Instinctive Explorers
The ski culture in New Zealand offers something remarkably different to an overseas visitor. The thrill of skiing or snowboarding, particularly in the South Island, stems not simply from the magnificent mountains and unique terrain, it's part of something that runs much deeper in the blood of Kiwis.
‘Skiing has been driven by a pioneering spirit that has evolved out of a ski club philosophy where people got together and made things happen,’ says general manager of NZSki.com Duncan Smith. ‘Because our skiing has required a climb - or these days a drive - out of the resort villages and towns, Kiwi skiers have always been a bit more adventurous, and that flows through into the way they approach a day on the mountain. They explore more.’
That keenness to explore is an inherent part of the New Zealand personality - think Sir Edmund Hillary as the prime example. Areas such as the Temple Basin and Craigieburn allow that experience. At Craigieburn for example, it's a decent hike to actually get to where you can ski, adding to that pioneering adventure feel.
‘Around Canterbury there are lots of little club ski areas still with their rope tow and still ski areas that you have to throw your rope over your shoulder and walk up to,’ says Smith. ‘Snowboarders are continuing that because they throw their boards on their back and hike up to the tops of mountains, discovering exciting terrain on the way.’
The NZSki.com group of mountains at the Remarkables and Coronet Peak in Queenstown, and Mount Hutt in Canterbury, aims to appeal to those who have an affinity for great landscapes, fresh air, active sport, and exhilaration. Around 50% of its visitors are from overseas, chiefly Australia, Britain, Japan and North America. They enjoy the chance to get off the beaten track a little and absorb the laidback but adventurous Kiwi attitude around them.
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