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Congratulations to Judy Everitt!

Judy and her partner Brent have won our 2009 Ski Holiday Prize: 

return flights Auckland to Los Angeles courtesy Air New Zealand
return flights Los Angeles to Denver courtesy United Airlines
return transfers from Denver to Vail
4 nights in a studio condo at Antlers at Vail
4 nights at Beaver Creek courtesy of Vail Resorts
7 day Vail Resorts lift pass for 2 adults courtesy of Vail Resorts
travel insurance

Having just returned from Fiona Stevens ski camps at Coronet Peak three things come to mind. Firstly what a priviledge it is to get instruction with experts like Fiona and her team. Secondly, how nice Coronet Peak has become. Thirdly, how I cannot wait to ski in Utah again utilising my new skills. I am going to ring the Ski traveller team  and make a few plans.

Getting back to Coronet Peak that used to carry the unfortunate monica of “Concrete Peak.” Much has changed. By increasing their water capacity and snowmaking they have been able to nail the May snow dump and make snow most evenings from then on. Coronet always had interesting topography and good lift capacity has been added in recent times. Being able to ski the whole mountain on good snow is great and has lead to a re-rate the resort as a ski experience.

Only 4 days to get your flights booked & paid on the Air New Zealand Airfare Sale.
Last day to buy is the 28th of July 2009.

Sale applies to most ski airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Kamloops, Kelowna, Denver, Aspen, Eagle, Salt Lake City & more….

Ring Lianne or Sarah at Ski Traveller to book asap!
0800 11 22 99

Be  in for the chance to win a  snow holiday to Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts all you have to do is enter  a few details http://skitraveller.co.nz/newsletter and be in to win the following fabulous prize courtesy of Air New Zealand,United Airlines,Vail Resorts,Antlers At Vail and Ski Traveller.

Ski Traveller’s Vail Snow Holiday Prize is worth $15,000
Includes:

Yes that’s right folks get those skis and boards waxed and get ready for Cardrona’s opening day Saturday 26th June 2009.

Oh this sounds interesting….Air New Zealand is not just our national airline they are a match making service too!

www.thematchmakingflight.com

Join the BlackOnWhite Ski Camps in 2009
Improve your skiing, have fun and support future NZ skiers

Dates: Cornet Peak 1-4 Aug / Treble Cone 8 - 11 Aug / Coronet Peak 3-6 Sept / Mt Ruapehu 21-24 Sept
Time: Four days between 9am – 3pm

Cost: $1300. Camp cost covers the four days coaching.
(Lift passes, food, accommodation, transport etc not included).

Who: Any level of recreational skier, male or female, that loves to ski and wants to advance. Skiers are divided into groups of similar ability. Numbers are limited to approximately 6 people per coach. Coaches alternate between the groups over the four days.

What: Focus is on technical freeskiing, confidence building and integrating new technique to allow you to have A LOT more fun with your skiing and the new ski technology.• Learn to carve properly • Drills and techniques to correct and develop your skiing quickly • Dynamics • Stance • Off-piste skills and experience • Moguls • Steeps • Crud
 

New options:

Off Piste: Each camp will offer a dedicated off piste day option. 
Scheduled for the final day for those that want to.

Gates: For those that would like to ski gates, this option will be arranged by request.

Golf: September camps have a golf option. Grant, is also a PGA Golf Pro, and will take those that want to for Golf in the afternoons or if there is a weather day. (Details will be provided).

For more information -
RSVP:  f.stevens@snowvision.org.nz.
Phone Fiona Stevens:  021 969 834 or 09 520 1887.
Visit: www.blackonwhite.co.nz

• Pay your ski holiday deposit before 30 September 2009 with Ski Traveller.

• Your travel insurance policy will be issued the day your deposit it paid.

• A return airfare & seven nights accommodation is required to qualify.

• Your travel free ski travel insurance is valid for a maximum of 16 days.

• A fee will apply if you cancel your holiday after the travel insurance is issued.

Contact Lianne or Sarah at Ski Traveller for more information: info@skitraveller.co.nz

Ring Toll Free 0800 11 22 99

Hi Sarah

Well we have now returned from a great trip,thanks for all your careful arrangements. Generally we found the destination was great, the snow was great, and everything worked out pretty well. Haven’t got the photos organized yet but here’s a few snaps - I’m sure you’ll recognise a lot of them. We had quite a bit of snow overnight,and once during the day,and skiing through 8 inches of fresh powder was definitely an unforgettable experience.

It was a great trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend to others (have already, in fact). Thanks for all your advice,it was great to know in advance from someone who had actually been there.

My, my, my - 50cm of snow fell in the first two days of this past week! We drove up to Lake Louise from Canmore early on Tuesday morning and during the brunt of the storm cycle, it was an interesting ride to say the least on the Trans Canada Highway in a driving snow storm, scary at times too. It was certainly worth it though, the Powder Bowls on the Ptarmigan side were pretty much deserted, we skied the steeps in untracked boot top snow, an epic day had by all including our 8 year old daughter who skied right on my tail all day in fresh snow that was knee deep on her!  We all made it safely back to Canmore on the Highway at the end of the day as the temperature plunged and the storm cycle intensified. The next day ( Wednesday ) was an epic powder day at Sunshine Village, mid week, -29 degrees, no wind and very few people about. We skied Goats Eye Mountain hard all day in fresh powder that was easily knee deep, many of the black diamond runs were waist deep on our 8 year old, she hooted and howled all day long, stopping every couple of hours to warm up and consume hot chocolate. Thursday dawned a cracker, the storm cycle had passed, it was warmer, sunny and again there was very few people about. We skied what was left of the untracked POW and eyed up the ultimate prize, The Holy Grail here in The Bow Valley - Delirium Dive! Rated as one of The Worlds Steepest, In Bounds, Double Black Diamond, Extreme Skiing Areas, access is allowed via a closed gate and only with an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel - unfortunately it hasn’t opened this season due to lack of snow and snow pack instability but man did it look good now - would 50cm plus make a difference? YES! We awoke on Friday morning to another blue sky day and our last day of skiing before heading home to NZ, the day was spent cruising the groomers in the sun with the girls and drinking beer on the deck at Trappers Lodge. Then came the call, as Chevy my old ski patrol buddy and now Mountain Operations Manager here at Sunshine Village rounded the corner and said ” We’ve been looking for you, we’re skiing The Dive, meet me at The Beaver Lodge at 2pm “! There were six of us, 4 patrollers, Chevy and me. You enter Delirium Dive from a set of metal stairs bolted to the side of a shear rock face at 9000 feet and at the top of The Continental Divide, then traverse around a rock buttress to an array of narrow chutes that drop over 1000 vertical feet into a classic powder bowl. We ski cut the top section and then made the most of what was the highlight and perfect ending to this 6 week skiing road trip - Untracked, Waist Deep Powder with an old mate and a true gentleman. 1000 vertical feet later with numb feet and panting for breath we snapped some photo’s and headed towards the Gondola via the trees. Grinning from ear to ear and admiring our handy work from ” The Bird ” I remembered the good old days and the advantages that a patrol uniform and pack allowed, one on the few perks for working day after day in sub zero temperatures, ” The Dive ” is still closed but with the snow forecast next week there are murmurs that it will open to the public before long. This roadie has been fantastic, from the smaller tree lined ski hills in B.C to the big open slopes and bowls here in Alberta the trip of a lifetime has gone to plan and without a hitch. Without Sarah and her team at Ski Traveller and her vast knowledge of the many Canadian ski areas that we visited we wouldn’t have had the accommodation that we’ve had and the good times that are now almost memories. We fly out of Calgary tomorrow and begin the long 24 hour non stop journey home to Queenstown, all of us longing and awaiting the snow to fall here, bring it on! Sarah, a big thanks to you and your team. - The Goat.