Ski-Snowboard The Remarkables, NZ
Skiing-snowboarding in Queenstown New Zealand is worth the trip.
A ski-snowboard vacation to Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island included four ski areas, starting with The Remarkables, brings wintersport in summer.
A skiing and snowboarding vacation in Queenstown, New Zealand, last summer under the auspices of U.S.-based Holidaze Ski Tours and the guiding of Queenstown-based Ski Express, began at The Remarkables.
Queenstown, of course, is an internationally renowned destination for skiing, snowboarding, bungy jumping, and adventure of all kinds.
Each of our Queenstown ski days began and ended with a adrenalin-sparking bus ride. The bus, somewhat antique and rickety, ascended the dirt road oh-so-slowly, struggling against gravity towards The Remarkables Ski Area base lodge, never leaving first gear. A most precipitous climb. Not a guard rail in sight.
In the seat across from me, Alice Clapper put her hands over her eyes, and wryly and ironically commented, "I’m sure this hand covering my eyes will save me if the bus goes over!"
It’s the views that get top reviews at The Remarkables.
The ski area was accurately described to me being excellent for novices, low intermediates and advanced skiers/riders, but with little excellent sliding for mainstream intermediates.
The pistes here are relatively short and the expert pitches not overly extreme.
The highlight for experts is mostly hike-to terrain. But, far to skiers’ left one reaches the entertaining Homeward Runs. There, a huge bowl allows wide ranging skiing and riding until sliders emerge at a spot about a half mile down the access road where a unique kind of truck-bus provides transport back to the base.
We later hiked from the highest lift. The reason is more about ogling the spectacular scenery than to find super turns. "It’s a five-minute hike," claims Rowan, our guide.
Right.
Fifteen minutes later, we reach the top and, indeed, the view is spectacular. Lake Wakatipu disappears into the distance, seemingly hundreds of miles away. But, no, it’s more like a stone’s throw.
We then ski down—only about a half dozen extra turns than we would’ve gotten from the lift. But, hey, it’s like the mountain climbers say: it’s because it’s there.
Kids and non-skiers flock to the Ozone Tubing Park, which requires taking a ski lift onto the main hill. And, the Up & Go Terrain Park, Superpipe and Fruju Beginner Park keep park rats of all stripes happy.
And, this just in: good news for terrain park and halfpipe denizens—The Remarkables has retained American terrain park consulting company Snow Park Technologies to redesign its terrain park offerings for the 2007 winter (North American summer) season, including a redeveloped and enlarged terrain park with two 30-meter wide, benched jump and rail lines that are twice the size of last year’s, and improved intermediate and advanced lines.
All-in-all the skiing on this chilly day resembles the skiing in the eastern U.S., both in scale and in snow texture—notwithstanding that it’s all above treeline, that the people talk with a most intriguing accent, that they drive on the wrong side of the road, and that the natives are incredibly friendly.
But, the most remarkable (no pun intended) aspect of this first day is adjusting to skiing in August.
"Isn’t it summertime?" the legs cry. "What’s up with this snowsliding?"
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