Bigger and better
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday June 6, 2009
IT WAS a massive year for New Zealand last season - more people skied and snowboarded at the country's resorts than in any other year and snowfall records were set at some fields.Mountains were open until mid-October in the South Island and Turoa in the North Island recorded the deepest snow base of any ski area in New Zealand's history, allowing it to remain open until November16.At the time of writing many ski resorts in New Zealand are already covered in snow but it's other factors that will all but guarantee last year's attendance records are broken this year.For one, increased competition has meant air fares are now the cheapest they've been since the late 1980s. Jetstar will be flying the Christchurch-to-Queenstown sector daily from June 10 in competition with Air New Zealand.But the main reason is the biggest snow competition to be staged in the southern hemisphere. Winter Games NZ, to be held at ski resorts around Queenstown and Wanaka from August 21-30, will be the largest ski and snowboard event outside the Winter Olympics, attracting 800 of the world's elite winter athletes. It's expected to bring $50 million into the New Zealand economy.The Queenstown Winter Festival, the southern hemisphere's biggest winter party, will be celebrating its 35th birthday this year from June 26 to July 5.NZ Ski has introduced the New Zealand Super Pass for the season. It allows visitors to choose from 13 ski areas in the South Island, as well as more than 90 attractions off-piste - there's everything from bungy jumping to hot-air ballooning.The Remarkables has also introduced a free bus service to the mountain from Queenstown for those with a day or multi-day lift ticket. Cardrona is expanding its terrain for more advanced skiers and boarders and is also revamping its superpipe and freestyle areas in preparation for the Winter Games. Night skiing will be available three nights a week at Snow Park NZ, the Remarkables' base facilities have been refurbished and Treble Cone is offering free use of the lower-mountain learner lifts to encourage beginners and families.See nzski.com, www.nzsuperpass.com, queenstown-nz.co.nz or www.wintergamesnz.com.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald