Bit of NZ stoke

[Island Bay]

Last week at Craigieburn in good company

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_HYlFGSrcY/

[Mike Pow]

Fan-to-the-tastic

[gaijin]

That's the good stuff!

[Djongo Unchained]

Tiitttaaaaayyyyyzzzz! Nice soft freshies.

[Island Bay]

A few more clips:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_MUR5TPE9G/

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_OnqmivNyn/

[Meadow Skipper]

Niiiice!

[Name Redacted]

Sweet! Check out Invincibles Snowfield down out of Glenorchy if you get a chance. Pretty cool spot I went to 20 years ago. Love the club fields. Makes me wanna move down there.

[Island Bay]

Invicibles is def on the wish list. Love our little, strange ski fields; not to everyone's taste, but so satisfying when they're on.

[Shredhead]

OG mag Loyd Braun's son is competing in the WC Slope Style in
Cardrona this weekend.

Good luck Hunter!

[Stuntmonkey]

This is SWEET. I grew up on Turoa, Tukino and Craigeburn and BR. Some unforgettable seasons as a teenager and the huts were honestly places that shaped who I am today. Haaaard deja vu right now!

[Island Bay]

Another clip for you, Stuntmonkey. Craigieburn backcountry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_i9lNnPLO9/

[gaijin]

Thanks for that. I didn't grow up there like Stuntmonkey, but did spend two seasons hopping the huts in 2000 & 2001. Such a unique ski culture. And is absolutely a destination in its own right. All of you readers should put it higher on your list.

Ferg and Hamish. Is that Hamish with a last name starting with A.? I know Hamish is a popular name around there, though.

I failed to get down there this winter with my judging ambitions, but will keep trying.

[Island Bay]

Nope, not that Hamish. This one's a patroller at Craigieburn (helmet cam), as was Ferg (first skier). Old dude in the middle is me.

Hope you make it soon, gaijin, and Arild too. And that it coincides with a proper snow season. This one's been very lean.

[Stuntmonkey]

Another clip for you, Stuntmonkey. Craigieburn backcountry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_i9lNnPLO9/

Thanks for that, brings back some core memories. Really trying to get home in 2026 and ski some lines with my brother whos just moved back to Wanaka.

[byates1]

Is June 15- Aug 15 a good 2 month window to ski NZ? Scheming for next year. Thx!

[dcpnz]

I feel like NZ season is getting later and shorter. Based on the last few years I would not expect decent skiing in June - good fishing and biking perhaps but mid July to mid September would be a better two month window to ski.
Was there mid July to mid August this year and it was pretty grim. I mean we skied and my kids race training was decent but the skiing was mediocre .

[Island Bay]

Yep, can confirm. Early season was crap this year, but it's been good from about mid August.

Normally I'd say August and first half of September for resort skiing, and September-October for touring.

[byates1]

Drat. Have June July and halfish Aug potentially next year. Course I mainly cruise blues, drink coffee and chat up the babes so I don't need much.

Would be rad to van around for a couple months. Looked at a quick quote for a van. 2400$ USD for 2 months is super fair. USD is strong AF at the present seems.

We will see

[Name Redacted]

Go to Bali, Tahiti, or Fiji for a few weeks then NZ for late july/august.

[gaijin]

It was 20 years ago but I wouldn't be surprised if it still existed-- the free layover in Fiji. 1-8 days. My flights refueled there and we were free to get off and stay as long as we'd like up to 8 days.

I only stayed 8 hours, but that was enough time to meet Moses, get a city tour, and get drunk/stoned on the beach before my flight out. It was an amazing 8 hours, actually.

[Name Redacted]

Yeah, I tooth 7 day layover on the way to and from NZ. It was pretty cool. Surfing and fishing and stuff.