Above the Clouds

Image Supplied by Treble Cone

I love a good ski or snowboarding shot and since I'm neither a skier nor a snowboarder, I rely on the generosity of other photographers to make my blog look pretty in winter. This lovely image was sent to me by the team at Treble Cone Ski Field, near Wanaka - one of the more challenging fields in the country with lots of very steep areas and narrow valleys to keep the experienced skiers happy. www.treblecone.co.nz

Snow Time!

Cardrona Alpine Resort, Wanaka

One of the Best Family Ski Fields

In the Country

And Let's Not Forget the Spectacular Scenery

www.cardrona.com

Image Courtesy Cardrona Alpine Resort

Winter White

Tongariro National Park. Photos courtesy Bayview Chateau Tongariro

It's snowing in my garden right now.

But it's not half as spectacular as these falls recorded in Tongariro National Park yesterday.

North Island skiers will be rubbing their hands together in delight.

Ski Heaven

Boarder Gaining Air at Cardrona Alpine Resort - Photo: Lake Wanaka Tourism

Night Skiing at Snow Park NZ - Photo from Snow Park NZ

We’ve had some ferocious winters days of late but that’s all great news for the skiers and snowboarders who will be heading to Wanaka in their droves over the next two months. Wanaka is ski-heaven! Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone and Snow Farm/Snow Park are all close to town and all have confirmed that they will host Olympic and National snow sports teams from the Northern Hemisphere, looking to continue training through their summer months (in our winter). Along with Alpine Skiing World Cup holder Bode Miller (USA), Treble Cone will host national teams from USA, Austria, Germany and Norway. Olympic teams from China, Japan, Australia and Italy will train in the freestyle park along with Olympic gold medallist Kelly Clark. Cardrona will host teams from Canada, Sweden and the United States; and more teams will head for Snow Park NZ once their superpipe has been primed. Many national snowboard teams will also be in training during August and September; and more are expected to arrive in preparation for the Winter Games NZ 2009, which is expected to attract 600 competing athletes. There’s also a healthy line up of events, starting tomorrow, (July 29) with the Burton New Zealand Open, which will see fired up snowboarders competing at Snow Park NZ. You can check out other events at http://www.skilakewanaka.com/ – and if you’re in the mood for a hyped-up cosmopolitan ski atmosphere, Wanaka is the place to be.