The early start to winter has meant that both Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt have already started snowmaking for the winter 2012 ski and snowboard season.

Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager Hamish McCrostie said the new snow has given them a fantastic pre-season boost: “We received up to 8cm of snow in last week’s storm and this additional 13cm in the last 24 hours is an ideal start to the season,” he said on Wednesday. “We’ve starting snowmaking this afternoon on the lower mountain and are running during the day as conditions permit”.

Ski Area Manager Ross Lawrence at The Remarkables said the fact vehicles needed chains to get up the access road was a good sign! “We’re less than a month out from opening now and this latest snow-laden storm has brought the total snow received over the last week to 23cm. It’s magic stuff.”

Meanwhile, Mt Hutt General Manager Operations James Urquhart said people should start planning early for a season of winter fun. “We’ve got the chairlifts fitted, our lift system is ready to go, and snowmaking has started today,” he said. “The ski area is looking great with this most recent snowfall. People who were waiting for the right sign to make winter holiday plans should wait no more – it’s time.”

Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt are scheduled to open for the 2012 season on 9 June and The Remarkables on 16 June (subject to conditions), so it’s time to gear up and start making those bookings for your winter holiday!

Earthworks over the past few months have opened up even more terrain for skiers and snowboarders at this hugely popular Queenstown ski area. “We’ve been working really hard to improve the trail network that we focused on the previous season,” says The Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence. “This year we’ve concentrated on the improving the flow of trails and opening up more terrain for our visitors, which is especially good news for intermediate and beginners.”

The ski resort has also invested in brand-new snow groomers to keep the new terrain at The Remarks in tip-top condition.

In another exciting development for visitors, The Remarkables (along with sister resort Coronet Peak across the valley) has invested further into its top-of-the-line performance rental range of skis and snowboards. “Last year we tested the popularity of high performance rentals equipment and it was huge,” said Mr. Lawrence. “People visiting our ski areas need to know they can get the latest equipment and not have to compromise.”

The two Queenstown snow resorts have also invested in two new buses to take skiers and boarders up to the mountains, and they’ve introduced new five- and ten-trip concession passes so visitors can buy multiple trips at a discounted rate.

Also making life easier for snow bunnies in 2012 is the mypass card. Launched in 2010, to remove the need for paper and wire lift tickets, it’s now reached a new level of use. Guests can now preload money onto their mypass card and use it at any of the three NZSki mountains – leaving the wallet safely at home. It becomes an on-mountain debit card, for use at mountain outlets such as cafés, ski schools or the rentals department.

The Remarkables is scheduled to open on 16 June 2012 (subject to conditions). For more information on each ski area go to www.nzski.com.

“Last year’s trial showed us just how hugely popular an outdoors bar with amazing views could be,” says Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie. “It became ‘the’ spot to be on the mountain last year even though we could only take cash, so over summer we installed the equipment to enable electronic transactions to make it easier for guests.”

What’s more ‘mypass money’ can now be used at the Icebar. With credit card and EFTPOS facilities installed, guests can use their preloaded mypass money to pay for drinks and snacks. The mypass card, launched in 2010 to replace paper and wire lift tickets, has reached a new level of use with guests now able to preload money onto their mypass card and use it at any of the three NZSki mountains (Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mount Hutt) – leaving wallet and credit cards safely at home. The mypass card becomes an on-mountain debit card, used as easily as swiping a credit card at mountain outlets such as cafés, ski schools or the rentals department.

In another new development at Coronet Peak for 2012, the kids Funzone in the novice and beginners areas has been expanded with small boxes and features installed.

For the grown-ups, work has been undertaken at the Race Arena at Coronet Peak’s Rocky Gully so international race teams visiting to train will have access to a full-time Giant Slalom course. This means all race activity will now happen at Rocky Gully, meaning no more race events or training on The Hurdle or Eighth Basin.

And to get you to the mountain in comfort, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables have invested in two new buses to take skiers and boarders up to the mountains. There are five- and ten-trip concession passes available so visitors can buy multiple trips at a discounted rate.

Coronet Peak is scheduled to open on 9 June 2012, subject to conditions. For more information go to www.nzski.com.

“Mt Hutt is really proud to be part of the Methven Kids 4 Free deal and the feedback we’ve had from families, especially those with two or three children, is that it’s re-ignited their passion for a winter ski holiday and means record numbers of families will be able to realise their dream of taking the kids on a skiing holiday,” says Mt Hutt ski area manager James McKenzie.

“Mt Hutt really is an all-round adventure playground for kids,” he said. “We’ve got the infamous Dinner with the Stars on Saturday nights, complete with huskies and snow groomer rides, plus we’ve given the kids centre a refresh over the summer.”

Visitors will be pleased to hear that Mt Hutt is updating its high-performance ski rentals department. It’s also made developments to the mypass card, which was launched in 2010 to eliminate the need for paper and wire lift tickets. You’ll now be able to preload money onto your mypass card and use it at mountain outlets, such as cafés, ski schools or the rentals department, at any of the three NZSki mountains (Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables).

Mount Hutt ski area is scheduled to open on 9 June 2012, subject to conditions.

For more information on the Kids 4 Free campaign, go to www.kids4free.co.nz, and for more information about Mount Hutt, go to www.nzski.com.

Snow Angels

It’s the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party, and with the release of the programme for the  2012 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, you can start planning your visit!

This year the Winter Fest takes place 22 June – 1 July 2012 and will include all the classic events that festival-goers look forward to every year, plus some awesome new events.

The celebrations begin with the American Express Opening Party & Fireworks at Earnslaw Park (Friday 22 June). This year the theme is Fire & Ice!

The next morning (Saturday 23 June), brings a choice of low-key and high-intensity events from the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day and Festival Parade to Mountain Bikes on Snow, the Frontrunner Golden Mile or More FM Birdman – or, of course, a crazy combination of the above!

The New Zealand movie premiere of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift is also confirmed for Saturday 23 June, kicking off at the conclusion of the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day.

On Sunday 24 June, choose between the American Express Big Brunch and the More FM Day on the Bay. Then New Zealand comic-duo Flight of the Conchords (Jermaine Clement and Oscar-winning Bret McKenzie) arrive in town to perform a live evening show at the Queenstown Events Centre.

Following a successful debut last year, the Wonderland Ice Rink on the Village Green is back and it will host a dazzling performance from the Australian-based Stars on Ice team on Tuesday 26 June.

Comedy continues on Wednesday 27 June with TV3’s infamous 7 Days Live comedy satire show broadcasting from Queenstown’s Memorial Hall.

As the month draws to a close, the following weekend offers a whole lot of outdoor fun with the Air New Zealand Mountain Mayhem, rugby on the Rec Ground, Ice Hockey at the Ice Arena and Night Skiing at Coronet Peak on Saturday 30 June. Mountain Scene’s Thriller in the Chiller is also back by popular demand.

On Sunday 1 July, the sport theme continues with the Quiksilver Invitational Slope-style and the National Cyclo-cross. In 2012, the hugely popular Auckland Airport International Mardi Gras will double as the Winter Festival’s closing party.

According to Festival Director Simon Green, the comprehensive programme has been streamlined to make the most of the two weekends spanned by the Winter Fest. “We’re delighted with the programme line up,” he says, “and invite everybody to start planning their trip to Queenstown to join the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party.” He also points out that 30 of the 50 events on the programme are free to attend – bonus!!

Tickets for paid events go on sale from Monday 30 April.
For full programme details, check out the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival calendar at www.winterfestival.co.nz.

And the really great news for families is that children aged 10 and under will ski for free at Mount Hutt in 2012 and the price of a youth pass (for 11 to 17-year-olds) has dropped to $150. Yes, you read right! In this age of endless price increases, family skiing just got more affordable!

The news is good for everyone else too. Other season passes have been ‘frozen’ at 2011 prices and those who held season passes in 2010 or 2011 will get up to $100 of credit loaded onto their mypass to spend on services on the mountain.

If budgeting is a hassle, you can even ‘drip-feed’ your payments over eight months – but you’ll have to sign up for an Early Bird pass by 31 October 2011 to take advantage of this option. As if you needed any more time to jump on this great deal!! Head to www.nzski.com between 14 October to 31 October 2011 to sign up.

But if you do decide to wait until next year, Early Bird passes will be available between mid-February and mid-March 2012 (and you’ll have the option of a three-month payment plan to make like easy). Sorted!

Full details about pricing and qualification criteria are available at www.nzski.com.

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.

Great news for New Zealand skiers and snowboarders! Coronet Peak ski area in Queenstown has just announced that its season has been extended due to fantastic spring snow conditions in New Zealand. This means an extra week of awesome skiing and riding for skiers and boarders at one of New Zealand’s most popular ski resorts.

Originally scheduled to close this coming weekend, the final day of the season at Coronet Peak will now be Sunday 9 October 2011. Unusual snow conditions have meant that nearby The Remarkables ski area will now close earlier than expected – the last day of the season at The Remarkables will be Sunday 2 October. It’s a strange situation: according to NZSki CEO James Coddington, the Queenstown season has been “like no other” with variable snowfalls even from one side of the Wakatipu Basin to the other. “Coronet received another 10 centimetres of new dry snow just a few days ago and overall has much better conditions than The Remarks, so it makes sense to swap their closing dates.”

If you’ve got a season pass for The Remarkables, don’t worry – The Remarkables season pass holders are welcome to ski at Coronet Peak for the final week of the season. The team at Coronet Peak will even set up some features for The Remarkables skiers and riders who are addicted to the terrain park!

The Remarkables Spring Carnival will also be moved to Coronet Peak and is scheduled for the weekend of 8 and 9 October 2011. This will be an exciting weekend packed full of madcap events, and children and youths (17 years and under) will even be able to access lifts for free at Coronet Peak over Spring Carnival weekend. Don’t miss out on the fun! Book your Queenstown accommodation and get your gear sorted now.

Spring may be in the air but it’s still winter at ground level! Spring snow conditions at The Remarkables ski area just out of Queenstown in New Zealand’s South Island just got a whole lot better with the arrival of a southerly front in mid-September 2011. Skiers and boarders were thrilled at the wonderful topping of the white stuff which will provide a good foundation through the remainder of the season. Ski Area Manager Ross Lawrence said the fresh snowfall and further snow in the forecast has set the ski area up for some sensational spring skiing. The ever-popular chutes and Highway are providing some great riding on the new powder. So now is the time to make the most of the good snow cover coupled with the Southern Lakes region’s glorious spring sunshine. The multiple attractions of Queenstown mean a ski holiday can be combined with many other remarkable activities, from adrenaline pumping to calm and soothing. A place for all seasons, but particularly revitalising in springtime, Queenstown here we come!

Wax your skis and snowboards, boys and girls, for one final weekend of marathon spring skiing at Coronet Peak in the Southern Lakes region – this weekend marks the end of the ski area’s night skiing operation for the 2011 winter season.

Tomorrow, opening at 8am with First Tracks and running right through to 9pm with night skiing, skiers and snowboarders can indulge in a massive 13 hours on the slopes – and the chance to break the record for most runs in a day! The current record is currently held by a day pass holder who managed 60 runs (that’s 24,124 vertical metres!) in 12 hours of skiing.

Even if you’re not looking to break any records, an evening of skiing under the stars is an amazing experience. Tonight and tomorrow night, it’s expected that the main M1 trail, Shirtfront, Big Easy and some beginner areas will be open and fully floodlit so that skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the thrill of night skiing.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to take it easy and enjoy the ambience of a relaxed night out up on the snow,” says Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie.

“You can head up around 4pm, ski or board until enjoying a good hot meal at dinner time and then hit the slopes again before a hot chocolate or mulled wine and home.”

“All in all it’s a pretty magical experience that’s hard to beat. It’s a whole different atmosphere at night – skiing under the stars then enjoying a drink on the deck, all with views over a sparkling valley.”

But even if you miss out on the experience of night skiing, Coronet Peak and other ski areas in the Southern Lakes region will remain open for spring skiing for some time yet – and the conditions are fantastic. So book your accommodation, transport and activities, and head down for a weekend (or a well-deserved mid-week break) before the season ends.