mt Ruapehu, giving young snowboarders from Raetihi plenty of time on the white powder.
Raetihi Primary School pupils took out top prizes at the North Island Primary School Snowboard championships at Whakapapa last week.
Ella Hawira, Eli Brown, Tui Wikohika, all 10, and 12-year-old Richard Shanks won the gold medal for top senior snowboarding team in the North Island and Tui was named top junior boy.
Raetihi school deputy principal and programme leader Jane Welburn started the snow programme just 18 months ago.
"We as a school have put value on getting the children up the mountain. It's their mountain. They needed to have the opportunity to represent the area on the mountain and now we have Raetihi kids winning on their mountain."
Miss Welburn knew the team had done well, although she was surprised to discover just how well when she attended the prizegiving.
"We took two vans and three carloads over primarily to show support from local schools. I had no idea we were going to get those results and I was as surprised and as proud as the parents."
Ella, Eli and Richard are due to fly down to Mount Hutt in Canterbury on a field trip with the school snow academy for some recreational snowboarding and sightseeing.
With the support of the school board of trustees, the families have worked hard fundraising and look forward to the trip.
"The ongoing support and fundraising efforts from parents has been massive. They have raised $4000 for this trip."
Miss Welburn applauded the efforts of the school community and the way they had supported the snow programme enabling 95 per cent of Raetihi school pupils to go up the mountain this year.
Tui, however, has been resting up before heading down to compete at the Junior National Snowboard Freestyle championships at Cardrona skifield near Wanaka.
"He's got a bruised tail bone and he's getting over a cold as well," said Lauren Wikohika.
The proud mum says her son's success has not been a complete surprise because he's been working really hard all season and he has a lot of drive and determination.
"He started going with his dad when he was 4 and he always loved it so it is really great that the school now has the programme."
Tui has started entering freestyle competitions this year and has been competing in the under-16 division.
He entered the Turoa Rail Jam and Slopestyle events last month and came fourth in both events, narrowly missing out on podium finishes.
Tui will continue training and entering competitions to prepare for the nationals and he is a wildcard entry in the secondary school champs.
"He is in a special category with some other junior competitors," said his mum.
The future is looking bright for the snowboarding academy at Raetihi Primary School after the recent successes, although there are challenges ahead.
"The biggest challenge for us next year is going to be finding the money to help provide an opportunity for the children to develop their [board]riding even further," Miss Welburn said.