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Snow Park

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Elevations:

Top:
 1530 meters
 5020 feet
Base:
 1200 meters
 3937 feet
Vertical:
 330 meters
 1083 feet
Average Annual Snow Fall:
 50 cm
 20 inches

Number of Lifts:

2 lifts:
  1 quad chair(s)
  1 surface lift(s)

Contact details:

Ph: +643 4439991
Fax: +643 4439990
Website: Click here
Map: Click here

 

Rundown:

Snow Park is located about 30 minutes drive South from Wanaka, on New Zealand's South Island, and over the last few years it has become the home to freestyle snowboarding in New Zealand. In fact, Snow Park has become the de facto home for all the best freestylers in the world, with the biggest names from North America, Europe and Australia heading to this little speck of a resort to join the local heros. And for good reason – Snow Park is awesome!

Snow Park really has freestyle locked-down from July to October every year – it’s the place to be, and be seen. There is every sort of jump, rail, hip, box, and pipe you could imagine, all groomed to perfection each night. And at Snow Park you will rub shoulders with all the famous guys and girls of snowboarding, you’ll be amazed by the level of riding you see in front of your eyes, and if you are lucky you might get to share an après beer with your hero. Rumour has it that Travis Rice and Shaun White have both bought one of the new apartments (which all come with a on-balcony Jacuzzi, of course) overlooking the terrain park.

Snow Park has a laid back atmosphere that cannot be replicated by other resorts, due in part by the intimate size of the resort. With one lift, it is basically one giant terrain park (with halfpipe) that sits in front of the very muddy car park and café. You can sit on the deck of the café and munch on well-priced bites and coffees, or step it up a notch and cross the newly constructed bridge to The Woolshed for some more elegant (and a bit more expensive) dining. But the whole time you will be able to watch the best show in snowboarding anywhere in the world go down right in front of you!

The vibe at Snow Park is very much like a spring or summer snowboard camp, where there is a small bunch of regulars, everyone is stoked on just riding and friends are easily made. There is always someone to chat to at Snow Park, and you’ll see all sorts riding there – from fresh, to hesh and everything in between - it can be as crazy as a Californian resort fashion shows (eg Northstar, Mammoth). But egos are kept in check by the insane level of riding: you can’t very well strut around boasting about your frontside 720 when T-Rice, Shaun or someone else throw down back-to-back 1080’s in the pipe or switch backside 720s off the 100-footer behind you.

If freestyle snowboarding is your thing, and even if it isn’t, Snow Park is definitely worth a visit. If you just go up to watch, you cannot help but be impressed. The list of big-name events held at Snow Park is impressive in itself:

Events at Snow Park:
Burton New Zealand Open (Burton Global Open Series)
Billabong Slopestyle Jam
Quiksilver King of the Park
Volcom Peanut Butter and Rail Jam
Transworld Hemisphere Challenge

New for 2007:
‘The Shed’ on-mountain dorm accommodation (trialled in 2006);
New series of 8-bed on-mountain luxury apartments with on-balcony spas (Jacuzzis);
‘Half-Pint Progression Park’: Dedicated Beginner and Intermediate line of features to aid progression;
Snow Girls NZ Coaching and 4-day Camps;

Terrain:
Snow Park Trail Map

Freeriding:

Hmmm, there isn’t really any, but you could practise your euro carves down beside the jump line, especially as an early morning warm up?

Backcountry:  

There isn’t any – head to Cardrona, Treble Cone or the other South Island resorts. However, there is the Cross-country resort, Snow Farm, right next door, if that tickles your fancy?
 
Freestyle:

Halfpipes: Snow Park has a massive earthwork-formed (ie in-ground) 160m long superpipe, as well as another intermediate-focussed 90m long superpipe. Many rate the SP main pipe as one of the best in the world and there is good reason why almost every pro team and aspiring pipe jock heads to Snow Park to train during their off season…which is also witnessed by the sometimes-huge line-ups to drop into the pipe. And if you come to SP at a busy time you will see all the big names you know jostling for line-up alongside you – don’t be intimidated!

Halfpipe rating: 10 out of 10 - Zaugg 18-foot-transition pipe grinder, cut every evening by the master, Frank Wells, or his staff. It doesn’t get much better than this anywhere in the world. The only down sides are the temperature variations and strong sun effect which plagues the ozone-holed Southern Hemisphere. This means that often the overnight freeze has made the pipe very icy and only the real serious razor-edged pipe jocks are willing to drop in. It’s best about 11am to 2pm when the left wall should be the perfect afternoon softness, however the right wall stays quite firm all day. Later the left wall can form a bit of a rut due to the high traffic, but no worse than most pipes around the world.

Snowboard Parks: Also one of the best parks in the world – again why all the big name riders you have up on your wall head to Snow Park for training and off season photo shoots…in fact I bet you have a Snow Park photo on your wall right now!

Terrain Park rating: 10 out of 10 - There is every sort of rail and jump feature you can imagine – and it’s hard to believe they can pack so much goodness into such a small space! Features change regularly depending on conditions and which competitions are coming up, but you are likely to find a pro-sized 90-100 foot long, 20-foot high super booter with endless landing (yeah, the one you have seen all the photos on), a triple line of kickers ranging from 30 to 60 feet, a 20+ foot high quarter pipe (after the halfpipe), some smaller 12-20 foot jumps around the hill, and a series of rails and boxes of all shapes and sizes. If you are lucky, the massive hip over The Woolshed balcony, a couple of pro and beginner step-ups, and the in-bounds cliff drop will all be set up, groomed and ready for you to slay. It is literally insane! It is so exciting to even just sit on the balcony and watch all the crazy antics go down just a drop-punt away.

And one of the best things about the park is that it too is groomed nightly. However, the changeable conditions and temperature variations mean that early morning ice gives way to afternoon slush and ruts that are formed by high traffic. This should not be a problem mid-winter when temperatures remain colder.

But perhaps the best thing about Snow Park is that any feature you see there, you can hit. Unlike other resorts which also build and set up features for private photo and video shoots, Snow Park lets the public hit these features too…if you are good enough, that is. Some featured, like the monster step-up of 2006 required a skidoo tow-in at 100kph, so that might not really be an option for even the most cashed-up punter, but if you have the skills, you won’t be stopped from hitting the feature of your dreams. Just make sure that you really do have the skills to step up the plate – ski patrol don’t want to have to clean up the mess you make of yourself, and others who are there to ‘work’ (ie pros with a limited good weather window) don’t appreciate long periods of features being closed down.

Beginners: Not perhaps the best place to learn to link turns, but there are beginner features and a nice mellow slope. But if you have progressed past general beginner riding and want to start to learn to ‘jump’ or hit rails (ie beginner freestyler), then Snow Park is also great place for you. Just make sure you don’t get in the way of the big boys (learn some park etiquette) so that you aren’t putting yourself, or others, at risk of getting run into. There are also various types of snowboard lessons available.

Intermediates and Advanced: Choose the intermediate and beginner lines to the side (extreme left and right of the resort) of the pro-line of jumps and halfpipe, which are smack back in-your-face in front of you.
Cliffs and Chutes: There is one man-made rock 10-foot cliff drop in front of The Woolshed balcony and below the monster jump.

Avoiding Crowds:  With only one quad chair lift they are unavoidable – get up there early perhaps, or go when there are less visiting pro teams or outside times when big comps are on. Also, during regular lunch time it is a little quieter on the hill.

Snow and Weather conditions at Snow Park:

Like other Southern Lakes resorts the relative close proximity to the ocean and fairly low elevation can result in very changeable weather conditions. And like the other NZ mountains, the lack of trees does nothing to dampen the strong winds which can whistle through the valleys. Snow Park, while directly opposite and seemingly a stone’s throw from Cardrona, sits a bit lower and receives different weather patterns. Sometimes Cardrona may be in fog while Snow Park is clear, or vice versa. So, make sure you check the conditions report before heading up, either on the net, on the notice board at your backpackers or call Snow Park (+64 3443 9991), or you may find yourself driving for 35 minutes on a sunny Wanaka day to get to the top and find the resort is closed due to high winds.

However, while other resorts in New Zealand are very dependent on the fickle Southern Hemisphere weather and snowfalls, Snow Park is somewhat insulated due to the foresight of its creators: Snow Park, with 33 state-of-the-art Italian ‘Alpin’ Snow Cannons, has the highest concentration of snowmaking on the planet. Added to this is the earth works beneath the halfpipe, quarterpipe and jumps, as well as the wind fences to help hold any falling snow - the end result being that you have a resort that is doing its utmost to create a rideable freestyle locale for you no matter how little natural snow may be about. All of the surrounding hills might be completely bare dirt, but Snow Park will probably still manage to produce one killer set of features. Many photos over the past couple of seasons are testament to this ‘can-do’ attitude. Only a foot of snow is needed to open a jump and rail line, much of which can be created during quiet night time temperatures. So you can be sure that as long as the resort is open, there will be something fun for you to hit.

Due to the changeable Southern Lakes weather of strong sun and overnight freezes, coupled with finer (and longer-lasting) man-made snow, Snow Park can be very hard and icy in the morning. That is why you will often see the regulars grabbing a bite to eat or a coffee when you arrive in the morning – they are waiting for the optimum time for the jumps to soften up just enough. It would have to be an unusual day for the park and pipe to be cranking at 10am, unless a bunch of East Coast Yankees or Scandinavians are in town, which to them feels like home.

Current snow and weather conditions at Snow Park

Snow and weather in New Zealand in general:

Although known as the land of the long white cloud, you'll find that most of the days you ride in NZ will be sunny because the clouds often stick to the taller peaks which surround the resorts.
The temperature in the South Island of NZ is relatively temperate, meaning there aren't any real extremes in temperature as can be experienced in Europe and the USA. However, the wind seems to be a real issue at NZ mountains. This may explain why many of the resorts like TC and Mt Hutt only have T-Bars that access the summit, or don't have any summit lifts at all, like the Remarkable's. Nonetheless, the terrain can be worth the pain in most circumstances.

Also, don't expect the regular two foot dumps that you often get in Europe and USA. Often you will wake up to find a fresh half to one foot of powder but overall the best powder is found with a Heli.

Accommodation:

Snow Park is one of the only NZ resorts actively aiming towards creating some sort of on-mountain ‘village’. Currently there is a reasonable amount of accommodation at Snow Park, predominantly ‘The Shed’ backpackers dorms. 44 bunk beds are available, but during busy periods, or if there is a visiting pro team who may not be bunked up in the private apartments, make sure you book ahead. New for 2007 is the series of modern upto-8-person on-mountain apartments, which were just beginning to be built when Boardtheworld.com visited in 2006. Despite the style and luxury of this accommodation, prices are reasonable and if you can get a crew together these could be a great, and comfortable option. Call Snow Park for reservations.

The nearest town to Snow Park which offers accommodation is Wanaka. Queenstown, about an hours north also has enormous accommodation options.

Click the link for all the information you need on accommodation and eating in Wanaka: Wanaka- Accommodation etc.

Night Life:

With the creation in 2006 of The Woolshed, some on-hill apartments and The Shed backpackers dorms, depending on what’s happening, Snow Park can go off! If you manage to score a night up the hill when a visiting pro team or major competion is being waged, the large and luxurious bar in The Woolshed will be pumping. Drinks and food aren’t cheap, but considering the surroundings it’s a price you should be willing to pay. Otherwise, on quiet nights, The Woolshed will be just a relaxing place for you and your mates to shoot some pool, watch a vid on the plasmas and chat to the local bartenders.

But most likely you will be staying in Wanaka, so check the Boardtheworld.com section on Wanaka.

On your way home from Snow Park, make sure you check out the Cardrona Hotel at least once.  It is a great place to have a quiet ale after a hard day's riding. When you come out of the Snow Park gates, turn left towards Queenstown and you'll find the pub a couple of kilometres down the road.

Snowboard Shops:

There is one shop at Snow Park, which mainly sells t-shirts and hoodies, but you can also get some goggles, sunnies and gloves there too. For more substantial snowboard shops, go to Wanaka (or Queenstown).

Getting There:
The dirt access road sits almost opposite the one to Cardrona, and is equally as treacherous. A big bronze statue sits halfway up where champion rally driver Possum Bourne lost his life when hit by an on-coming car as he scouted for the annual hill climb car race (he thought the road was closed to downwards traffic). Like most NZ access roads, it is a fairly long climb up from the valley floor (about 15 minutes driving), dealing with gnarly corrugations, dust (or mud), blind corners, deadly drop-offs, no safety barriers and a smattering of wandering sheep (yes, seriously!) So take care when you drive up, especially in the morning when the sun can be in your eyes, there’s racing traffic and there can be a lot of dust on the route.

From Wanaka: Take the Crown Range Road south, and just past the Cardrona gate (on the right) simply turn left at the rusted-metal and mirror ‘Snow Park’ sign.  By car it takes about half an hour. And if you have space in your car, feed your good karma and pick up a bro (or bro-ette) for a ride up the hill.

Hitchhiking has also been a traditional method to get up the hill for those without a car, but with word getting round over the last couple of years, the queue on the outskirts of Wanaka can get very big, and you may have to wait over an hour on a bad day. Try and organise your ride up the hill in the bar the night before.

There is a bus service available from Wanaka, but it is not so cheap (but then neither is petrol around the Southern Lakes of New Zealand). For bus services, see Wanaka.

From Queenstown:  Take the Crown Range road North through the mountain pass until you reach the Snow Park gate.  Be aware that this route is subject to ice and snow during the season and can be very dangerous.  If this route is closed, drive from Queenstown to Wanaka via Highway 6 and then head south along the Crown Range road. The drive, up one range, down to the Cardrona Valley and up Snow Park’s dirt access road takes over an hour on a good day. We recommend staying in Wanaka.

Thanks:
Many thanks go to Sam Lee and all the friendly staff from Snow Park for making our stay a welcome one.

Last updated on 26 July 2008.

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