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."
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Hindcasts and ... 9 Day Forecasts ...wot will be next ?
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."
>==
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
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.
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.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Zermatt Has A Sensational Start To Winter
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 ....
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 ....
Saturday, December 15, 2007
don't you just wish you were in Europe ?
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.
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.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tane Taunting and Tantalising
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.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
pete's post - excellent conditions on the peak
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.
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.
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