Kiwi Snow Reports - Aotearoa New Zealand

Euwbudi

2012-01-31T23:27:00.000+13:00

CP styling in January

Ski traverse of the Southern Alps, New Zealand

2011-11-08T06:27:00.001+13:00

Now here is an epic winter adventure - the length of the Southern Alps by skis. Wowa go Eric

The Mounatin Scene reports

A QUEENSTOWN adventurer has become the first person to ski the length of the Southern Alps.

Erik Bradshaw, 43, skied 800km along the spine of South Island from St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes, to Fiordland.

The arduous journey took the businessman almost three months.

“Without doubt this is the hardest thing I have ever done,” Bradshaw says.

“Sometimes it was miserable; in a small tent coated in ice being flattened by a storm and knowing you’re a long way from home.

“But other times it was breathtakingly beautiful with towering snow-capped mountains, blue skies and amazing snow.”

Bradshaw survived skiing and climbing for 12 hours a day and camping in sub-zero temperatures at night.

This is only the second winter traverse of the Southern Alps, after Graeme Dingle and Jill Tremain in 1971. It is the first time on skis.

To complete the journey, Bradshaw had to make the best use of his Kiwi ingenuity – inventing new ski equipment.

This included a unique exoskeleton binding of carbon fibre and Titanium that fitted over a normal walking boot to transform it into a ski
boot with crampons.

Read the full story at the Mountain Scene .....

Standing outside .. as you would

2011-09-13T22:58:00.002+12:00

Standing outside .. as you would at way past 10 in the evening ... contemplating the last front to go through figuring well that's worth 4 or 5 cm and its now cold and clear ... when a far off whirring gathers pace and the peak made powder machines pour in to action

Check the lights

You got your first tracks ?

All the lights on

2011-06-24T20:54:00.004+12:00

Oh we are loving that. All the lights on. Which means all the machines pumping. Which means maybe in the next few weeks we might get to slide around on some man made.

Chances of that ? My pick minimal.

Truth is I have almost got over the fact that mother nature has decided to delay our snow season this year. So that's OK. I'll get on with other stuff.

All i ask is that when she does decide to get cold and dump snow that she gets really mad ... and does it hard ... even if its in August. Or September. I don't mind I'm not going anywhere.

Don't bloody larf we need it !

2011-06-15T21:10:00.002+12:00

Doesn't look like much but peer in to the darkness and you will see the lights of snow makers on. Which means they are making it.

Don't bloody larf. We need it. We are desperate.

Pumping the white stuff.

2011-06-11T14:05:00.001+12:00

The big guns are pumping that white stuff. Go Hamish go.

skiing in june ?

2011-06-10T08:35:00.000+12:00

"Snow-making could be in full swing in Queenstown this weekend, according to local weatherman David Crow.

Mr Crow said the temperature was expected to drop, allowing Coronet Peak to get its machines working."

so we might be skiing in June after all.....

They're skiing in Oz, but there's no snow at home

2011-06-09T06:13:00.001+12:00

Go on then! Rub our noses in it !

"Snowstorms and cold snaps allowed several New South Wales and Victoria slopes to open as early as May 20, with the added assistance of artificial snow.

While the snow bases at those resorts were small - 20-50cm - and changeable, the early snowfall has given Australian operators hope of a bumper season.

Some New South Wales skifields did not see natural snow until August 6 last year.

New Zealand operators, on the other hand, are yet to get the snowfalls needed to kickstart their seasons. "

Full article in the NZ Herald here....

Yep thats what I'm thinking too

2011-06-08T18:37:00.000+12:00

Weather forecaster Dave Crow predicts winter will not arrive in earnest until July. "It's just going to be late, I'm sorry to say."

Skifields held up by warm weather

2011-06-08T18:30:00.002+12:00

Two quotes from the article below

"It's far from winter - the temperatures are very autumn-like. "

You bet we are all wondering around in shorts .....

and

"encouraged by recent snowfalls down to 500m in Victoria and New South Wales. "

Yeah for the ozzzies !! Not !!

Skifields held up by warm weather

The unseasonably warm weather which marked the 2011 autumn has continued into the first month of winter, frustrating Southern Lakes skifield operators as they gear up for the start of the 2011 season.

Coronet Peak had to scrap its plans to open over Queen's Birthday weekend, as mild temperatures meant it could not even use its snowguns to provide artificial snow for skiers and boarders.

"It's incredibly disappointing for the tourists, our season pass holders and our staff," NZSki general manager James Coddington said yesterday.

Wanaka's four skifields also do not have a snow base.

Between 10cm and 15cm fell at Treble Cone and Cardrona in mid-May, but the old adage "snow in May never stays" proved true.

Queenstown meteorologist David Crow said 2011 had been the second warmest autumn in 135 years of recording keeping, "which spells a very, very late Indian summer".

The warmest May was in 2007, to be broken by a late June cold snap.

NZSki operates Queenstown's Coronet Peak and Remarkables ski areas as well as Methven's Mt Hutt - all of which are bereft of the white stuff.

"It's far from winter - the temperatures are very autumn-like. It's incredibly unusual but as skifield operators the weather is one thing we can't control," Mr Coddington said.

However, he has been encouraged by recent snowfalls down to 500m in Victoria and New South Wales....

Read the full article here...

Let the snow making begin

2011-05-28T07:47:00.002+12:00

28 May and the snow making cranks up.

Boy we need it. Warm weather and brown mountains aren't conducive to the prospect of playing in the snow

Oh my god we are getting pelted !

2011-05-16T09:45:00.005+12:00

Oh my god we are getting pelted ! Haaaalllpppppppppppp.

Check out this forecast run by our good friends in the earth sciences department of Victoria university - MetVuw.com

Now that's a piece of weather artwork sweeping across the country ....

Book mark this page to get a one click forecast with Surface wind, MSLP ( mean sea level pressure ) and rainfall

http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast1.php?type=rain®ion=nz&tim=12

Icing on the cake

2011-05-15T07:52:00.002+12:00

The proverbial icing on the cake.

Now huey you can get really in to winter and start dumping some serious white stuff .

Pleaze.

4th of June - I'll Be There - How About You ?

2011-05-12T10:31:00.001+12:00

4th of June

Put it in your diary

I'll be there

Will you ?

Oh Yummy

2011-04-18T21:11:00.001+12:00

"The Remarkables skifield reported 10cm of fresh snow this morning. "

Oh Yummy

Snow on the Peak

2011-04-04T12:48:00.003+12:00

Snow on the hills and its early April. Looking good.

Whoze got their season pass then? My godson got a Treble Cone student season pass for $400. That's not bad going !

agggh hahahahahaha - pleasantly surprised - NOT

2011-03-09T17:36:00.003+13:00

Last season, NZSki hiked the pass by $100 to $799. It is now almost three-times what it was when first introduced in 2001 for $299.

Prior to unveiling 2011 prices ( 30 December 1010 ) NZSki chief executive James Coddington told a local meeting that residents would be “pleasantly surprised”, while marketing boss Craig Douglas said the change "wasn’t major".

Wot a joke.

"Pleasantly surprised" - NOT

"Wasn't major" - NOT

Let's be honest they just want to make more money $$$$$$

Like any sensible sustainable business.

Trouble is the suckers are the loyal local customers.

Here are some more comments

WHY IT ISN'T GOOD VALUE
To be honest, it's a bit redundant even continuing this argument as NZ Ski's statement shows that they really don't give a stuff what people think, and that they clearly consider anyone who disagrees with their viewpoint is selfish, unappreciative and possibly even too stupid to understand how complex running a skifield is.

However, just for the record here are a number of reasons why $889 represents poor value for money for me personally (though no doubt I'm being single-minded and selfish).

- skiing the Remarkables is like skiing Bulgaria in 1992. The Shadow and Sugar lifts are old and slow, frequently stop, breakdown or cannot be operated in a breath of wind. The runs are short and mostly uninteresting. If you want to ski anything good you mostly have to hike to it. Frankly, you would have to pay me to ski the Remarkables.

Because of the above I'd be paying $889 to ski Coronet alone. Coronet is a nice mountain which I like a lot. However, it does not represent good value because.....

- In June the Greengates lift does not open except at weekends, even when there is sufficient snow to do so. Therefore, a fairly decent chunk of the mountain is unavailable.

- The same pretty much applies to Rocky Gully.

- Too many times areas of the mountain are closed off for training or races. This can last all day and has been a constant source of frustration as these runs of course tend to be the best areas. Coronet, whilst nice, is not large enough to sustain so much closure of good runs and still provide a good day.

But I guess my biggest problem with NZ Ski is that they have sucked all the fun out of skiing their mountains. I can't think of skiing their mountains without becoming angry. They also clearly think that they and they alone have driven growth in Queenstown over the last 10 years and that we'd all be lost and unemployed without them. Well, hello, there are 8 months of the year with no skiing and yet we seem to manage. How can that be....?

and whooze been to japan lately ??

NZS bosses talked about the growth of the Aussie market. They are at huge risk of losing that business to Japan. Day tickets at Niseko is a little over $55 , foods much cheaper and vastly superior to NZS offerings, and its all natural snow.
I and most of my friends have given away skiing in NZ and Aus in favour of the Japan pow.
Apart from airfares ,every part of my holiday costs is less in Japan. I love SLs but NZS are losing touch with their market.

Less snow but better snowmakers for skifields

2010-12-16T16:30:00.002+13:00

Ev says humbug ... I want the real McCoy not some machine made powder pooff ... maybe a little earthquake would help raise the mountains a bit to combat this global warming thingo ... or maybe we just need to vote for global cooling ...

Less snow but better snowmakers for skifields

New Zealand will have less snow by the end of the century, but not as little as initially thought, and better snow-making machines will help skifields cope, according to new climate modelling by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

It was the first time a quantitative assessment of the potential impact of climate change on snow levels has been done in New Zealand.

Niwa scientists created three different emissions scenarios, which were used to calculate how the different levels of climate change could affect snow levels for the years 2030-2049 and 2080-2099.

They found:

* On average, at nearly all elevations, there will be a gradual decrease in snow as the century progresses.

* The decrease is more marked at elevations below 1000m.

Depending on skifield location and elevation, under a warmer climate change scenario, by 2090, on average, current maximum snow depths at the upper elevation sites will be further reduced, to approximately 79 per cent to 35 per cent.

The reductions were less marked for mid-range climate change scenario.

"Fortunately for New Zealand, we are unlikely to see the more extreme impacts predicted in Europe and Australia. Our modelling shows that the loss may actually be less than originally anticipated and we should be able to continue to make snow, even under a more extreme climate scenario, right out to the 2090s," said Niwa snow and ice scientist Jordy Hendrikx....

read full article here....

2010-10-09T19:51:00.005+13:00

Closed.

What a travesty.

What a tragedy.

Instead they try and shove us up The Remarkables.

Not.

Check out wot it is like now

quite possibly the best day in two years

2010-09-20T19:07:00.002+12:00

I don't know where you where today but quite possibly the best powder day on the peak in the last two years ...... well that what Gwok reckons anyway .... and that's because he cant remember more than two years ago .... but i would tend to agree ... oh la la

oh my gosh

2010-06-01T09:07:00.004+12:00

Mt Hutt: From the top - check out the drifts and bear in mind the wind fence is 4m high!

Coronet Peak: crowds enjoying the lovely fresh snow yesterday. - and it isn't even open ! Who needs a season pass aye ?

"The first off the blocks to open this year is Coronet Peak " now that hasn't happened in a while.... ever perhaps ?

Photos courtesy of nzski.com

Coronet looking very white

2010-05-30T11:13:00.003+12:00

Coronet looking very white whose up for a sneaky Friday the 4th June opening Day ???

2010-05-20T15:35:00.002+12:00

Snow guns are blazing on Coronet Peak

http://www.nzsnow.com/html/coronet-peak-webcam.htm

Treble Cone has not raised early bird season pass prices

2010-02-24T19:41:00.002+13:00

The ODT reports;

Treble Cone skifield has not raised its early bird season pass prices for 2010 and will reintroduce reciprocal lift pass deals with skifields at Snow Park NZ and Ohau Ski Area.

Treble Cone is at present the only Southern Lakes skifield to keep its prices the same as 2009, despite an increase in ACC levies for the industry.

However, the $999 pass remains the most expensive early bird season pass in the district - $100 more than NZSki.com's Queenstown pass.

The skifield will repeat its locals' youth pass, which costs Upper Clutha school children $149 for a full season of skiing, while under 6-year-olds ski free on the mountain, she said.

A Treble Cone family mountain package has been heavily reduced for the 2010 season.

Early bird adult season passes available for 2010 include a five day powder pass for $349, a 10-day pass for $599 or an unlimited season pass for $999.

read more

http://www.odt.co.nz/southern-snow/latest-skifield-news/94826/treble-cone-holds-prices

winki pop

2009-07-31T09:35:00.001+12:00

Pete's Peak Report

2009-07-08T06:59:00.000+12:00

Snow conditions are as good as you can get them on all groomed runs and
just a little hard off piste

I don't remember the trails in such good condition with awesome grooming
on cold dry silky snow.

Enuf said.

pete's snow report - 16 June

2009-06-21T19:19:00.000+12:00

After a short warm period at the end of last week the weather, as you will
no doubt be aware, has become quite cold again.

It snowed here this morning and it has been good and cold here for the
last three days making for great conditions for snowmaking.

Great conditions on the slopes, I'm told, by all levels of skiers and
boarders

2cm of new snow

2009-06-09T08:13:00.001+12:00

Here is Pete's reportttttttttttt

The best conditions for years. Excellent coverage over the whole mountain (Rocky Gully Lift not yet open) and the snow quality second to none. Plenty of people around on open day and the weather was beautiful. Snowing this morning and the forecast looking better towards the end of the week.

Mt Ruapehu skifield gears up for opening

2009-06-03T07:35:00.000+12:00

as reported by the NZ Herald

Snowmaking began at Mt Ruapehu last night as the mountain gears up for its earliest season opening.

Unusually large dumps of snow last month mean the beginners' area on the Turoa skifield - Alpine Meadow - can open to the public on Saturday, two weeks before the scheduled date.

"Last Saturday there were over 100 people here. Anyone would have thought we were open already. They bring their own toboggans, kids build snowmen. It's really cool to see."

The lifts and more advanced slopes at Turoa are expected to open on the original June 20 date, while Ruapehu's other skifield, Whakapapa, is expected to open on June 27.

About 24,500 season passes have been bought, compared with 18,000 last year. About 85 per cent of those were purchased domestically - mostly in the North Island - and about 12 per cent were bought out of Australia.

read more .....

Opening day looming

2009-05-26T12:57:00.002+12:00

Opening day looming. You going up?

Mt Hutt - 26 May 2009

Early opening for Mt Hutt

2009-05-23T10:15:00.000+12:00

Mt Hutt is on track for an early opening scheduled for Saturday 30th May - subject to weather and conditions

For the statisticians amongst us

2009-05-23T10:14:00.001+12:00

From nzski.com

For the statisticians amongst us, here are a few numbers to mull over:

Coronet Peak, scheduled to open in less than three weeks (Saturday 6 June), has received 50 - 100cm of snow in the last 5 days resulting in an 80cm base at the top of the mountain and a 50cm base at the bottom.

Across the valley at The Remarkables, the ski area received over 150cm over the last two weeks -resulting in a solid 120cm base across the mountain.

Up at Mt Hutt, 170cm of new snow fell in the first two weeks of May which will provide an excellent base to open on. There is now a solid packed powder base of over 50cm with more forecast for this weekend.

snow making

2009-05-21T18:44:00.002+12:00

Snow making today up on the Peak hard to work out how many guns but i would say just a few for a test

Unbelievable how much snow on the mountain tops and with lots of storms through and a bit of a melt freeze scenario over the last two weeks we are gettting in to some serious base creation...

We love it

We're liking the look of that ....

2009-05-20T19:08:00.002+12:00

Across the valley at The Remarkables, the ski area has received 45cm of fresh snow in the last 48 hours and has received 150cm over the last two weeks, resulting in a solid 120cm base across the mountain.

We're liking the look of that .....

Oh la la

2009-05-14T06:58:00.001+12:00

Coronet Peak - The Webcam

Say no more

2009-05-13T08:16:00.003+12:00

Mt Hutt - 11 May 2009

Nada, nyet, nein ... say NO more ........

early snow a godsend

2009-05-13T07:03:00.001+12:00

As reported in the New Zealand Herald....

Meanwhile, commercial skifield operators are talking about starting the season next month with exceptionally early and heavy snowfalls that have arrived in the past fortnight.

And if the weather clears, Manganui Ski Field on Mt Taranaki may open today.

The mountain had a snow base of up to 50cm, enough for the Stratford Mountain Club to open the lower and learner's slopes and t-bar, said club safety services convener Todd Cations-Velvin.

With heavy snowfalls sweeping across the South Island at the weekend, operators were looking at what was involved in bringing forward their planned season opening dates.

In Canterbury, Porter Heights general manager Uli Dinsenbacher said there was 40cm of snow in the car park and 1.5m at the top of the mountain. The skifield is looking at opening on June 26.

Mr Dinsenbacher said it was 20 years since he had last seen such conditions in May.

Mt Hutt has a base of 110cm after more than 170cm of snow fell over the past 10 days.
The field had planned to open on June 13.

"The best day of waves this year"

2009-04-29T09:59:00.005+12:00

East Coast, Australia: Anzac Day, April 25, 2009

"The best day of waves this year"

Yep I know there are plenty if snowfers out there in to the surfing scene as well so here is one stunning set of photos and a video on the Anzac day swell that smothered australia in some of the nicest waves I've seen in a while.

For a land locked surfer stuck between summer swells and winter snows the email from my mate Murray who spends the day browsing and day dreaming sites like this was a bolt from the blue ...

Ozzies ! You dont know how luck you are ....

"Not just because it was a day of remembrance and respect for the fallen, and those that fought for the freedoms we enjoy in this sun and surf drenched land, but also because it was without question the best day of waves in NSW this year so far.

It was flawless from dawn to dusk.

The sun shone, the water was a mild 22 degrees and the wind blew offshore Westerly all day.

The swell in Sydney was a long period ESE groundswell in the 4-6 ft range...."

read more and check out the video it is one off...

104% increase in bookings

2009-04-28T10:04:00.003+12:00

"104% increase in bookings " - Australians booking a ski holiday to New Zealand

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2009-04-07T16:03:00.002+12:00

Oh my god. I havn't even got in the fire wood !

Coronet Peak Webcam

don't we wish

2008-12-28T07:08:00.001+13:00

"The mountains around Lake Tahoe received about 2 feet (more than half a metre) of snow, bringing totals at some resorts in the past two weeks to 3 metres."

Oh don't we wish we had snow reports like that in queenstown !

It's white at our place !

2008-06-24T07:54:00.004+12:00

It's snowing. As we speak. Big white luverly flakes laying on the ground all around our house. We love it.

Coronet peak staff must have gone to sleep after a busy night with the mountain lit up like fairy lights. See if you can count how many ... every light is a snow machine blasting artificial in to the ether ....

Here is there online snow report at 8:00am in the morning of the 24th

Last Update - Mon, 23 Jun 08, 4:10 PM
Status - Closed
Last Fall - 5 cm, 08 Jun 2008

Now this is on the biggest snow storm of the season when mortal snowfers like you and me have been up since 6am hankering to get the low down on the snow down.

Oh me oh my.

We start again

2008-06-23T09:44:00.000+12:00

They are blowing snow on The Peak

We start again.

Antarctic depression ready to pounce

2008-06-21T06:59:00.003+12:00

New Zealand Herald
12:14PM Friday June 20, 2008

A large Antarctic depression is roaring away in the Southern Ocean and is set to pounce on New Zealand around Sunday. It's a two prong attack with firstly another area of low pressure forming in the Tasman Sea. The second part to this system is a particularly cold south westerly kicking in on Monday in the far south.

At the time I wrote this story (Friday morning) the system was looking set to dump snow across Southland, Otago, Canterbury and Central Plateau. Some predictions I've seen show snow falling over Christchurch.

And snow-forecast.com has this to say

A strong SW flow will develop from Sunday. This will bring widespread snow to low levels early next week. Update (Thurs 19th Jun, 2am NZ time): The promising forecast for NZ is unchanged. Some heavy falls next week.

Hmmmm we will see I guess .....

Sun, rain shut down ski resorts

2008-06-19T09:14:00.006+12:00

BY SUE FEA - The Southland Times | Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Unseasonally warm temperatures and rain late last week has temporarily disrupted a bumper start to the ski season in the Southern Lakes but help is on the way with a snow storm forecast for this weekend.

Coronet Peak has been closed until further notice because of the "recent rain, warm temperatures and the consequent loss of snow", NZSki chief executive James Coddington said.......

Good news is the new swimming pool in Queenstown so you can while away your worries doing some laps rather than tear out the frustrations on the slopes.

Better news is our good friends at snow-forecast.com have a perrrty little picture

look at the temperature plummet ! look at the snow forecast!

now if you are used to northern hemisphere metre dumps you would snigger at these figures .... but for a hard up southerner this is white and wunderful

so what all you serious snowfers need to do is pray. hard. dont care what book you read or which way you face pray. for snow.

Click here for the Coronet Peak snow-forecast website

oh dear .........

2008-06-16T08:44:00.003+12:00

Peak Report .....

Status: Closed

Due to recent rain and warm temperatures and consequent loss of snow we are closed until we get cold temperatures to make more snow and/or more natural snow falls. Our snowmakers are ready to go and we will be working to reopen at the earliest opportunity.

Opening Day !!!!! - Nottttttttttttttttt

2008-06-07T09:24:00.004+12:00

Everyone got excited and it was looking like the biggest opening day in over 17 years ...... then huey had his way .... oh la la

Pete's first post

2008-06-07T09:21:00.001+12:00

Welcome to the 2008 season.
This is a very short report as the Peak doesn't open until Saturday and I
won't get a ski until tomorrow morning during training What I can tell you
is that we have more snow here than I ever remember over the past 17
seasons. We also have had some good snowmaking conditions and the 203 new
Alpina Guns have all been fired up.
The new Base building is quite something. How Arrow International managed
to pull the old building down and build this amazing facility is incredible.
$34m has been spent this season. There is no doubt that the old Mt Cook Co
days are well and truly over. The whole thinking up here has changed.
We are open here at Joel and the code for the internal door is the same as
last year.
Catering will not start until later in the Month.
please call if you intend coming up.
See you all soon.
Pete

it seems that the best we can hope for is for an average season. ...

2008-02-24T08:39:00.001+13:00

Oh dear ... lets hope our friends at snow-forecast.com are wrong

"There is no doubt that the hot New Zealand Summer weather will return in just a few days, but already we can make some predictions for the coming ski season. If the present strong La Nina is still there in June, and that's what we expect, we can expect a below average start to the NZ 2008 ski season. Also, since there is currently no expectation of a strong El Nino developing in time, we can already say that a very good ski season is unlikely. At this stage, it seems that the best we can hope for is for an average season."

Hindcasts and ... 9 Day Forecasts ...wot will be next ?

2008-02-24T08:29:00.003+13:00

Well those of you whom have been following my snow missives will know that I have been a long time supporter of the fine service provided by the folks at snow-forecast.com. Continually pushing the forecasting envelope so you can figure out the best way to get a proper powder fix .... so you just got to love there latest upgrade ... Hindcasts indeed ... and 9 days in the future ... heck you will even have time to ask the boss for time off rather than just playing hookie

Hindcasts and ... 9 Day Forecasts ...

"Last week we announced our new hindcast service for members and hope you found it as useful as we do for checking what weather has just passed and hence what the conditions are likely to be.

We are pleased to announce that the next major upgrade is just a few days away – 9 day forecasts for subscribers. We have been validating the usefulness of longer range forecasts for six months. Indeed, any longer range predictions in the last 30 weekly editorials have been based on these models. Lately, we have become increasingly confident that improvements to computer models (and computer hardware) means that longer range forecasts will prove generally useful. Just as important, we are now satisfied that we can now reliably support the extra computation required and still deliver timely updates every 6 hours. Of course, 9 day forecasts are much more speculative than 6 day ones. Nonetheless, as long as they are understood to provide just the outline of what to expect, they are much better than nothing. At the same time as we enable the 9 day forecasts for members, we will allow all users, including non-members, to freely access the 6 day forecasts."

>==

Early Bird Sales Period closes 5 March 2008 - nzski.com

2008-02-24T08:17:00.001+13:00

Here is the official blurb from nzski ....

Early Bird Sales Period closes 5 March 2008.

The NZSKIPASS is $899 for an adult, $799 student $599 youth (7-17) and senior (65 – 74). Offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season at Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt, The Remarkables and Ohau. Other ski area benefits include discounts at Leading Mountain Resorts of the World, Aspen Snowmass and other NZ ski area partners. First Tracks is an optional extra.

The QUEENSTOWN PASS is $699 for an adult, $599 student, $399 youth and senior. This offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Ohau plus a 50% discount on day passes at Mt Hutt. Other ski area benefits include discounts at Leading Mountain Resorts of the World, Aspen Snowmass and other NZ ski area partners. First Tracks is an optional extra.

The FIRST TRACKS extension to the nzskipass and the Queenstown pass is on offer for $195. Available only at Coronet Peak, the extension offers an early morning snow experience between 8 and 9am as conditions and operational requirements allow. The extension is designed for those who want the earliest possible access to untracked powder or freshly groomed runs.

The MT HUTT PASS is $579 for an adult, $479 student, $329 youth and senior. This offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season at Mt Hutt and Ohau plus a 50% discount on day passes at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Other ski area benefits include discounts at Aspen Snowmass and other NZ ski area partners.

The MT HUTT MIDWEEK PASS is $299 for an adult, $199 student, $179 youth and senior. This offers unlimited skiing and riding Monday – Friday only at Mt Hutt and Ohau. On weekends at Mt Hutt and at any time at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables the pass holder is entitled to a Frequent Card discount on day lift tickets. This pass offers some midweek skiing/riding discounts at other NZ ski areas.

Children aged six and under, and Super Seniors 75+ years at all three ski areas will receive a free day lift pass. For convenience we can produce a season pass to enable the holder to proceed direct to lift and avoid ticket window visits on a daily basis, for a nominal $35 application and card issue fee.

Zermatt Has A Sensational Start To Winter

2007-12-22T07:12:00.000+13:00

Vehicle free Zermatt, which has Europe's highest ski lift (at a lofty 3,899 metres) has just had the highest amount of snow, about 100cm, of any ski resort on the planet.

It is currently minus 11 C and there's 24 of 34 ski lifts and mountain transport (including the very effective quintessential Swiss cog railways) open at Zermatt which is a very good early season scenario.

The mountain is gigantic with skiing on both the Swiss and Italian sides. With such a good start you will rarely ski the same pistes and the off-piste powder skiing is limitless. There's a gigantic array of glaciers, bowls and chutes to choose from.

Zermatt is one of those rare ski resorts that has it all! Particularly when you add the most photographed snow-capped mountain in the world into the equation, the Matterhorn.

Skiers and boarders from around the world relish the opportunity to ride the world's second biggest lift-served vertical terrain and having their picture taken with the Matterhorn in the background.

...... oh and i was getting excited about our Christmas Tree ....

don't you just wish you were in Europe ?

2007-12-15T19:52:00.000+13:00

Here's a report from our mates at snow-forecast.com

European Alps
November 2006 may have been the warmest on record in the Alps, but November 2007 has provided Austria, Germany and parts of Switzerland with the best early season conditions for at least 30 years.

Even before last week's snow storms a number of Austrian ski resorts had already opened as much as six weeks ahead of schedule - Schladming-Dachstein opened its doors on 26 October and Kitzbuehel on 2 November. On Thursday night, heavy snow falls saw thousands of drivers left stranded on a highway outside Vienna - up to 50cm of snow fell and about 5,000 cars were involved in a 21km jam along the highway. This low altitude snow followed two days of heavy snow at higher elevations and overall accumulations at ski resorts were much higher.

120cm of snow fell around Davos and Klosters, and as much as 2.5m has accumulated on the glacier at Kaprun. Low temperatures ensured that the fresh snow stayed dry and powdery through the sunny weekend and several more resorts opened early to take advantage including Badgastein, Zell am See, Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Mayrhofen. The German part of the Alps also saw very heavy snow - deep fresh powder conditions where enjoyed by huge crowds at Garmisch-Partenkirchen last weekend.

Bitterly cold temperatures at high altitude (below minus 15C at 3000m) rendered the snow on higher pistes sticky but off piste conditions were excellent from top to bottom. In Switzerland, The Jungfrau resorts of Grindelwald (45/115cm), Wengen (40/80cm) and Muerren (40/80cm) have impressive snow depths for the time of year too.

Tane Taunting and Tantalising

2007-10-11T08:09:00.000+13:00

so you see. better snow than any time during the season. but tantalising out of touch. Why you ask? well the season pass has run out, the lifts are closed and damned if i am going to join the hundreds of other desperate die hards that walk up and down within a snow flake of a purfectly operational lift - especially when we use to rattle off 10 runs an hour instead of one .... oh me oh my how tane taunts us.

any powder on here u reckon ?

2007-09-11T11:32:00.000+12:00

pete's post - excellent conditions on the peak

2007-09-10T20:01:00.000+12:00

hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeee''ssssss pete

Excellent conditions over the weekend with some of the best snow of the
Winter. There has been a frost each night and there has been a continuation
of snow making.The cold nights have kept the snow in primo condition.
This weekend will be the last catered weekend of the season but please let
me know if you are coming up whether it be a weekend or week day.
The season is slowly drawing to a close so get on up here for some great
Spring skiing.

the end as we knew it ?

2007-08-11T18:52:00.000+12:00

Coronet Peak Snow Report
Sat, 11 Aug 07, 6:26 AM
Status Closed

Coronet Peak is closed for the day due to the current weather conditions. All Masters events are cancelled for the day today.

Weather Windy, 4°C
Snow/Rain showers

Oh dear. Warm rain. Wakatipu Skie Club have cancelled leesons for tomorrow Sunday. Do they know something we don't? Is this the end of the season as we knew it?

pETE'S PEAK pOST

2007-08-07T07:14:00.000+12:00

Hi Everyone,

We continue to get some quite strange weather for this time of the year. We have had a couple of falls of snow over the past week which has freshened the mountain up a bit. It has also become a little colder the past few days and the snow machines have been making quite a bit of snow.
Yesterday I had a run with a few Treble Cone guys and we were able to ski
from the Top of Greengates to the 6 seater chair off piste and it was
surprisingly good skiing.
With the strange weather it is hard to predict what snow we might get this
week but at the moment Coronet Peak is certainly skiing really well.
Come on up,

Pete

Otago Ski Club - Joel Lodge
Coronet Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand

Lament the lack

2007-08-01T07:22:00.000+12:00

The Press reports on the lack of snow

Canterbury ski fields are struggling with one of the worst starts to a ski season.

Staff are languishing and bookings have been cancelled due to the lack of snow.

Despite being two-thirds of the way through winter, none of the smaller Canterbury club fields are open and the two main commercial fields, Mount Hutt and Porters Ski Area, are getting by on artificial snow.

Compounding the problem, the three days of warm nor'west conditions at the end of last week "defrosted" what little base the Craigieburn range club fields had, and opening-day projections are being moved further into August.

The situation could change, however, if heavy rain forecast for today falls as snow in the ski areas.

Queenstown and North Island ski fields are reported to be having a reasonable season and Australia is having one of its best seasons.....

For the full report see http://www.stuff.co.nz/4146237a34.html

Quite the weirdest weather

2007-07-30T08:14:00.000+12:00

Hi Everyone,

After a week of quite the weirdest weather, overnight snow has fallen with more forecast for the day. 5 to 10 cm's overnight will have freshened up the snow heaps and the cooler temperatures will bring us back to Winter.............hopefully.

Cheers, Pete

Otago Ski Club - Joel Lodge
Coronet Peak, Queenstown

Somewhat Scratchy - Pete's Post

2007-07-25T05:08:00.000+12:00

Hi Everyone,

Conditions are somewhat warmer than they have been with a northerly
drift over the area. The snow is still in good condition and there is great
skiing especially on the main trails. Off piste is scratchy but fun with
care. Cheers, Pete

Otago Ski Club - Joel Lodge
www.osc.org.nz

Pete's Snow Post

2007-06-26T08:19:00.000+12:00

Here's Pete's report from Coronet Peak

Hi Everyone,
WOW what a week. Very very cold and nearly as much snow in Queenstown as on
the Peak. Yes we had about 25-30 cm's but we still need more snow to be
able to ski off piste. The Mail trails are very good and nearly all are now
open. Rocky Gully opens Friday and Night skiing starts Friday night.
Think snow... Pete

Otago Ski Club, Coronet Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand
www.osc.org.nz

2007-06-22T18:12:00.000+12:00

Got to love that. Looking from Coronet Peak down the Gorge in to Queenstown ( in the shadey cold bit )

its hanking down :)

2007-06-21T11:27:00.000+12:00

its snowing :)

outside my office

Coronet Peak Webcam

go baby

snow forecast not predicting much today but lets hope they are wrong

Snow forecast for Coronet Peak

mind you a few centimetres at Coronet can make all the difference

Pete's Powder Post

2007-06-19T09:36:00.000+12:00

Here is Pete's update from Coronet Peak. Not a member of Otago ski Club? No worry they are a friendly bunch..

Hi Everyone,
Another week of cold snow making weather at Coronet Peak.
All main trail have an excellent cover of snow and there is quite a range
of terrain open. Members staying at the lodge are very impressed with the
conditions. There is snow forecast during this week and we hope that a good
snow fall will fill in all the gaps on the mountain. Please let me know if
you are joining us this weekend. AND of course it is the start of WINTER
FESTIVAL !! Cheers and think natural (snow) Pete

Otago Ski Club - Joel Lodge
Coronet Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand
info@osc.org.nz
www.osc.org.nz

the devil fence

2007-06-16T08:10:00.000+12:00

" And whats with the devil fence ? "

actually i figured it out it is actually a terrain park feature you can bank off it and do jumps off the end all they need to do is put a rail on top and jibbers will be jibbing on it!

Outrageously Good Snow

2007-06-14T07:37:00.001+12:00

Hats off to the snow making and grooming team at the Peak.

Yesterday we skied some supreme spin drift and for this time of year with this amount of natural snow it is an absolute credit to the people putting it together ... oh and of course to Southern Lakes Recreation for spending all the money on the funky snow making kit .... oh and of course to the water diviner dude that found the water source for them....

So main trails only ( two of them ) but pick your line and you could almost call it powder ... well maybe thats going a bit OTT but you know the glow you get after a good session on the snow? Well I got it.

Off piste is still brown and a turn-around bay for the snow groomers shows a base in that spot of around 10 - 15 cm so the margins these boys are playing with is super slim. Here is a grab a friend took from one of the webcams up the mountain.

you got yours ?

2007-06-12T19:28:00.001+12:00

Opening Day - it's Traditional

2007-06-11T11:27:00.000+12:00

Lovely smile lovely chaps but this is one person you don't want to see too much of in a season. He's the wheel clamp man. No excuses. No credit cards. Cash only and no change.

The Remarkables looking a like it needs plenty of precipitation yet.

"I know there was some snow around here somewhere....."

Treeless ...yep every tree on the hill has been cut down. Pity they didn't clear up the mess ..... hazzzzzzzzzard.

Dumbest thing without a doubt is this new fence cutting the M1 in half. It seems every summer that all the big wigs have a big pow wow and think up the most ridiculous, out of place hazardous structure that will ruin a perfectly good line...and this fence has won the award. Strainers solid enough to stop a rampaging bison with no protective padding you don't want to be tangling with this beasty....

Nice smile and good pose with the rake. Lifty enjoying open day along with the rest of us.

Greetings from Otago Ski Club

2007-06-10T22:51:00.000+12:00

Here is an email from resident ski instructor Pete in residence on Coronet Peak. Can't get more hot off the press than that!

Greetings Skiers and Boarders,

Coronet Peak will open for the 2007 tomorrow 11th June

The Coronet Peak Express, Meadows Chair (M1 and Big Easy) and Beginner areas will be open. There are many other trails where Snowmaking is also underway and they must be very close to opening too. Conditions are clear but very cold and there is both clear and cold weather and more snow forecast for the week. The road at this time (Sunday evening) is snow free.

Catering will begin the weekend of nights 29/30th June. Anyone intending to
stay at Joel Lodge during this week or this coming weekend please call me
so I can put on appropriate heating. Looking forward to a big weekend and
season. Pete

Otago Ski Club - Joel Lodge
Coronet Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand
info@osc.org.nz
www.osc.org.nz

Open Day delayed

2007-06-08T10:43:00.000+12:00

Snows guns blazing. Open Day delayed. I've got the rock hoppers out....

Oh I know tvnz weather has had snow flakes on Queenstown for the last two days morning and night but sorry folks don't believe the hype. We got missed big time by all the fronts. Light spattering on the hills but not the lotto like motherload all snowfers really hang for.

It Snowed !!

2007-06-02T10:06:00.000+12:00

Yep all over Coronet Peak and I am sure many other mountains around these parts. A light dusting enough to bring joy to snow bums Aotearoa wide. So keep on praying .... yes this is one time when it is OK to give Brian Tamaki a ring and ask for his spiritual assistance ... we need more snow ... bucket loads.

While we were all glued to our TV watching Team NZ put away the Italians ( wot you weren't watching? sacre bleu ! ) it snowed. about 3am is my estimate.

photo from nzsnow.com webcam

snow guns are firing

2007-05-19T10:32:00.000+12:00

Snow guns are firing, 5 weeks to winter festival so says the Mountain Scene, ski retail guru Ivan is back in town and snow-forecast.com is predicting snow for next thursday. Ski season must be around the corner.

waiting for us

2007-05-13T09:10:00.000+12:00

Well just under a month to go until Coronet Peak opens and waddya going to do? Twiddle your thumbs? Course not when the Peak is looking this slim.

Blue blue may days and buzz, marianne and i took of across the Lake to scale Walter Peak - all 1500 metres of it.

Brill jetboat trip across the Lake (thanks Henry) , fantastic hike across some classic high country terrain (thanks Lloyd the Walter Peak Station recreation manager for giving us permission) and a critical little 200 metre final crux pitch just to get the heart beat really going (coming down even more exciting) and this is the result.

my foot and walter peak station 1200 metres below

Queenstown from walter peak

The top.

And whats that all got to do with skiing? Well the long steep downhill munched up the thighs and all I could think was ....... "that's going to help on opening day !"

direct to queenstown

2007-03-20T06:35:00.000+12:00

thinking of crossing the ditch to play in the snow? my advice is fly direct to Queenstown. when it comes down to it why waste time flopping between planes in christchurch. we are here to ski and ride!

qantas are doing two flights a week from sydney, and 1 a week from melbourne and brisbane. air new zealand have something on the go as well this winter. ho hum.

coolest itinerary i would imagine for a mountainless sydnesider would be to fly friday morning direct to queenstown arriving about 3pm in time for some night skiing ( starts late july ) on coronet peak . party hard through the weekend then zip back Sunday night to be back at work for the new week. think it's going to happen? not unless you hire a corporate jet.

and thats not such a silly idea if you have a few spare readies. a quick chat to our friends at Jetcorp

http://www.jetcorpaustralia.com.au/

tell us that for a measly AUD$28,900 we can charter a BeechJet 400A and for AUD$53,000 you can travel in style on a Cessna Citation VII. Split that amongst 7 people and it's game on.

too early for most birds at TC

2007-03-19T12:17:00.000+12:00

TC fanatics were up in arms with early bird season passes doubling this year to $1500. Wots more thats double any other equivalent season pass for Southern Lakes snow areas.

We know Treble Cone has the best vertical and some of the bigger powder falls for your hot show snow boarders and skiers but boy are the locals paying for it. Now if that Gondola was installed and we could all enjoy a top to bottom enclosed seat to relax in between mammoth vert runs then maybe....

don't miss the opening !

2007-03-19T08:58:00.000+12:00

Wanna know when all the Southern Lakes snow fields are opening (and closing) in 2007? Put a date in your diary and make sure you are there. Heck how about trying to be at all 5 ?

Coronet Peak open June 9 and close on October 7

The Remarkables open on June 23 and close on October 7.

Cardrona Alpine Resort open on June 22 and close on October 7.

Treble Cone (hopes to) open on June 26 and close on September 30

Snow Park open (subject to weather) on June 22 and close on September 30.

new groomerzzzzzzzz

2007-03-06T08:02:00.000+13:00

Coronet Peak's trails will be better groomed this winter after the arrival of two new snow groomers, ski area boss Duncan Smith said.

Two new Kassbohrer PB600 series snow groomers – the latest in snow-grooming technology from Europe – would ensure surfaces were groomed in a wider variety of snow and weather conditions, he said.

"The new groomers will enable us to maintain higher quality skiing and snowboarding terrain for our guests."

Mr Smith said Coronet Peak understood how important well-groomed slopes and varied and undulating terrain were to the skiing experience.

Coronet Peak had also invested in a new pump station including two new pumps that would boost snowmaking capacity by 20 percent.

"We recognise how important consistent, reliable and good-quality snow conditions are to our customers and to the Queenstown winter visitor industry." ..........

Full report in southland times

Jump in ski pass costs

2007-02-22T07:43:00.000+13:00

"A $70 increase in the Queenstown early bird ski season pass - to $649 - is regrettable but unavoidable, according to Southern Alpine Recreation boss Duncan Smith. Last year it rose $30 and the year before $50. The nzski.com pass rises to $749. Mr Smith blames 18-20 percent increases in energy costs, higher compliance, capital infrastructure and labour costs."

Hmmm wonder if it has anything to with shareholder returns? Certainly nothing to do with long time loyal customer satisfaction.......

Skifield to extend beginners' slope

2007-02-20T21:57:00.000+13:00

Skifield to extend beginners' slope
By SUE FEA - The Southland Times | Tuesday, 20 February 2007

Coronet Peak will double its existing on-slope beginner section...

Blah blah blah

...Coronet Peak is scheduled to open on June 9.

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh.

season passes on sail

2007-02-12T10:47:00.000+13:00

yep it's the annual rush to your favourite fields website to lay down your hard won cash for the good old season pass. suck you dry spit you out and make you beg for more. easier than selling candy to a baby and more addictive than a packet of drum. season passes ....

they know the mortal snow addict is strung in to a lifelong obsession so really we should campaign for government intervention. or something.

bad news is? it ain't going to get cheaper :(

my advice. dont miss out. deals finish in march.

how to ease the pain? in the words of the great WIF Hunt - Te Kuiti farmer and dynamo of a man - "the first chairlift ride of the season costs the full price of the season pass and the rest are free"

Concern over Europe 'snow crisis'

2006-12-18T14:21:00.000+13:00

While many mortal kiwis wander whats up at the beach spare a thought for our distant snow cousins across the globe ...... James Cove from the BBC writes about Europes snow crisis;

The French Alps are uncharacteristically lacking in snow

" Ski resorts across the European Alps are becoming increasingly worried as current bad snow conditions threaten the all important Christmas holiday period.

This autumn has been one of the worst on record with high temperatures and little snowfall.

Many resorts have had to postpone their openings and the main ski races have been cancelled because of a lack of snow.

With millions of skiers heading to the resorts over the next week there are concerns that the open runs will be very busy and people could be put off from booking again at Christmas and the New Year, costing the multi-million pound industry heavily in lost revenue, and threatening jobs.

Climate change

Many believe global warming is to blame for the lack of snow.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that many low-level resorts could soon be unviable and predicted warmer temperatures in the future.

Already banks are refusing to offer loans to resorts under 1,500 metres as they fear for their future snow cover. Germany is threatened the most, followed by some Austrian and Italian resorts.

However, the picture is not as bleak as some say, with the high resorts having good conditions on some runs.

I am in the Swiss resort of Verbier and the open runs have good snow and more is set to open this weekend helped by artificial snow.

"We have many new snow-making cannons across our slopes and this has helped greatly," Pierre-Yves Deleze told the BBC.

"Some snow is forecast to fall next week and then everything should be OK. If not though, it will make us more nervous for Christmas."

'Higher ground'

The best skiing is to be found on the high resorts with glaciers: Tignes and Les Deux Alpes in France; Zermatt, Saas Fee and Verbier in Switzerland, and Obergurgl in Austria......

For the full report see;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6185345.stm

Canada or not

2006-12-03T09:39:00.000+13:00

The conversation, a quick casual catch up outside the post office, went;

"Come over to Canada we have a house at Red Mountain for a month"

Those simple 14 words sent my mind spinning with ramifications exploding normality. What an option. I don't even know where Red Mountain is having never been to Canada .... one of those things in life that as a snow bum you just got to address .... sometime

snow in november ?

2006-11-10T09:04:00.000+13:00

Snow on 10 November 2006. Halleluja. A vicious southerly front fuelled by a deep low centred over the north island slammed across us with a series of snow showers to low level in the wakatipu basin

I love it....

Cancel all meetings

2006-10-28T18:27:00.000+13:00

11.15am, 9 October 2006

cancel all meetings !

2006-06-18T00:49:00.000+12:00

Blisfull .. i think there i such a word.

As the legs throb their pleasure after a burning top to bottom onslaught with plenty of off piste to avoid those pesky snow guns and a few tumbles as skis tangle in shrubbery.

This is a shot looking down the gorge in to Queenstown from Coronet Peak on 17 June...three days after opening.

Funny thing is about the only time I feel safe from a spaniard is when it is mostly covered in snow and I've got my boots and skis on.......

2003-07-09T12:11:00.000+12:00

Welcome to the Kiwi Snow Report blog.

Wild and woolly snow and stuff from the bottom of New Zealand.

Wot's a blog? Read on and find out.

Evan