The wait is over – and the ski season is about to begin
Hundreds of keen snow sports enthusiasts have for weeks been waiting impatiently for the 2009 ski season to begin; wistfully eyeing the snowy peaks surrounding Queenstown, stocking up on new season’s skis and boards, purchasing new outfits, waxing their equipment and practising their stances in the comfort of their lounges.
Some have trekked up Coronet Peak just to get in a pre-season run or two, while others have waited for …Â Details
The question comes to a head every season, and sometimes in the off season.
What’s better: skiing or snowboarding?
Who’s more dangerous on the mountain?
Who’s got more ‘tude?
With the advent of freestyle skiing, is this even an issue any more?
This is a topic I’ve always found to generate some very heated debate and I’ve been on both sides.
Snowboarding was still considered a niche fad in the 1980’s when I was growing up near… Details
Okahune, New Zealand – Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, operator of Turoa and Whakapapa ski areas on New Zealand’s Mt. Ruapehu, has confirmed it will be opening Turoa’s Alpine Meadow beginners’ area this Saturday, two weeks earlier than planned.
Good snowmaking weather following last weekend’s snowfall has enabled the earliest opening in Turoa’s history. Turoa will open further upper mountain lifts as scheduled on June 20th, including the High Noon Express, when top-to-bottom skiing is expected. Whakapapa is on schedule to open on June 27th.
Mike Smith, Mt. Ruapehu marketing manager, says it’s a rarity for the upper mountain to open this early… Details
With more snow forecast tonight, the 2009 southern ski season is expected to make the perfect start when Coronet Peak opens on Saturday.
Ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said snow-making conditions had been ideal for much of this week, with the early natural snowfall combining to build a base of 80cm at the top of the mountain and 50cm on the trails at the base.
“This is one of our better openings for a long, long time. There’s been great natural snow and good snow-making conditions for the past couple of days.” …Â Details