New Zealand Skiing Adventure - What A Cold Blast
New Zealand is a famous skiing destination in the Southern Hemisphere situated at a high latitude and endowed with a marvellous mountainous landscape.
This has helped skiing become a well established sport in New Zealand, it being the fifth most chosen sport by women and tenth by men. Commercial skiing is a booming industry in New Zealand today.
Unlike Europe and America, the ski fields in New Zealand do not have resorts or chalets adjoining them. Skiiers have to trudge back to the nearest towns for accommodation and food.
These towns are well connected to the ski fields by daily shuttles. The night life is vibrant and exciting when people socialise after a hard day's slog on the snow.
The South Island of New Zealand abounds in ski fields compared to the North Island. There are both commercial and club ski fields. Both provide skiing facilities but differ in their price tags with the latter more affordable.
Club ski fields are small resorts maintained by private ski clubs who provide heavy discounts to their members for an annual membership fee and voluntary work from members in maintaining the resort.
In club skiing, slopes are not very well groomed making it a challenge when skiing downhill. Uphill transport can also be challenging. In commercial ski fields, uphill transport is taken care of with ski lifts, cable cars and good access roads to mountain tops.
Commercial ski fields have some of the best ski schools that teach the sport. This has popularised the spread of the sport and is a distinct advantage.
Though expensive, they offer great skiing experience to the novice and the professional alike.
At major ski fields, lift passes range from $30 to $80 per day with children and students enjoying 50% and 66% discounts respectively. Skiing lessons are available at almost all ski fields.
Skiing gear can be hired with prices ranging from $30 to $50 depending on the gear. It works out cheaper if hired for many days at a time.
The ski season is from June to October. The Mount Hutt field in Canterbury is an exception with the season extending till November.
The i-Site offices in New Zealand and the New Zealand Tourism Board (NZTB) at the international level provide information on the ski areas and skiing packages. They also accept bookings.
It is wise to plan well in advance of the winter season as there is a huge demand for accommodation in peak skiing season.
There are a wide variety of ski sports pursued in the New Zealand winter. They include snowboarding, backcountry skiing (skiing in rural areas and not always on marked trails with no ski lift access often times), heliskiing (alpine or downhill skiing with helicopter access and not ski lift, in rural unmarked mountainous terrain), Nordic skiing(cross country skiing), ski mountaineering (combination of mountain climbing and skiing) and snowcat skiing (a truck sized vehicle with enclosed cab designed to move on snow).
Points to note:
- Exercise in advance and this will help you have lot of fun on the slopes.
- It is sensible to have a skiing specific insurance policy to cover any accidents that may occur when skiing, the worst case scenario being airlifted off the mountains.
- The alpine weather is highly unpredictable and changes without warning. A nice bright day can change into a white sheet of blinding snow in a trice.
- On the ski field, be aware of the other skiiers above and below you at all times. They have the right of way on your trail.
- Ensure that your skiing gear is in good condition by checking your skiing boots for proper fitting.
- The bindings attach your boots to the skis. Make sure they are properly adjusted. It is wise to carry a screw driver in case the bindings come undone.
- If you are hiring skiing gear, ensure that the hire shop is accessible easily in case you develop problems
