Winter Fun

The New Zealand ski resorts are preparing for an early start to the ski season with severe weather warnings around Otago and the Southland being lifted immediately after a cold snap that has brought a good deal of snow to the area. Around the Queenstown area, the ski field operators have jumped into action in preparation for a strong early season.

The Otago ski fields such as the Remarkables Ski Area have already received around 2 feet of snow ahead of the official season opening on June 20. The low lying ground is getting snow down to around 700m. Ski resorts such as Coronet Peak has had some good falls and is looking good for its June 6 opening with snow machines expected to be in operation from May 22.

It’s a promising start to the season but with opening day still weeks away, ski field operators aren’t getting overly excited just yet. Still, you’d rather see snow and colder temperatures now than not.

A particular well-liked types of skiing that became popular a few decades ago was a style of skiing that was known by several names such as “exotic skiing” and “monkey business prior to becoming better known as hotdogging and finally freestyle skiing. This type of skiing involves the more audacious and raw spirit of breathtaking moves with jumps and mogul skiing featuring prominently. It has lately become part of the Winter Olympics programme.

The hot dog skiing movement started a completely different language onto the ski resorts with terms such as “Back Scratcher”, “Wheelie”, “Iron Cross” and “Mule Kick” to describe some of the types of moves in the sport. Boogying down a mogul run also held enormous attraction.

This newfangled type of skiing also prompted a whole new range of colorful clothing that typified the radical attitudes of the participants who were establishing themselves as a party culture of the snow resorts.

There are a few assorted styles of freestyle skiing but they offer those with a inclination for going in search of the adrenaline rush the complete occasion to get out and get the blood pumping. The three initial essentials of freestyle skiing are mogul skiing, inverted aerials and stunt/ballet skiing.

Two types of skiing dominate the interest of snow sliders around the world with the most popular being Alpine skiing which is also known as downhill skiing. Getting to the top of long hills and mountains is made easy thanks to ski lifts so it’s just a matter of pointing the skis downhill and pushing off.

The second type of skiing that enjoys great popularity is the original type of skiing that was enjoyed before mechanical ski lifts made downhill skiing fun. This type is known as either cross-country skiing which is also known as Nordic skiing.

Nordic skiers can travel over flatter, longer distances as well as uphill allowing them to take in the panorama and getting enormous health benefits from the exercise provided. The skis used for cross-country are distinct to the skis used for Alpine skiing in that they are longer and narrower. Also, the bindings and boots necessary for cross-country skiing differs. The heel is not fixed to a cross-country ski which allows the skier to pick up their feet in a walking motion when going up hills.

Cross-country skiing is as fun as it is a practical way to cover long distances in the snow. It is a great way to walk around some good-looking geography and the skis and boots have been particularly crafted to handle any snow-covered landscape.

Normally the varieties of cross-country skiing can be grouped under three categories: ski touring, track skiing and backcountry skiing.