SW Guiding Ski Blog

Queenstown Snow Skiing goes off

2011-08-14T21:17:00.001-07:00

Queenstown snow skiing season continues to goes off with another big fall to lake level in the district. In fact the whole of New Zealand appears to have been buried in drifts of snow like scenes straight out of the Northern hemisphere.......very unusual to see anything like this here!

Snow in the valley forced many schools to be shut and roads all around NZ were either closed or required chains and all the while the snow has continued to fall and is likely to for the rest of the day and tonight.

Skiing Coronet Peak was great today even in the very poor visibility. This was due to the absolutely great snow, 30cms of squeaky white stuff. A bit wind effected in places and some runs you really wanted to keep your wits about you as big drifts would be well camouflaged and could easily sneak up on you while you weren't looking.

Ski Tip: In these sorts of conditions you really want to keep your skis turning, if you don't you get caught hanging out the washing bewteen turns and end up with the sheet in your face because you don't know what is up nor down. Keeping a continuous steering effort going means that your mass is automatically pulled to the outside of each turn and you have a stronger sense of balance over your skis, then it's just a small matter of keeping your feet under you as the snow gets deeper or shallower.

It's still snowing here hard out and hasn't stopped......it's likely we could wake up tomorrow with another 20 - 40cms of snow. More shoveling to keep the porch free and most importantly some great turns to be had as conditions look set to clear up around early afternoon tomorrow are on the books for me.

Now is a great time to book some private ski lessons to maximize the conditions, learn to ski the powder snow better and jump the lift lines to your hearts content .

Oh and for the racer in you and here's some footage of the US ski team training at Coronet Peak last week

Snow for Queenstown coming

2011-08-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

Snow for Queenstown is coming later today with falls expected to 300m. We have had several snow storms drop snow to low levels in Queenstown over the last few weeks and the skiing at Coronet Peak has been really good. With more snow on the way it will be a nice and timely top up for us again. August is often a good month for snow and there are signs that this might be the case again this year.

I have finally got over skiing around looking like a cannon ball in a cheap helmet and have got a Salomon Patrol Custom Air which is by far and away the most comfortable lid I have ever worn. It has a peak to reduce sun and help stop any precip gathering on the top of the goggles but by far and away the best thing is that after you put it on there is a small air pump you push a few times to customize the fit to your noggin and it's bloody brilliant. I will actually wear my helmet on a regular basis and not just for when I an teaching kids. If you are in the market for a new lid these Salomon helmets are well worth checking out.

Helmets can be funny things, often people when they first start wearing one feel quite invincible and ski or ride a bit harder than normal, remember the helmet is only wrapped around your skull it's not like you have a sumo suit on! I seen the benefit of helmets in reducing the noise effect other skiers or riders create skidding around making what once was a very tentative person scared about being taken out become more relaxed on the slope and making better turns just through being less worried. Dampening sound may be a good thing for some people but I am not a keen fan of drowning the sounds out by listening to music as you ski/ride, all for it as you ride the lift but while riding you are missing out on some really good sensory feedback. I really like to hear what is happening around me and also like to hear clearly the sound the snow is making under my skis which helps me make important decisions about how to best ski the terrain and the snow conditions as it changes over the course of each run.

Ski Tip: If the snow is hard get your feet hip width apart this will give you good stability. If the snow is deep and soft get your feet closer together so they are acting as one unit and will not drift apart making it easier to guide them thru the deep stuff.

Oh and read the snow responsibility code and then adhere to it......I see far to many close calls and accidents created by muppets failing do simple things like stopping in a place you can be seen on the edge of a run or even the most basic of things looking before you ski off to check the traffic.....you would do that in your car so why not do it when you ski or ride!

Lets hope that the snow gods deliver and the skiing at Coronet Peak Queenstown is awesome over the next month.

Remember to book in with me for your private skiing lessons when you come to Queenstown

Skiing Coronet Peak after the storm.

2011-07-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

Skiing Coronet Peak after the epic storm that lashed NZ for 2 weeks is just awesome. It's not just Coronet Peak everywhere is loaded with snow.

That's the view looking back into Queesntown from Coronet Peak so it should give you a good idea how much has fallen. Heaps of locals have been getting the cheapest heli skiing runs in Queenstown skiing or snowboarding Mt Dewar which is on the right hand side as you are driving up the Coronet Peak road but on the Queenstown side of the Skippers road, just out of shot to the left of the pic above yeah sure they have to do the hard yards but a well organised crew can really make the most out of this rare event! Make sure to check out the new NZ Avalanche Centre website before you head out into the back country....... and have all the right gear!

I have just had the pleasure this weekend to ski with my lovely wife for the first time in 2 years over the last 2 mornings. You know work, kids, etc etc. With the current awesome snow conditions we have had a blast ripping around Coronet Peak and enjoyed some leisurely time over at the T-Bar enjoying the delights of Heidi's Hut, coffee and pain au chocolate and watching others enjoy a wee tipple of grappa to warm up. It's great to see today that NZSKI is right on top of the queing system at the T-Bar and making sure that people are riding as two's. Riding as two's really helps the queue stay on the small side. Look if you can't ride a T-Bar with someone else on it get a private lesson and specify that is something you want to learn to do . If you still want to ride single go find a poma!

These last couple of days have given me the chance to start seriously testing my Salomon skis out. The Tornado Ti's in a 180cm length really love to be opened up and firing around at GS speeds on the chalky snow has been great, super stable and wicked edge grip thru the turn radius...basically they want it! Cranking out ripping short radius turns takes a lot more work on this length of ski but I have found that they are more than capable to do so but don't let them get away on you! They even love off piste and now that Coronet Peak is all skied out of powder they are happy to eat up the chalky compressed off piste snow at speed.

Salomon are doing demo days up at Coronet Peak so if you are there 2moro (Mon) be sure to check out the wicked range of skis they have. Ask Neil to hook you up with a ski that suits your style and take it for a few runs.....they will blow you away. Don't forget to head into R&R Sports in Queenstown if you miss out on seeing Neil on the snow at the peak....they will have some you can demo for a day.

My personal favorite ski was the Salomon Enduro XT 850. This is one powerful beast of an all mountain ski, it's not there to drift around, this ski needs a skier to stand on it and take charge....those with the skill and bravery to do so will find this the most epic ski they have ridden. Sounds a little too much for you then try one of the other Enduro models as they are a bit more forgiving. Remember talk to Neil from Salomon when you see the Salomon flags up at your local ski area and he will take the time to hook you into the right ski for you and the way you like to ride. Here he is doing some work this morning at Coronet Peak.
My parting note today is my ski tip: make sure your bindings are set appropriately..... yesterday I was getting a bit carried away with my new Salomon skis and their wicked ability to keep wanting more and all of a sudden found myself flying superman style thru the air followed by several cartwheels and lots of hoots and hollers coming of the chairlift from the spectators to my epic high speed double pre-release. This would be the best " Smashed him Bro" I have done in about 5 yrs. Needless to say my din settings were smartly altered and I have experienced no similar embarrassing issues since! I guess any massive smash that you can walk away from and there is nothing busted with you or your equipment is all good!

Remember if you want to get the most out of that new gear you bought for this season book some private ski lessons with me when you come on your Queenstown ski holiday.

Snow, snow and more snow for Queenstown

2011-07-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

Snow, snow and more snow for Queenstown. It was a famine and now the proverbial feast. We have had a very deep low parked up just south of the country firing front after front during this storm cycle which has lasted nearly 2 weeks now. Each front has had plenty of moisture and combined with the cold temps has dropped lots of snow to low levels. Coronet Peak has picked up 65 cms so far and will get quite a bit more over the next 3 days or so. This has taken Coronet Peak from zero to hero and now the whole mountain is pretty well ski-able.

As the wind during this storm cycle has been predominantly from the NW Greengates has seen less snow accumulate especially on the ridge lines but anything in the gullies and skiers left of the Greengates chair is skiing very well. Late yesterday afternoon we had a small 2 hour clearance and the skiing was unbelievable off the Quad and through Exchange and the T-Bar, actually everywhere. The snow that has fallen has been quite light and dry although very wind affected so the avalanche danger is high and back country skiing is not recommended at present --- don't go!

I decided to get on my new Salomon skis yesterday has the snow conditions have improved so much from a week ago. Over the last few years I have decided I like ride an all mountain style ski to deal with any conditions I come across and still be able to rip some wicked on piste turns as well as being a ski I can stand on comfortably all day while teaching and the Salomon All Mountain ski range has certainly lived up to and exceed my expectations. They are really starting to come into their own and I would highly recommend demoing some thru your ski shop. The crew at R&R Sport in Queenstown will listen to your needs and requirements in a ski and direct you to the one that will suit best.

Ski tip: Skiing on piste or where the snow is firmer keep your stance hip width apart. If you are in the powder narrow your stance.

Remember to book me for your private ski lessons at Coronet Peak. See you in the powder!

Snow for Coronet Peak Queenstown

2011-07-06T19:05:00.001-07:00

Snow for Coronet Peak has finally arrived with a major shift in the weather patterns. Coronet Peak picked up a quick 10 cms last night and with more in the forecast over the next 5 days and cold temps to make snow more and more terrain will open up.

Its been pretty busy on the slopes and booking your private ski lessons in advance is a good idea to make sure you you secure the instructor you want. Book Here

Ski tip: remember you have ankles. Don't let those stiff ski boots get in the way of flexing the ankle joint. For the first run off the day try unbuckling the top clips and ski feeling for the ankle to bend.....keep the pressure even along the length of the foot. Do them up and look for the same feelings.

See you on the snow at Coronet Peak soon

Coronet Peak Queenstown New Zealand to open

2011-06-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

Coronet Peak Queenstown New Zealand to is to open on man made snow on Thursday.

Thursday means Coronet Peak will be open in June and will be the 2nd ski field to open with snow on the ground in New Zealand. Many visitors who are here in Queenstown leave on Sat which is the major change over day so this would give the current lot snow seekers 2 days of skiing or snow boarding before they leave town. Then the next bunch of keen skiers and snow boarders arrives given the ash does not disrupt the situation.

This has certainly been a testing time for many in Queenstown, visitors, ski area workers, retailers, petrol stations and just about everybody has been affected by the lack of snow. The snow making system at Coronet Peak has certainly been tested as this would be the first year with the new and fully automated system that there has been no natural snow to work with and build on. It’s all man made snow. A soon as it got cold enough bingo!

I will look forward to seeing you up there at Coronet Peak and lets hope the cold temps
continue and fingers crossed for a real snow storm too!

Mt Hutt opens and snow for Coronet Peak Queenstown on the way

2011-06-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

Mt Hutt opened today, the first ski field in New Zealand to do so this season. Finally, it’s been a long wait for many. Coronet Peak in Queenstown will be hard on it heels as a front comes in late today and is set to deliver a small amount of natural snow but most importantly the cold temperatures return so the awesome power of 200+ automated snow guns can rip into action and get us all on snow.

Queenstown wants it, needs it. Snow on the ground is an important economic driver for this small town and its sister city Wanaka during the winter months.

Snow on the Ground 2009

Actually its really important that all the ski areas in New Zealand have good winters….when the North Island fields have good snow they are a breeding ground for many New Zealanders first snow experience and this feeds people into the South Island ski areas over the following years. With snow on the ground all over NZ it creates a great image in the offshore markets, particularly Aussie that coming to NZ for a snow experience is the place to be not swanning off to snorkel on some tropical island.

In a way Queenstown is lucky in the fact that it is considered by many to be a Green Valley skiing destination. This means that (usually) the snow is up on the mountains and sits around the 1000m mark (depending on the aspect) while below that the valley is green grass which means there is plethora of alternate activities to enjoy on your skiing vacation.

The Weather Forecast is looking pretty good for us this week with a front carrying some snow later today followed by cold southerlies thru to the weeks end. This means snow making.

Remember to make the most out of your skiing vacation in Queenstown and book me for your private ski lessons

Snow, Snow where for art though thou lovely snow?

2011-06-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

Bugger, I was wrong! The front that may have given us enough snow to open Queenstown's Coronet Peak just didn't eventuate and I was not making turns today.....just as well I am not a betting man!

Even though the snow has not arrived I am not getting desperate ....... yet. Mother nature always balances itself out so the snow will come. It's just a matter of when. So will the cold temperatures. traditonally it always gets colder after the shortest day, that's 2moro. The coldest day in Queenstown almost without fail, is the same day that the Queenstown winter festival Mardi Gras falls on so lets hope history works in our favor. On the positive side when it does get cold at least all the reservoirs are full so they should be able to crank out tonnes of snow.

Now is a great time to be getting the ski fitness up and working on specific muscle groups. Here is a great video so you can work on some exercises at home and be much better off when that snow finally gets here.

Got your own skis or snowboard? Are they tuned and ready to rip? Or are they how you left them at the end of last season? Get them sorted before you head to the snow. If you are on the snow for 2 weeks get them tuned at least once while you are on your vacation in Queenstown, preferably twice. It's amazing how fast man made snow makes a set of once sharp edges blunt. After I get a tune, 6 runs on man made snow I run a diamond stone over the edge to help keep them honed!

Check the bindings din setting is correct. Check that your boots toes are not overly worn. Get them checked out if you are not sure......better safe than sorry.

When you do get on the snow for your first day, savor it! It's easy to forget the fantastic location you are in and why you are really there. Take 30 seconds at the top of the chair before you head down the run and enjoy the view. This is a great thing to do on each and every run......allows the mind to clear and focus to the situation at hand.

Right start thinking SNOW.....seriously!

Remember to book me for your private ski lesson this winter if you want the opportunity to take the next step on snow.

Fingers crossed for snow in Queesntown over the weekend

2011-06-16T19:03:00.001-07:00

We are still waiting for the magic white stuff arrive in Queenstown. Even the snow making machines have been feeling a little redundant over the last weeks as the temps have just not been cold enough very often to crank out the goodness. Lots of temp inversion......cold air trapped in the valleys and warm air up high. It may be about to change over the weekend with a warm wet storm coming in from the north and colliding with a cold southerly airstream that luck is going to produce what we desperately need......snow. I' m not really much of a betting man but if I had to put a wager on it we will be making turns on snow on Monday here in Queenstown!! Big call but optimism reigns in my world.

Just picked up my new ride for this winter, a set of Salomon Tornado Ti. They look fantastic and I hope my comments above prove correct so I can get ripping them soon. Check out out head into any good sports shop but particularly R&R sports in Queenstown.

Skiing Queenstown NZ ..... the countdown is on!

2011-05-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

Summer is long gone, autumn is almost over and winter is knocking on the door. Loudly in fact.

Over the last week Queenstown has seen some very wintery weather with snow falling to quite low levels. Coronet Peak picked up some snow and snowmaking is looking like it will be switched to full automatic in the next few days as the temperatures look to be cold and good for snow making.
The Remarkables also picked up plenty too and I am sure between now and when the Remarkables opens for the season(18th June) they will pick up plenty more. I am due to be making turns on the snow at Coronet Peak on the 4th June (CP's opening date) if all goes to plan weather wise which is looking pretty good right now.

Do you want to improve your skiing? Do you want to be able to ski more difficult terrain? Do you want to learn how to ski? Do you want to ski faster (and stay in control)? Do you want to get more fun out of your skiing?

Come and spend some time with me – I am an internationally qualified ski instructor and ex-trainer/examiner for the New Zealand Snow Sports Alliance. Over the winter skiing months here in Queenstown (June – September) I am available to instruct you and aid your enjoyment in the pastime of skiing at either Coronet Peak or the Remarkables Ski Areas for the 2010 winter. Come ski with me and sharpen up your act!

Private ski lessons are the way forward as they will maximize your time the best and allow you to get the most out of your time on snow. If you want private ski lessons with me make sure to book in now. (I am already booked out for the first 2 weeks of the Aussie school holidays in late June/early July) Please use my online booking form.

This is the first of regular posts that will be coming out each week over the winter so be sure to keep reading if you want the heads up for the slope conditions, ski tips, Salomon ski equipment and lots of other stuff.

Coronet Peak gets 45cms of fresh snow

2010-08-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Over the week end Coronet Peak picked up 45cm of fresh snow and is back at it's best!

All the ski areas picked up something out of the storm and August is looking like its going to continue as a snow month, now is a good time to come to Queenstown for your winter blast on the slopes. September should shape up great too.

Skiing or snowboarding in Queenstown, New Zealand is a little different from most snow resorts around the world. The thing that really stands out apart from the spectacular scenery is that the valley floor is not covered in snow during the winter apart from the odd snow fall that blankets the valley. This means that on any given day you can ski or snowboard in the morning and 20 minutes later be teeing off for a round on one of the many fine golf courses in the Wakatipu Basin. If golf is not your thing then Queenstown offers a variety of other off snow activities that may be more associated with the summer season, fishing, parasailing, bungy jumping, parapente, jet boat rides, rafting and many, many more.

The Wakatipu Basin is home to 5 ski areas, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables near Queenstown and Treble Cone and Cardrona which are closer to the town of Wanaka, about 1:15 hrs drive from Queenstown. Just across the valley from Cardrona is the Snow Park which is home to one of the most impressive Park and Pipe facilities in the world. They also cater to cross country skiers. For the wicked work out you can test your self on a biathlon course, ski – shoot – ski.

The NZSKI areas operate a great bus service from Queenstown to Coronet Peak and free shuttles to the Remarkables. If you are in Queenstown you can get away with not hiring a vehicle although it is handy if you want to go explore some of the other options in the area.

All the ski areas or to be politically correct these days, snow sports areas, offer very different experiences. Between them they most certainly look after the wants and desires of almost all the different wishes a snow sports participant could ask for. But if that is not enough the heli skiing in the region is world class, especially if you get on a Clarke glacier day with Southern Lakes Heli Ski – out of this world! About the only thing I can think that is missing is the lack of tree skiing. All the ski areas are above the native tree line, and introduced species are black listed above the snow line.

The accommodation and eating options are next to endless in Queenstown and are pretty good over the hill in Wanaka too. Fine dinners might want to check out The Bunker in Queenstown. Fergberger offers one of the best casual meals going. For a relaxing day check out Dart River Safaris, make sure it’s a fine day and grab a feed in the GY Cafe while you are there.

Wine buffs will love to taste the most southern pinots in the world, grabbing a wine tour or better still a limo to investigate the delights of the Gibbston Valley, especially good after a wee ski at Coronet Peak in the morning and taking full enjoyment an early tracks pass.

A good time to visit is usually around Aug/Sept for the best snow and avoiding the school holidays. This place is just one big playground!

Make sure to book me for your private ski lessons while you are here enjoying the snow in Queenstown

Natural snowfall hits Queenstown ski areas

2010-07-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

After a month of fine weather the weather patterns have changed and the snow has arrived with Coronet Peak getting 12cms overnight and 10cm at the Remarkables. It has continued to snow in the ski areas this morning and they have picked up another 10 or so.

Coronet Peak has had amazing skiing even with the lack of snow over the last month due to the fantastic snow making system with great chalky snow to ski on. Perfect for the NZ schools holidays. Now they have finished it was the perfect time to get some natural snow. It looks like we should get some more later this week on Thursday with another front coming in. My bet is we will now see quite regular snow falls throughout the end of July and August. For those of you heading to Queenstown for some skiing or snowboarding action the next month should be awesome.

The heli skiing is going to be excellent through August so make sure you book with Southern Lakes Heli Ski for your big day out in the mountains.

Ski Tip - approx 25% of your overall body mass is in your arms and hands, make sure you carry them in front of you. You should be able to see your hands at all times while looking straight ahead. If you can't see you hands they are not in the right position and you will tend to have your weight move to far back.

Driving Tip - Make sure you carry chains in your vehicle and know how to put them on. Drive to the conditions!

Awesome Weather for Queenstown Ski Areas

2010-07-07T01:06:00.000-07:00

Amazing weather has blessed us with it presence over the last 2 weeks in the Wakatipu basin. The skiing has been phenomenal with the early season snow holding up great. Of course Coronet Peaks mighty snow making system has ensured the snow has stayed in great nick. The pick of the skiing has been hitting the chalky snow off the main runs and avoiding the more congested areas.

NZSKI has started a new feature on it's website called NZSKILAND which is a kids site with great games, learning, fun facts and heaps of other things. The snowball game is great - try it on the hardest level!

Ski Tips - safety is paramount, keep your head up and looking for incoming while you are skiing. It's a bit like driving a car really, there are rules, everyone driving should know them, but not all do.

Driving tip - Give way to the right!

Make sure to pre-book your private ski lesson with me

Check out the Salomon Facebook page

Snow Blankets Queenstown Great skiing at Coront Peak and The Remarkables

2010-06-24T03:06:00.001-07:00

A pretty good size drop of snow for Queenstown. Skiing at Coronet Peak and the Remarkables was going off with 20-30cms added to the great base.

You don't often see the Wakatipu basin quite like this.

If you are headed to Queenstown for some skiing or snowboarding over the next little while you are in for a treat.

Snow on the way for Coronet Peak Queenstown New Zealand

2010-06-22T00:13:00.001-07:00

This was the view from Coronet Peak this morning at about 1000 today. The skiing is awesome right now and the base is building slowly but surely. The forecast storm front hit around 15:00 and has dropped a bit of fresh snow on both Coronet Peak and the Remarkables. The temps have also dropped so snow making will be in progress over the next few days just adding to the brilliant early season conditions.

Every run I do on the Salomon Storms skis just makes me love them more. Still need to test them on some hard snow but from what I have found so far they will just eat it up.

Ski Tip - lateral balance. Drag your poles either side of your toes making sure they stay in the snow thru each turn. This will mean you have the correct amount of lateral balance for the slope you are skiing on and you should feel more edge control as a consequence.

Remember to as for me, Simon Wilkinson, when you book your private ski lesson at Coronet Peak.

Also make sure you subscribe and you will get updated automatically each time I put up a new post.

Coronet Peak skiing on great form early season

2010-06-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

The skiing and riding at Coronet Peak is awesome right now. The early season conditions are amazing with all lifts now open and a good base across the hill.

CP got 15cms of snow Friday night and Saturday was a powder day - those that got there early really benefited as it was still crappy down in Queenstown but clearing on the dot of 0900 at the top of the express, many people were still in bed and missed out on these fabulous conditions until it started to clear over QT and everybody could see it was going to an awesome day. Then it got busy up there.

My new Salomon Storms are a great all mountain ski - so far happy in all conditions from hard compacted piste thru chopped up powder and of course fresh powder - a pleasure to ride.

Mt Hutt is now open and have started the season with a great base of 100+ cms. It's looking like a good winter New Zealand wide.

Snow snow and hopefully some more snow at Coronet Peak Queenstoen New Zealand

2010-06-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

It was snowing lightly this morning when I arrived at Coronet Peak and continued to snow all day. By the time I left around 14:30 the snow was thick enough on the road to make 2WD chain up. Freezing temps were lowering and sleet was hitting the ground downtown for a while late this arvo.

The forecast is for the snow to continue to low levels tonite and tomorrow near Queenstown. It certainly bodes well for building the base and Monday could be a good powder day. Sun looks like it will come out on Tuesday and Wednesday and with cold temps I am sure the snow making will fire into action (if they haven't already) and really help consolidate the base.

It looks like Remarks will have got some great snow out of this system and certainly further north at Mt Hutt will have been hit too.

It appears it may be the start of a good winter winter for the Queenstown ski areas. Keep your fingers crossed!

Coronet Peak Queenstown Skiing Starts for 2010 New Zealand Winter

2010-06-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

The skiing at Coronet Peak started today. The first ski field in New Zealand to get up and running for the 2010 winter. It's really quite a big social gathering for a lot of Queenstown locals to catch up over a run or two. Although there were the few randoms that camped out overnight to gain first chair status - good on ya!

The snow for early season was in great nick although the bottom 1/3 is a bit thin - bring on the snow. There a few different ways off the top with Wall Street and the Shirtfront open along with the M1. Gotta love the jibbers dropping into lots of dodgy off piste areas and helping consolidate the base.

The new meadows lift and earth works are great and will certainly help to alleviate the lines at the chair and has created better beginner/novice terrain.

Got my first runs on my new Salomon Storms - I have a lot more playing with them to do but my immediate impression is it is an awesome ski. They seemed to go left and right well and have great edge grip and even with my early season balance handle well. If you are a advanced skier looking for a all mountain ski this could be the one - check them out at R&R sports in Queenstown and be on the look out for the Salomon demo days around NZ this season.

Ski Tip - look for your balance fore and aft (along the length of the ski)early season, I keep my buckles undone so I am not so reliant on the boot and really get to start honing in on the feelings comeing thru my feet.

Book a private ski lesson with me at Coronet Peak Snow Sports School (ask for Simon Wilkinson) or use my online booking form

Queenstown skiing just around the corner.

2010-05-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

It's raining outside my place here in Queentown New Zealand, in fact it's raining over most of the country right now and even better its cold enough to be snowing at elevation. The snow is meant to be falling to 1100m today and 1200m 2moro which is great news for Coronet Peak. The top of the Coronet Peak sits at 1649m so they are getting it. Mt Hutt in Canterbury has also been receiving snowfall and both areas look likely to get more snow over the next few days. This is exceptional timing as Coronet Peak has a opening date set for 5th June and Ht Hutt 12th June. Hopefully cold temps will follow this storm and Coronet Peak will be able to swing the awesome snow making system into operation.

Due to the very different terrain of the Remarkables ski area and the requirement for a much bigger base of snow to be on the ground before they can get going they open (snow dependent)19th June.

NZSKI have pumpmed a bunch more money into Coronet Peak this season with a new beginners lift which will make life a lot better for all the visiting low intermediate skiers and children. They have also put in place electronic lift passes and a number of other things to make life on the mountains easier and more fun.

I am back on ski school again this year and if you would like to make a booking with me please use my online booking form and secure your time with me early.

Again I am working in closely with R&R Sports in Queenstown (the place to get all your snow gear) and with Salomon NZ (skis). If you need anything head in and see the crew at R&R Sports so you are all ready to go when the Mountains open up.

Keep a watch out for my future ski blogs as the season gets under way - they will be coming on a regular basis.

The great skiing and riding conditions continue in Queenstown New Zealand

2009-09-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Well we had a great snow fall last week with approx 45 cms at Coronet Peak and further towards the divide about a meter of snow fell.

I spent Friday and Saturday night at Coronet Peak night skiing which was just awesome with sensational snow conditions - nice chalky winter snow and even got some freshies in the powder - ye haa!

I was supposed to be on my way back down to Southland on Sunday but at 0545 I got a call from Southern Lakes Heli Ski asking me to guide for them. After a quick think - ha - and a bit of a re-shuffle of plans I was driving a crew around to the Minarets which is terrain on the West side of Lake Wanaka.

The snow was awesome and after everybody had there share of runs in the glorious fresh powder we were on our way back to Queenstown and me back down to Southland with a big smile on my face.

Skiing and Heli Skiing - Coronet Peak and Southern Lakes Heli Ski

2009-08-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

The skiing is great at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables with excellent spring conditions at the moment.

The heli skiing is also going off with a mix of winter snow on the shady Aspects and Spring conditions elsewhere.

Now is a great time to be getting some turns in.

New Zealands Southern Lakes Ski Areas get Snow

2009-07-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Since my last blog we have had a series of storm fronts drop snow on Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona and Treble Cone. All the ski areas further north have also recieved snow.

CP got approximately 20 - 25 cms at the top of the mountain and is skiing and riding very well as it has just topped up the base very nicely.

The heli skiing has also come alive again but due to the very unstable snow pack all the operators are using low angle terrain to negate the avalanche risk.

Unfortunately a heli ski operator near Mt Hutt had a incident yesterday that resulted in the first avalanche fatality in 5 years in NZ. The group had 2 guides with them and were being incredibly careful and still one let rip buring 2 skiers and a partial burial of the 3rd skier. The guides dug out both skiers in 7 minutes but one skier had died most likely from other underlying health issues but this will be clarified over the next few days.

Certainly travel in the back country is not recommended right now as the danger is extreme and avalanches have been running to the ground in places. It would pay to give it a day or two before touring to let things settle and a high degree of caution should be used. It would pay to check with your local ski patrol about conditions and also check out www.avalanche.net.nz for up to date reports.

If you are going into the back country do your homework and take all the safety gear such as transceiver, probe and shovel and know how to use them - your life or your friends life may depend on it!

In the mean time come and have a private ski lesson with me at Coronet Peak and I will give you some useful techniques on how to ski big fat powder so your time in the heli skiing is well used.

The weather looks like we are in for regular snow falls now for the next month so now is certainly the time to get to the snow.

Weather patterns look like snow is on the way for Coronet Peak

2009-07-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

Finally after 7 weeks of Southerly's and Easterly flows and 10cm of snow the weather pattern is looking like it is heading back to our more usual North West flow and we should start to see some more regular snow falls at the Southern Lakes Ski Areas. A storm is brewing at the moment and we may see some snow towards the middle and end of this week.

Although we haven't had much natural snow at Coronet Peak in the last 7 weeks the early season snow fall in May that stuck around along with GUN POWDER (man made snow) out of the fantastic snow making system has allowed Coronet Peak to get thru the school holidays in great shape. In fact I don't think many people who have been here on holiday with family and friends could complain about the snow conditions or fabulous weather we had.

The NZ school hols are over now and the final week of the Aussie school hols are in there last week so the numbers have dropped somewhat on thee mountains. Next week should be even better with ALL the kids back at school. Even with the big numbers over the hols Coronet Peak has moved people very well with lift lines on the quad and six mand only being about 10 mins at max.

SKI TIP

Pole swing. The pole should be swinging and following the legs through the whole turn. This will allow for the body to work more in time with the turn and help achieve better rhythm while you ski. This is very helpful in all conditions but especially so when skiing powder snow.

Not letting the pole swing during the turn and doing it all at the last moment will put your timing of the pole touch out making it too late and will also affect your fore and aft balance as well as lateral balance.

Remember book at ski lesson with Simon Wilkinson at Coronet Peak Snow Sports School and maximise your time and fun in the snow.

Good skiing at Coronet Peak Queenstown Continues

2009-07-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

Coronet Peak is Ripping during July

2009-07-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

Well the school holidays are here and the recession certainly doesn't seem to have affected peoples desire to hit the slopes at Coronet Peak. Monday and Tuesday had about 4000 pax at CP and the mountain handled the numbers very well.

The snow is in great order and holding up very well but your best bet is to get off the main groomed runs and stay on the chalky off piste snow.

The cold temps continue to allow the snow making system to deliver excellent overnight top ups. Isn't it great, fine every day and fresh snow every night!

We haven't had much in the way of real snow for a few weeks now but I am sure that will change again soon as mother nature always finds balance. I am sure there are not to many worried about it right now - the snow base is great and skiing is really good.

Due to the number of people on the hill private ski lessons can be hard to get if you have not pre-booked so make sure you get onto it and make your booking with me before you head on down here to ski.

SKI TIP

Lateral Movement.

At any level as you ski thru the turn your lower body needs to move inside the turn as your upper body balances to the outside allowing much better grip of the ski to the snow as you continue to steer the ski thru the arc of the turn.

Actively feel the inside (uphill) leg working by moving up the hill, engaging the little toe of that foot with the snow as your chest moves slightly side ways over the toe binding of the outside ski. Your body should end up in a slight C shape.

Many people get thru the turn and then relax - do not be one of those people - either keep turning up the hill and continue working the inside ski or go into the next turn!