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Welcome to the Brown Bear Ski and Snowboard blog! Here is where you'll get the inside word on what's hot on the slopes, and who's been doing what – and when, and where.

Coronet Peak Opening Delayed

While many have relished the warm late autumn and early winter days of 2011, us skiers and snowboarders can’t wait for a nice, decent cold snap! Coronet Peak ski area, which was supposed to open on the weekend, has had to postpone its opening day while waiting for snow and crisp winter air.[......]

Queenstown Winter Festival Survival Guide

It’s one of the world’s biggest alpine parties and it’s only a few weeks away: the 2011 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival will take place from 24 June till 3 July 2011. [......]

2011 NZ Big Air Series Kicks off in Auckland

Winter is officially here and what better than to celebrate the season with the start of the New Zealand Big Air Series? This weekend the series will kick off with the Auckland Big Air on 4 June.[......]

Ski and Snowboard Sales

It’s only days (18 to be precise!) till the first New Zealand ski areas open their slopes for the 2011 New Zealand ski season. So it’s about time you sorted you ski gear! Thinking ‘I’ll get last year’s gear out the day before I hit the slopes’ just doesn’t cut the mustard if there is a myriad of ski sales where you can get the latest gear at great prices.[......]

Dive Fish Snow Travel – Anniversary With Charity Auctions

Brown Bear reckons skiing is awesome (obviously!) and so is lending a hand if our fellow countrymen (and –bears) need help. For that reason Brown Bear thinks that Dive Fish Snow Travel should get a round of applause this month. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the travel company have decided to put up $50,000 worth of ski holiday packages and more for auction.[......]

Wintervention Snow Movies

Attention, snow-bunnies – this year the New Zealand ski season starts early with the awesome Warren Miller Wintervention snow movies![......]

The Remarkables and Coronet Peak Even Fancier in 2011!

Snow-bunnies returning to The Remarkables and Coronet Peak ski areas in 2011 can expect change. During the summer months the New Zealand ski areas have revamped their slopes which now sport new runs, increased snowmaking, reconfigured slopes and wider terrain.[......]

Mount Ruapehu Crater Lake Heating Up

Volcanologists have issued a statement that Mount Ruapehu is at the moment experiencing a period of high water temperatures at Mount Ruapehu’s Crater Lake. At 38°C to 39°C the water is hotter than usual and volcanologists have also seen changes the Crater Lake’s water chemistry, volcanic gas outputs and seismic activity.[......]

Mt Hutt Ski Area Improvements

Mt Hutt ski area had big plans for a new transport service for the 2011 New Zealand ski season. But after the Christchurch earthquake these plans have been put on hold for now.[......]

Porters Ski Area Expansion Plans

Attention, Canterbury snow-bunnies – someone has been making big, big plans! The guys from Porters Ski Area have put their heads together and come up with some awesome expansion plans.[......]