Thursday, June 24, 2010

Snow Blankets Queenstown Great skiing at Coront Peak and The Remarkables

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.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Snow on the way for Coronet Peak Queenstown New Zealand



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.

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Saturday, June 12, 2010

Coronet Peak skiing on great form early season

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.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

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

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!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Coronet Peak Queenstown Skiing Starts for 2010 New Zealand Winter

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