The Snow Gauge: what’s new on the slopes
Your weekly ski and snowboard roundup.
FIRST TRACKS
On Friday we welcome the opening of Charlotte Pass in NSW and, with the predicted snowfalls over the coming days, Selwyn shouldn’t be too far away either.
In New Zealand, Queenstown will have the “fully open” sign hanging, with The Remarkables slated for a Saturday start. Porters and Broken River (near Christchurch) also begin operations at that time. With heavy snow expected down to 600 metres in the South Island, it’s still advantage Kiwis at this stage.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Speaking of all things Shaky Isles, the biennial New Zealand Winter Games are on again this year and continue to be one of the main international snow events to watch outside of the Winter Olympics.
Held in the Queenstown and Wanaka regions from August 21-30, there is again a strong emphasis on freestyle skiing and snowboard events – including boarding’s big air, which has recently been announced as a new event for the 2018 Games in Korea.
Australia is yet to confirm who’ll attend, but organisers are hopeful the likes of 2010 Vancouver halfpipe gold medallist Torah Bright, 2015 pipe world champ Scotty James and slopestyle skier Russ Henshaw will be among those competing. Tiril Sjaastad Christiansen from Norway, the 2013 X Games gold medallist in slopestyle, heads what is expected to be a large northern hemisphere contingent.
TOP GEAR
Much like boots, gloves can mean the difference between a great day at the snow and feeling like a naked Sherpa stuck halfway up K2. Legendary Australian gloveman Pete Forras from XTM says there’s good, better and best with gloves, and they’ll vary with the level of three key factors: materials for dexterity, water resistance and insulation.
“Good ones should just essentially keep you dry, better ones will deal better with temperature changes and may have some better moulding, and the best ones may have leather, will be smartphone compatible and have better insulation,” he says.
Connectivity is a big feature these days – the best result being if you don’t even have to take the glove off to use your phone. Expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $200 for gloves, but there’s a $3 tip that can work wonders. “If you have circulation, use a heat pack,” says Pete. “Paying three bucks stacks up pretty well to $110 for a lift ticket for eight hours enjoyment”.
Web: www.xtm.com.au
MORRIS, A MAJOR HIT
Australia’s 2014 aerial skiing silver medallist David Morris feels he’s really made the big time – now that he had a question about him on Millionaire Hot Seat.
His blushes were saved when the contestant knew he was a skier. As for David, he’s not going to have too much more time for game shows. He’s ditched retirement thoughts and is in training after a 15-month sabbatical. Next stop: the World Cup Tour.
CONDITIONS APPLY – WITH WEATHER GURU PETE `THE FROG’ TAYLOR
The top-up all Australian for which snow lovers had their fingers crossed arrives on Thursday, with up to 15 centimetres of the white stuff expected in most resorts. There’ll be the almost Aussie-standard pre-frontal rain, but it shouldn’t do too much damage to the snow pack.
There’s the potential for another 10-20cm of snow on Monday as the moisture feed moves northwesterly, prompting some colder conditions. This augers well for snowmaking in the days after too.
Across the Tasman, it would seem they just don’t like being one-upped. As we go to press, a huge storm is building, with talk of up to 70cm of snow. The usual caveats apply in NZ: big snow means likely road and resort closures, but when the lifts run, it will be as good as June gets.
Web: www.snowatch.com.au
DEALING WITH IT
Things are looking good across the Tasman and Air New Zealand is making their ski resorts an even more attractive option with some choice airfares at the moment.
From Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, we’ve seen flights as cheap as $148 each way to both Auckland (four hours’ drive from Mt Ruapehu) and Christchurch (Mt Hutt, Porters and a number of club fields all within one to three hours’ drive).
It’s not much more of a hit to Queenstown from all the Australian destinations, with prices starting from $196. A number of the peak times are covered (outside the Australian school holidays that is).
LAST RESORT – A LOOK AT AUSTRALASIA’S FORGOTTEN ALPINE AREAS
Porters, NZ: When leaving Christchurch Airport, most Australians skiers and snowboarders continue along Highway 77 to Methven and Mt Hutt. But it’s becoming increasingly worthwhile to hook a right on No.73 and head to Porters.
The closest resort to the South Island capital has always been worth a look. Now with a new quad chairlift for 2015 (it had previously only been serviced by three t-bars), it is set to move from club field to serious player. It gets a little less snow than Hutt, but its big open faces offer some of the region’s best fall-line riding.
There’s good intermediate cruising and a nice day lodge at the resort base. Porters’ masterplan is a real showstopper, with talk of a gondola from the valley, massive terrain expansion and on-mountain accommodation. Whether it comes to fruition remains to be seen, but this is still a place worth exploring for a few days regardless.
Web: www.skiporters.co.nz
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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