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!

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

Queenstown skiing just around the corner.

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

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

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.