Approximately 1,000 skiers and boarders enjoyed outstanding opening conditions at Treble Cone in Wanaka earlier this week. All lifts were operating and skiers in The Saddle were treated to spectacular powder with fresh tracks for the taking well into the morning.

Here are some fresh pics provided to Ski Rebel Magazine courtesy of Camilla Stoddart.

Pictured is Jack McLeary getting vertical over The AirBag, the first time the AirBag has been seen on snow in New Zealand. Hundreds of daring skiers and boarders gave it a test run with a soft landing guaranteed every time! Plus check out that view! Photo: Camilla Stoddart

L-R: Gabrielle Vance from Alaska Lisa Christensen from Prince Edward Island, Canada and Lexis Sion from Mt Manganui enjoy the first day of skiing at Treble Cone

Angus Rowley from Hawea can't get enough of the powder in The Saddle

Treble Cone: Read up more news on Treble Cone right here.

Resorts: Catch all the ski resort news right here.

Lake Wanaka ski area in New Zealand.

Lake Wanaka ski fields in New Zealand will take centre stage this summer when several international ski and snowboard events roll in for the southern hemisphere’s winter season.

Young snowboarders and skiers from across the world will descend on Wanaka in August for the 2010 FIS Snowboard & Freestyle Junior World Championships.

This is the first time an FIS World Championship will be staged in New Zealand, and also marks the first time snowboarding and freestyle skiing will share the same stage in a World Championship, the event is to be staged at all three Wanaka ski fields of Cardrona, Snow Park NZ and Treble Cone

Continue reading ‘Lake Wanaka stoked for upcoming Kiwi ski season’

Mt Whakapapa in New Zealand in mid-winter.

Mt Ruapehu in New Zealand has reported first snow on the slopes, three months before its ski areas are due to open.

“Yesterday’s southerly front painted an icing sugar like coating on Ruapehu’s upper slopes. A sure sign that winter is not far away,” said Mike Smith, Marketing Manager of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Turoa is scheduled to open on June 19th and work is progressing well at Whakapapa rebuilding the Knoll Ridge Chalet and Cat Shed. Whakapapa is scheduled to open June 26th.

• Continue reading ‘New Zealand reports first snow of the season’

The new Valley View quad chairlit is visible on the bottom left.

New Zealand’s Cardrona Alpine Resort is currently installing a fourth chairlift, giving Cardrona the most chairlifts of any South Island mountain.

The lift is phase one of an expansion project which will increase the resort’s boundaries and the number of intermediate and advanced runs on offer.

The Valley View quad will extend the resort’s terrain from the bottom of the Whitestar lift down to the Speed Straight section of the access road. The former Captains Quad lift’s new position will mean Cardrona’s lift-serviced vertical will increase by 250 metres and the ski area will grow to a total size of 345 hectares. An additional car park will be built for season pass holders for easy and quick access on to the lift, when in operation.

Continue reading ‘Cardona adds quad chairlift’

SnowPlanet is New Zealand's only indoor snow centre.

If you’ve ever felt the urge to play tennis after skiing, you can this week in New Zealand as the SnowPlanet indoor snow centre offers skiing and tennis lessons in one package.

The snow centre has teamed up with the local Albany Tennis Park to offer a unique holiday experience for children of all ages, tennis and skiing or snowboarding on the same day in the same city for $395 NZ (USD $292) per person for a full week.

Continue reading ‘Kiwi snow centre gets you on the slopes and the court this week’

Whakapapa is on the slope of Mt Ruapehu, and is part of New Zealand's largest ski area.

After a devastating arson attack in February destroyed facilities at Whakapapa in New Zealand, the ski resort has confirmed it will build replacement facilities this (southern hemisphere) summer.

The replacement buildings have received resource and building consents in time for construction before the next ski season. The fire caused well over NZ $10 million (£4.5m) in damage.

Continue reading ‘New Zealand’s Whakapapa to replace facilities destroyed by fire’

Rider Ethan Morgan (Ger) soars over the bag jump at Cardrona Alpine Resort, the first jump of its kind in New Zealand. Photo Credit: Georgina Cleave.

As part of the private pre-Olympic Pipe Camp at New Zealand’s Cardrona Alpine Resort, a Bagjump has been set up to assist with training.

Continue reading ‘Soft landing for olympic halfpipe training’