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72K views 380 replies 28 participants last post by  WhistlerBound 
#1 · (Edited)
NZ Report


"All major earthworks are now completed on The Stash at The Remarkables, and work has begun on creating the features, including this trapezoid feature (pictured), unique to the kilometre long run.

A Jake Burton signature run, The Stash at The Remarkables is designed to provide riders with a big mountain terrain park that follows the natural lines of the mountain. Features include rock-wall rides, log jibs, cliff drops, a stone hut and other obstacles hidden away.

The Remarkables Manager Ross Lawrence said it was a time consuming process creating the features, particularly the wooden features that needed to be carefully crafted, and finally sanded and coated with polyurethane to enhance slickness and enjoyment for all freestyle riders and skiers.

Scheduled to open for the 2008 winter season, The Stash at The Remarkables is only the third run of its kind worldwide and the first in the Southern Hemisphere." - Snow.co.nz



"An all-natural environment, The Stash uses no metal or plastics to create obstacles, only stone, wood, dirt and rocks. Even the signs that direct riders to The Stash are hand carved out of stone and wood and are designed to be jibbed.
“No two runs on The Stash are the same, every time you drop in you get a completely new riding experience,” says Jeff Boliba, Global Resort Director at Burton. “Jake and our team developed The Stash with The Remarkables because we have always shared the common goal of taking snowboarding to the next level”.

“What we have created with The Stash is a totally different experience that has all of the makings for an awesome ride with plenty of opportunity for getting creative with each run,” said Ross Lawrence, Manager for The Remarkables. “Our well developed park system has already made The Remarkables a firm favorite with snowboarders, and the addition of The Stash will only make us more of a destination for snowboarders worldwide.”

Located in the bowls of Serpentine and the Galleries trails, The Stash is aimed at intermediate and advanced riders. The Stash can also be found in Avoriaz, France and Northstar-at-Tahoe, USA.
The Stash at The Remarkables is scheduled to open in July, 2008." - NZSki.com

The original Stash run at Northstar

YouTube - The Stash

"Snow falls overnight and off and on today has blanketed the Southern Alps leaving skiers, snowboarders and mountain crews buzzing with anticipation for the season ahead.

The Remarkables Ski Manager Ross Lawrence said the mid-winter conditions had changed the landscape from green to white.

“We’ve received 20cm of snow and experienced some good snow falls. It’s starting to ease a bit now but temperatures are still very cold at around minus two degrees,” he said.

Across the valley at Coronet Peak, 10cm of snow has fallen and continues to fall on the road below the development of the new base building.

Further north, Mt Hutt has received 10cm of snow." - Snow.co.nz

The Remarkables on May 2nd



Pictures of Turoa(Mt Ruapehu) on the 20th of April after a cold southerly blast, it is forcast to snow lightly all of monday.



- Snow.co.nz

"A Queenstown based heli-ski operator has been granted the first ever concession from the Department of Conservation to operate in public conservation land in Southland.

Alpine Heli Ski Ltd can now access terrain in the Livingston Mountains, Mt Mavora and Tooth Peak areas, located between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu, from the start of the heli-ski season in July.

The area boasts peaks as high as 2,100m due its close proximity to Fiordland and the Tasman Sea, with the Livingston Mountains receiving heavy snowfalls during the winter.

Alpine Heli Ski Ltd co-owner Tim O’Leary said the company had been working closely with DOC for a number of years to ensure its operations would have minimal impact on the environment as well as making it a feasible heli-ski option for the company.

“We’re delighted to be the first operator to offer heliskiing in these beautiful backcountry areas of Southland,” he said. “We’re hopeful that our close relationship with DOC will see more exciting heli-ski terrain become accessible in the future.”

Mr O’Leary said Alpine Heli Ski Ltd’s reputation as a professional, responsible, and environmentally aware operation were all factors that contributed to being granted the concession.

Alpine Heli Ski already offers the largest area of heli-ski terrain in New Zealand surrounding Queenstown, Wanaka and Mt Cook, and has also secured permission to operate at Branches Station near Queenstown this season.

The Station is one of the largest high country stations in the South Island with peaks rising to over 2,000m.

“Branches Station is an iconic New Zealand high country station and offers some of the best heliskiing in the Southern Lakes region,” said Mr O’Leary.

Mr O’Leary said access to a vast range of terrain significantly increased the company’s chances of finding perfect snow on any given day.

“When I go skiing I want the best possible conditions I can find, and this is what we’re constantly aiming to achieve for our clients.”" -Snow.co.nz



"As the white stuff falls this winter, Coronet Peak is going green.

The skifield hopes to reduce carbon emissions by implementing a vehicle reduction plan – involving hitchhiking and car-pooling for people going up the mountain. The plan is also designed to help reduce demand for carparking.


In a bid to encourage car-pooling, parking facilities will be stationed at the base of Coronet Peak Road and at Arthurs Point. Hitching posts will be set up on the outskirts of Queenstown and at the base of the access road. People driving alone arriving after 8.30am will be required to park in a lower carpark and use a shuttle bus to get to the base building.

Ski area manager Hamish McCrostie believes the strategy will manage available resources in the most environmentally-friendly way. “Thousands of people each winter day leave Queenstown for Coronet Peak. We need to take pressure off our carparks and we need to encourage our visitors to use energy efficiently.”

There were times last year when Coronet Peak staff had to display “full” signs at ski area carparks – which was “frustrating” and a “waste of energy on many levels”, McCrostie says. “First step for us is to work with available resources to make them as efficient as possible. “We have to start changing our behaviour to make the best use of our resources. We’re asking people to work towards car-pooling and reducing vehicle use when they come skiing or riding.”" - The Mountain Scene, May 1, 2008, Celia Williams - NZSki.com



Opening Dates:

Mt Ruapehu:
Whakapapa OPENING ON Sat, 14 June 2008
Turoa OPENING ON Sat, 14 June 2008

Canterbury:
Mt Hutt OPENING ON Sat, 14 June 2008

Wanaka:
Treble Cone OPENING ON Mon, 30 June 2008
Cardrona OPENING ON Sat, 28 June 2008
Snowfarm OPENING ON Sat, 21 June 2008
Snow Park OPENING ON Fri, 20 June 2008

Queenstown:
The Remarkables OPENING ON Sat, 21 June 2008
Coronet Peak OPENING ON Sat, 7 June 2008


Hope this helps anyone planning trips/fellow nzers.

Ask any questions here.

I will keep an updated report about the snowfall here before the season starts.
 
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7
#3 ·
that looks great! especially the stash, because im actually making plans to head over to avoriaz in france with my uni next year n its one of the reasons why i want us to go there! god i cant wait to get to nz!
hey nzboardlife, where bouts are u based during the season?? going to be in wanaka with a couple of mates myself..
 
#282 ·
Crap. I'm in Wanaka and in the morning, it said all the mountains are closed. The bus service didn't come because of that. As of 10am (which is 40 mins ago) Cardrona is open and I have no bus to get up there (because they only have one bus service a day). Should have rented a car instead :mad:
 
#14 · (Edited)
Think so, Latest one in Pre-Season 08 section of their site

"Cardrona Valley Gondola Approved

Press Release by Snow Park NZ at 6:24 pm, 14 May 2008

The Lee family in the Cardrona Valley received approval today to build the first gondola in New Zealand to access a ski resort.

The $16.6million gondola project will service Snow Park NZ, Waiorau Snow Farm and a third planned ski area, Roaring Meg Resort.

The 3.8km-long gondola will ascend 975 vertical metres from the Cardrona Valley floor to the ski facilities on the Pisa Range. It will transport up to 1000 people per hour in gondola cars each holding eight passengers.

This is a landmark decision for the future of snow holidays in New Zealand said Sam Lee Snow Park NZ manager. "We have world class facilities available and can now deliver the whole package to ensure safety, ease of passage and an enjoyable mountain experience to our visitors. It is immensely important
we can develop not only the ski fields but the means of access to them. There are so many benefits, we are thrilled," he said.

The proposed 300-hectare Roaring Meg Resort will offer downhill skiing and an expansive beginners' area. With five chairlifts and the longest run covering 1800m the resort will exponentially add to the freestyle and cross
country snow sports already on offer.

The approved proposal, submitted in July 2007, carries very few amendments relating to the engineering, design and environmental aspects. The consent's key conditions focus on the development of public walking tracks around the top gondola station and across the valley. All of which have been agreed to.

The plans will now include the creation of an ecological walk around the top gondola station and to link with the Thouy's Gully DOC track, information cards in each of the gondola cars educating passengers about the history and important ecological sites along the gondola path and to allow the Cardrona Valley trail connecting Cardrona township to Wanaka crossing the Lee family property.
 
G
#17 · (Edited)
mainfreight is one of the big shipping companies down here, or atleast in the south island...which is where the best snow is anyway
Yeah that gondolas definatly a good idea considering that road is used as a rally track for the race to the sky in summer....its definatly pretty sketchy in the snow with 2wd.

EDIT: also coming soon to snowpark is one of these bad boys BigAirBAG | Home
should be pretty insane...am thinking of going up to check it out once theyve got it...could be some carnage trying to get off it though?
 
#18 ·
Yeh but i think because its at a very low air pressure it allows you to slide down a side at your own will, landing smack bang in the middle might be a bit of a challange to get off from. I can see some knob end smacking him/her self in the head with their own skis :)
 
#20 ·
Snow Park NZ Lighting Up For Night Sessions This Season

Snow Park NZ will be the first and only resort in Lake Wanaka to offer night skiing and riding this winter season providing visitors with more time on the mountain and a unique experience on snow under floodlights.

Eight floodlights have been installed across the terrain park allowing skiers and riders full access to the east-side Box-run, with many intermediate and beginner boxes, rails and jumps on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 5pm to 9pm throughout July and August.

To coincide with the launch of night riding Mountain Dew Night Sessions, an amateur snowboard rail jam series, will be held on six nights throughout the season – culminating to an invitational finale. Cash prizes are up for grabs after each round with finale winners taking home grand prizes of $6,000 for men and $3,000 for women.

Sam Lee, Snow Park NZ manager is delighted to be able to offer snow sports enthusiasts more time on the mountain. “For skiers and riders who are time short during the day, they can pop up to Snow Park in the evening to get their turns in. Being on snow at night under flood lights is quite thrilling, and with relatively uncrowded slopes and a hot meal available in the Woolshed it will be a great alternative Friday night out,” he said.

The Woolshed Restaurant and Bar offers an excellent viewing platform across the park for night sessions, serving hot tasty food to keep riders going on the cold winter nights. Live music from local bands and djs will keep the Woolshed buzzing on Tuesday and Friday nights throughout the season.

Night skiing/riding is available either as an add-on to a day pass or as an individual night riding pass. Individual night riding tickets are just $35 for adults and $20 for youth. Night riding is inclusive for all season pass holders.

Held on Thursday nights from 5pm the Mountain Dew Night Sessions will take a jam format for riders to earn points throughout the series. The Thursday competition nights include 19 June, 3, 17 July and 7, 28 August with the invitational finale set for Friday September 5.

Visitors keen to make a night of it can book in to the on-mountain accommodation; the luxury apartments and backpacker bunkrooms are now open for bookings.

Snow Park NZ is scheduled to open 13 June, for further information visit Snowpark NZ - ABOUT

- snow.co.nz


Pro rider Shaun White on the wall ride at Snow Park NZ Photo Credit: Snow Park NZ
 
#21 ·
"Fresh Snow Blankets Southern Alps

With impeccable timing, mother nature blanketed Queenstown ski areas Coronet Peak and The Remarkables with heaps of new snow over the past 24 hours.

Just two weeks out from opening day on 7 June, this snow dump marks a great start to the region’s winter season, said Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager Hamish McCrostie.


Coronet Peak Rentals Crew (Amy Fitzhenry, Tom Cresswell and Andrew Stitt) enjoying the new snow this morning


“We’ve received 40cm of snow over the past 24 hours and it’s still snowing lightly. We’re all getting pretty excited about opening day and the big reveal of our fantastic new base building and deck,” he said.

Snowmaking at Coronet Peak is scheduled to start next week, following commissioning of the new system.


New snow at Coronet Peak

Across the valley, The Remarkables has received 20cm of snow in the past two days.

Ross Lawrence, Ski Area Manager at The Remarkables, said it’s a promising sign.

“We’ve had a lovely thick blanket of snow, not just a stormy dusting. Winter is sending the right signals; it’s definitely on the way,” said Mr Lawrence.

Coronet Peak is scheduled to open on 7 June, The Remarkables on 21 June and Mt Hutt on 14 June."

snow.co.nz







Cadrona with 25cm+ and with more on the way


25cms of new snow has fallen today (22/05) at Cardrona with more on the way.


25cms of new snow (22/05) at Cardrona's base with more in the forecast. La Nina La finished


"New snow across the South Island and more due, cannot remember when we had such a consistant amount of snowfall in May. It looks as though Al Nina (which keeps it warm) has faded sufficiently for a cool winter."
 
#22 ·
Nice pictures. :thumbsup:I hope you have a great season there with awesome conditions. Not sure who from Winter Park will be at Coronet this season.

I do remember once this spring we were riding around in a clinic and we stopped and the trainer asked about snow conditions. I mentioned that I felt it was rather firm and icy. Both the trainer and the other Kiwi's in the group gave me this look and then started laughing at me. Something like "you should come try out the conditions around Wanaka" was mentioned. :confused: Apparently it would normally would have been almost powder conditions to them.:dunno:
 
#26 · (Edited)
I don't think so, It's supposed to snow lightly sunday but im hoping thats wrong and we get the usual big queens birthday weekend slamming of snow. The snow guns are about to or have just started too. Me and 5 mates have a hut up there for 5 days in late july, should be sweet by then.


"TC[Treble Cone] fires up its snowmaking for the season on top of 60cm of natural on the Saddle and 25cm of natural in the base area... and it's only May! " - Snow.co.nz


 
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