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.

Coronet Peak Rocks

Well actually there are very few rocks due to the great snow coverage on Coronet Peak and with the amazing and fully automated snowmaking system it is just getting better and better. It's not to say a few more good natural dumps wouldn't be aprecciated however, keep your fingers crossed.

As an empolyee of NZSKI I have to take my hat off the the owners and those that are skippering the boat on its journey towards the future. Serious money has been spent over the last few years and coninues to be in a effort to future proof against global warming or should I say climate change and the bleak world outlook at present and allowing NZSKi to position themselves amongst other things as the leader in snowsports recreation in the Southern Hemisphere. What is possibly more important is the way they are taking the staff on this journey by empowering them to be pro-active in this journey to the future. I have noticed a major pick up in the fact that with returning staff especially the management is treating them with respect for who they are and their backgrounds in the snow and general tourism industry to help the company as a whole acheive its vision for the future and this means respect is being given in return.

I had a great day today, A dozen quick runs on the Quad to get my ski fitness up enjoying the fabulous snow conditions and my new Salomon skis and playing with my early season techinque.

Here's something to think about early season (if you are a skier):

Feel pressure along the whole length of the foot as you ski (not just the heel or the toe).

Widen your stance to hip width or slightly wider.

Focus on disciplined hand and arm position (don't let them wave all over the shop.

Thinking about these three things as you start your season will be a good foundation enabling you to progress faster this year.

Get a ski lesson at an NZSKI snowsports school to find out more! Oh remember to ask for Simon Wilkinson if you want a private ski lesson at Coronet Peak.

Oh I forgot, after my quick ski I decided putting some dinner on the table might be a good idea (keep the wife happy), and popped down to one of my favourite fishing spots near Queentown and hooked and landed three trout one I kept which was a 8.5lb brown trout and let the other two go, dinner for another day! Where can you do that, go ski in the morning and then catch big NZ trout a 1/2hr later! Queenstown and Coronet Peak Rocks!