Southern Lakes including Queenstown and Wanaka
Free and Independent
Warm weather has kicked in after quite a long cold spell - "Firm spring like conditions - may soften during the day" - reads one Snow Report. Gosh the conditions have been nice with lots of excited snowfers making cooing noises as they get involved in some white.
The Lakes District has definitely filled up with racing teams ( Japanese, Americans, British ), Extreme Snow Boarders for the Heli Challenge, film crews to make major movies and Masters for the skiing. Oh and then we've got the Presidential visit coming early September as well!
Evan " I like my chairlift ride " Bloomfield
View our previous snow reports online.
>+++ Mid Winter Christmas at The Remarkables and Coronet Peak
The Mid Winter Wonder Festival from 20 - 23 August offers some great activities on Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. Grommets ride Slope Style, Racers slam the wickets in the Milo Cup, Extreme Freeskiing in the chutes and AMEX Night Tubing.
Meanwhile mom and dad kick back in the evening on Coronet Peak to some live music and wine tasting in between a fireworks display, Torchlight Parade and skidoo rides.
So check out the Mid Winter Wonder Festival from nzski.com
>================ Last Issue
>================ I've Got Mail
Here's a little gem from Rick Harker in Melbourne.
"Been feverishly checking the snow reporting and of course your light hearted newsfeeds . Thanks for the effort you put in and of course, keep up the good work.
"I have a question about snowfalls in Queenstown itself. Does it happen often or is the picture I've seen just a one off?
"Will be arriving there next Tuesday for the skiing of my life for 2 glorious weeks and to hell with any bad weather, it's got to be better than OZ with its fickle snow and exaggerated reports.
Well Rick blow me over with a feather. It is emails like this that stoke me along as I labour over my keyboard!
This year Queenstown has had two storms that have left snow lying on the ground at Lake Level. Heck, they even had to cancel the Celeberity-Am Golf Challenge during the Winter Festival! Around home we have had about 6 weeks this winter with snow on the ground.
>================ heli challenge on TV in NZ
Couldn't make it to the Deep South but wanna check out some of the hot action? Seen a few titbits on TV and thought "What are these guys on?" Well I don't know but they must have lots of it.
PULSATE WANAKA BIG AIR - See all the action on Sunday 15 August 5pm TV 2 and on SKY Sport at 5.30am SnowBusters.
Do not miss it and if you have to tape it.
>================ a week of heli challenge
The Jack Daniel's Big Air qualifier was held at Cardrona last Wednesday as 60 certified air phreaks projected up in to the picture blue skies and calm weather. The top 5 boarders and skiers qualified for the Pulsate Wanaka Streetstyle so the pressure was on.
Boarders were pulling inverts, spins and barrel rolls with the Skiers opting for a lot of air, laid out backflips and huge floating grabs. And of course there were some big crashes. Thankfully the landing was steep and soft as "quite a few people were trying outrageous manoeuvres and leaving the decision on how to land a little bit too late" .....
And then of course on Saturday evening the biG aiR in Wanaka. Build a 19m high and 39m long ramp, truck in some Southern Alps snow, let Grinspoon pump up the music and go for it. About 6 000 people watched a bevy of maniacs get sky born and entertain. Queenstown's own Sam Deavoll headed off the team riders to take first place in the snowboarders. And the Back Country Heli Extreme Day had to be cancelled due to bad weather and instead they had a fun free skiing expression day - sounds OK to me!
20-year-old Guerlain Chicheret (FRA), current World Extreme Skiing Champion, was judged the overall winner of the men's skiing division. His uncanny ability to read big mountain terrain and confidence beyond his years saw him emerge victorious over a genuine world-class field of competitors. In the men's overall snowboarding results, rookie David Pujol (SPA) -- who truly reflected the free-riding spirit by putting his career on hold and living out of his car to save money whilst training for the Rip Curl event -- was rewarded for his passion by finishing in first place ahead of an impressive list of world class free-riders.
Online check out the official site;
http://www.helichallenge.co.nz/
Or for a Violator View from BoarderZone
surf over to;
http://www.boarderzone.com/99_helichallenge.htm
>================ OZ gets the dump
Thredbo Monday 9th August - here's the report;
"The much anticipated dump is here – 50cm of fresh snow has fallen overnight on top of the mountain, around 30cm of snow has fallen on the middle slopes & close to 15cm of snow has fallen in the village. It started around 8.00pm last night & it’s amazing how much has fallen in such a short period of time.
"The higher trails will have a light dry cover, while the lower areas will be heavier-going.
>================ Coronet Peak
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
26 June
|
10cm
|
15cm
|
|
03 July
|
80cm
|
1m +
|
|
08 July
|
5cm
|
10cm
|
|
12 July
|
3cm
|
|
|
26 July
|
15cm
|
15cm
|
|
27 July
|
25cm
|
25cm
|
|
02 August
|
2cm
|
4cm
|
|
05 August
|
dusting
|
The Peak is doing that ski all over thing. It never ceases to amaze how you can just charge over the brow of a hill, and ski down the other side, all over. Spring conditions have been a real treat but lets do that powder thing again!
NZ Masters on this week with all the old fogs out to resurrect their youth, former Olympians and New Zealand Champions zipping all over the mountain. Downhill training in the morning. Slalom Thursday, Downhill Friday and the Giant Slalom on Saturday.
>================ Cardrona
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
26 June
|
8cm
|
|
|
03 July
|
70cm
|
1m +
|
|
08 July
|
8cm
|
|
|
12 July
|
2cm
|
|
|
26 July
|
5cm
|
5cm+
|
|
27 July
|
25cm
|
25cm+
|
|
02 August
|
4cm
|
6cm
|
|
05 August
|
dusting
|
An awesome week with clear, calm and sunny. Weather became a bit scruffy but Thursday and Friday morning offered a skiff of new snow so we wont be complaining. Snow is still winter conditions, soft off piste and chalky powder on the groomed trails.
Traffic is getting heavy in the pipes and the shaping crew are pretty much full on circulating around the pipes and keeping them riding well. With this rotation under way it is unlikely that all 4 pipes will be going on any one day, but what is there will be good. ETA big weekend of boarding, NZ Freeskiing and Skiercross championships from the 21st of August.
>================ Treble Cone
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
03 July
|
65cm
|
1m +
|
|
08 July
|
5cm
|
|
|
12 July
|
7cm
|
|
|
26 July
|
3cm
|
5cm
|
|
27 July
|
15cm
|
15cm
|
|
02 August
|
8cm
|
14cm
|
Check out Treble Cone Cam.
>================ The Remarkables
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
26 June
|
10cm
|
15cm
|
|
03 July
|
1m +
|
1.2m +
|
|
08 July
|
5cm
|
8cm
|
|
12 July
|
5cm
|
|
|
26 July
|
15cm
|
15cm+
|
|
27 July
|
25cm
|
25cm
|
|
02 August
|
5cm
|
8cm
|
|
06 August
|
5cm
|
8cm
|
"Blanket of stars above us." Homeward Bound shuttle is still chugging along although the last few turns are amongst the tussock and spaniards. Don't sit on one of them!
Another fantastic week at The Remarkables with great winter snow conditions providing superb riding and skiing for all levels. Cold temps have meant alot of dry machine snow has been made on the Alta Green trail and beginner areas.
The Cadbury Moro Slope Style Series is held each Monday in the Primo Terrain Park in Sugar Bowl. Good fast course, big hits with some great action and huge air.
>+++ Thanks to our sponsor == Cardrona Alpine Resort
Carving Tipster offers a short & sweet way to get to grips with those new carving skis you've bought. Personal attention with a maximum of 3 people per group and just $42 for a 75 minute lesson.
Carving Tipster - 12.30pm daily, Cardrona.
>================ Waiorau Snow Farm
Testing time for international car-makers with Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Honda, Renault and Volkswagen making base camp high above the Cardrona Valley on the top of the Piza Range. Secrecy surrounds with smart cars, heaps of computer hardware, dozens of engineers and some heavy telephone traffic with Megabits of testing information zipping back to head offices around the world.
Don't expect to see any of this when you go up for a cross country ski though. Mom's the word you know.
>================ Heli Report
It's out there. Steep, shady and soft. Get some elevation with a helicopter and explore the deep south mountains.
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>================ Contact Details
Evan Bloomfield fx +64 3 442 8342
PO Box 2125
Queenstown 9197
AOTEAROA
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