Southern Lakes including Queenstown and Wanaka
Free and Independent
Yep the Primo Porridge went off with some fab spring riding conditions on Coronet Peak and brilliant surf in Riverton. In Queenstown another institution closed with the Wicked Willies regulars swilling their last few pints before the demolition balls make way for the new casino that everyone wants - not.
Evan " wild, woolly and wide awake" Bloomfield
View our previous snow reports online.
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Race yer mates in the American Express dual slalom on Million Dollar.
>================ Last Issue
>================ Here's mail from Craig Begley
" Hey just wanted to say my girlfriend and I stayed at Gardens Parkroyal through 13th Sept to 21st Sept and had a ball we both boarded and skied at Remarks and Coronet Peak. When we first hit the slopes the snow was getting thin and spring snow was apparent but on our last Ski day on 20th of Sept it snowed at Remarks from 1pm through to 3:30pm about 5-8cm it was awesome!
" On our finally night from Queenstown we were informed that it was snowing, so the snow definitely got a few more weeks left so Board On! Catch Ya and thanks for the snow report service.
Begs
>================ Ready, steady, close
Well its that time of year as the various snow areas succumb to the fohn winds and warm weather. Up at Coronet there is still some brilliant snow available. Hit the little spring window and watch out you don't get isolated. Cardrona and Remarkables also still offer some nice conditions, pick your path and takes some time in the sun.
Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are open until at least the of 10th of October with Rock Gully T-Bar and platter lift at Coronet closed and Shadow Basin at The Remarkables open only for access to the Chutes and Highway. Cardrona is closing this Sunday and Treble Cone is closed today then back open Saturday and Sunday for the final two days.
Make sure you get out and sample the last snow of the millennium.
>=============== KiwiNewZ SnowReports wind down for summer
Well it's been great fun bringing you these Snow Reports this winter and really great fun getting all your friendly reminders when I have forgotten to update the Snow Cam pictures or when Shed Gurl knocked the Cardrona Cam camera and I was beaming live photos of the window sill! So thanks for taking the time to Escribe me.
Our Snow Reports will now become somewhat more sporadic settling in to a 6 weekly odd routine so you are welcome to stay subscribed and listen to my summer rantings. We will get back in to high gear early May 2000.
>================ Southland's Premier Surf and Snow Event
And that's how to have a surf and snow competition!
Coronet Peak, Queenstown really put it on for the boardercross on Friday 24 September with some great spring snow and a fast challenging boardercross course.
Yannick and the crew from nzski.com did a brilliant job on the Peak and this year added a new feature .... a table top jump with a "pool" of porridge to flounder around in. People flew over it, flopped in to it and sidled around it. Stephen Scott in the Mens and Jana Gibson in the Womens rode hard and fast to take out first place for the Boardercross section.
At the end of the day the competitors with a big grin and that warm glow on the cheeks from a days spring riding headed off to Riverton for the next part of the Primo Peak to Porridge - the surfing. Saturday 25 September was clean and Porridge provided a good 3 - 4 foot swell with some hot surfing from the local Pou boys .... and their dad Puke. By the end of the first heat a strong onshore wind had picked up and the competition was postponed until the next day.
Sunday dawned with a huge 6 - 7 foot swell breaking at Porridge so the location was switched to Trees at Colac Bay. "The surf god's definitely blessed us this year" says Evan Bloomfield event organiser. " Trees was a perfect 4 -5 foot with a light offshore and the competitors produced some stunning surfing in the sparkling conditions." The Men's final produced the best surfing of the competition with the smooth powerful surfers showing their style and a few floaters and 360's tossed in for good measure. Danny Carse powered his way to first place in the surfing with some great wave selection and Leilani Morgan took out the Women's section. 15 year old Haami Pou from Riverton showed he is a force to reckon with in the surfing scene with a strong 2nd place on his home break.
Two consistent 4th placings in the boardercross and the surfing saw Dwayne Fetch from Wanaka take first place in the Combined Men's result with Danny Carse from Dunedin 2nd and Brett Summerlee from Dunedin 3rd. In a repeat of last years Combined Women's result Leilani Morgan from Kaikoura, Regi Starinskas from Victoria, Australia and Jana Gibson from Queenstown placed first equal! "
Thanks to our great sponsors this year with yes you guessed it Primo as the main supporters and from the Globe Hotel Backpackers, nzski.com, Steep and Cheap, Smith, K2 and Southern Ocean Surf Co. Thanks heaps blokes and blokesses.
For more information surf on over to the official Primo Peak to Porridge site or check out the fab BoarderZone still and video footage.
>================ Ooops
Here's an email from Joel Haugh in Dunedin and my reply.
"Evan I headed up to the Remarkables on Saturday with two other friends for a days boarding. We took up our Primo bar codes only to find employees in the information centre or ticketers have never heard of this deal. Unfortunately we had to all pay full price! What's up?"
Egg on the face and a zillion apologies. As soon as I got your email I rang up and made more detailed enquiries and ummmm the story is a little different than that which I told!
Apparentlllyyyy you have to collect 5 bar codes then mail them in to Southern Fresh in Invercargill to claim your 2 for 1 deal. Eeeeek. Apologies for misleading you.
So after it all it is worth while if you are planning to try any of the activities and Joel for our stuff up we are happy to advise that you will be receiving a Kiwi Keyring in the mail!
>================ Coronet Peak
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
26 July
|
15cm
|
15cm
|
|
27 July
|
25cm
|
25cm
|
|
02 August
|
2cm
|
4cm
|
|
17 August
|
2cm
|
|
|
20 August
|
2cm
|
10cm
|
|
22 August
|
5cm
|
|
|
8 September
|
3cm
|
5cm
|
Spring skiing and riding. Firm at first softening up in the morning.
Limited novice and learner. Half pipe hanging in there with the custom built home-grown pipe shaper. Rocky gully T-Bar and Big Easy Platter closed for the season.
>================ Cardrona
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
26 July
|
5cm
|
5cm+
|
|
27 July
|
25cm
|
25cm+
|
|
02 August
|
4cm
|
6cm
|
|
21 August
|
10cm
|
20cm
|
|
22 August
|
5cm
|
10cm
|
|
9 September
|
8cm
|
18cm
|
Off piste skiing limited. Couple of half pipes still cranking it along as maintenance and snow allows. Spring snow conditions - hard in the morning and softening during the day.
>=============== Mt Larkins and the SnowDome Phase One
Damn. 5 postponements due to weather and finally a cancellation until next year but hey, Dans not one to go half cocked. Mt Larkins - it's worth waiting for.
Dans new toy this year is the Snow Dome - a light weight heli-transport rigid laminated plywood dome. 5m in radius, sleeps 5 and currently anchored at 6 100 feet. Dan calls it a socially balanced structure. The walk in to the current SnowDome is about 4 hours up scheelite mine tracks from Bonnie Jean Creek.Once you get there it is fully kitted for some time in the snow and has access to runs from 7400 feet down to 4500 feet.
To find out more about the SnowDomes or Mt Larkins email Dan or phone 03 442 7939
>================ Treble Cone
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
03 July
|
65cm
|
1m +
|
|
26 July
|
3cm
|
5cm
|
|
27 July
|
15cm
|
15cm
|
|
02 August
|
8cm
|
14cm
|
|
20 August
|
15cm
|
30cm
|
|
22 August
|
10cm
|
15cm
|
|
8 September
|
10cm
|
Snow cat shuttle running to the saddle basin. Up loading and down loading on the 6 seater morrow express.
>================ The Remarkables
Recent Snow falls
|
Base
|
Top
|
|
|
26 July
|
15cm
|
15cm+
|
|
27 July
|
25cm
|
25cm
|
|
02 August
|
5cm
|
8cm
|
|
06 August
|
5cm
|
8cm
|
|
20 August
|
15cm
|
20cm
|
|
22 August
|
15cm
|
20cm
|
|
8 September
|
7cm
|
30cm
|
Plenty of grooming going on with god snow on the main trails but watch out for the rocks. Shadow basin operating for access only to Highway and the chutes.
Latest craze is the Ozone snow tubing so grab yer tyre and get on up there or try the Primo Terrain Park.
>+++ Thanks to our sponsor == Cardrona Alpine Resort
Cardrona will reopen between January 2nd - 30th for mountain biking and hiking with round 2 of the New Zealand National Mountain Biking championships on January 15th and 16th.
>================ Waiorau Snow Farm
Free skiing at Waiorau Snow Farm. You have not heard wrong. The official closing is Sunday but the crew at Waiorau say come on up and have a play around. The snow is just starting to melt around the base lodge but the main trails, especially on the tops will hang in for a week or so yet.
This Saturday they have the Snow to Shore event. Start with an 8 km cross country ski then a 6 km mountain run across the Pisa Range plunge 35 km down the Pisa Range on a mountain bike then following the Cardrona river in to Wanaka then another short 6km run around Lake Wanaka to Rippon Vineyard followed by a kayak from Waterfall Creek around Ruby Island to Wanaka itself. Far far too much.
Teams of up to 4, individuals and a non skiing section. Entries on the day at the Waiorau Snow Farm from 8am to 9.30am. Race starts 10am. Skiers are available for teams or individuals.
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>================ Contact Details
Evan Bloomfield fx +64 3 442 8342
PO Box 2125
Queenstown 9197
AOTEAROA
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