Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Southern Island Skiing

profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Hey guys, currently doing a semester of uni at Otago. Holy shit o-week, that's all I have to say.

Anyway, starting June I will be taking a semester off to ski. I have a car and I was planning on spending most of my time in the Wanaka area. I love to ski everything pow, park, big mountain, bc, really anything.

Any advice on where I should get my pass? I saw something about ONEPASS which looks great. Are there other combo packages like that?

And...is sleeping in your car illegal here?

Cheers
Mar 3 2013 1:12AM
4 0
profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701

Where do you guys buy all your ski gear?  I've been looking on trademe and basenz, but not too much variety.  Lookin to buy boots, skis, and bindings.

Any advice on where to go?

Also bought a pass to Cardrona if anyone wants to ride or possibly split an apartment hit me up.  Have a car.

Mar 20 2013 4:30AM
0 0
profile picture
DrewEire
Posts: 20 - Karma: 13
Yea best way is to just have a look around gear wise, only thing i would say is, bootwise, go to outside sports and ask for i think its kazoo (maybe Yazoo), he's a Japanese guy. He's pretty much a boot fitting god! the dude literally knows everything about boots and has had some real high profile clients.

Skiing wise, Cardrona has a mix between piste, off piste and park, can be pretty flat, but fun. Park is fun and the half pipe is sick.

Wanaka itself is pretty awesome, i lived there for 2 seasons and loved it, especially in spring time when its quite warm in town.
Mar 26 2013 6:15PM
0 0
profile picture
NE.
Posts: 234 - Karma: 428
how'd you like the university? I'm going to study there starting in july
Apr 1 2013 12:53PM
0 0
profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Thanks Drew appreciate the info +k

The University here is awesome. Student life at Otago is unreal. It's a little intimidating your first day strolling through the international flat area with broken glass and drunk people everywhere.

Pretty much be prepared to party. O-week is the first week of every semester (I believe) and it's just nuts. The security here are very relaxed you can walk around with an open container and be drunk as shit, no one will say anything it's legal. If you have a choice where to live and like to party either live on Leath or Castle Street.

School wise classes are tougher than in the states. I don't know what school you go to but that's what I found. There are labs (practicals) with a lot of classes in addition to lecture time and tutorials. I guess it really depends on the type of classes you take (I'm taking two physics and a mineralogy course).

If you are looking for specific places to go (hiking / bars / clubs) I'd be more than willing to help you out. If you ever get a chance to come down to Queenstown shoot me a PM I'll be living there till the end of August.
Apr 2 2013 6:31PM
1 0
profile picture
JamesH
Posts: 328 - Karma: 58
PM'ed about gear.
Apr 6 2013 11:21PM
0 0
profile picture
Jombob
Posts: 113 - Karma: 97
I'd heard this as well until I broke a buckle, took it to him to fix and he replaced it with a shitty buckle off a kids boot that didn't work and charged me $40 for it. Literally wouldn't give me my boots back until I paid. I'm sure he is a good boot fitter though I just had a bad experience.
Apr 7 2013 6:42PM
0 0
profile picture
--ski--
Posts: 1670 - Karma: 817
Wanaka and Queenstwon are just over the Range from each other, so it's no hassle to go to fields in either place. maybe try and ski a day or two at each before buying a pass?

Treble Cone has epic terrain, but a really shit park; Cardrona has a world class park, but only alright terrain. Cardrona gets a lot busier though, while Treble cone is usually pretty mellow. I'd definitely recommend having a few days at the Canterbury Club Fields, as well.

Experiencing the joys of Dunedin student life? Ahh, there's no thing quite like it. Whereabouts you living in Dunedin, by the way?
Apr 8 2013 1:48AM
0 0
profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Already picked up a pass to Cardrona. Been skiing BC/big mountain last couple of seasons thought I might hit some jumps this season.

I'm living on Castle near the botanical gardens. Very much enjoying student life here hahaha, just crazy. Sex pit at Monkey Bar is always a good time.
Apr 11 2013 6:26PM
0 0
profile picture
--ski--
Posts: 1670 - Karma: 817
Cardies has an epic park. Also, having a pass there gives you discounted day passes at other fields.

Castle Street, my god I missed that place. You think it's crazy now ... You should've been there during the Undie 500 era. Monkey Bar, what a glorious sex pit - 3am swoop.
Apr 11 2013 7:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
Been a while sine I replied to this thread but thanks for the advice. Was just in Wanaka and met this guy. Knows his shit even though half the time I can't understand what he says.

Really nice guy, if anyone needs a bootfitter go to Outside Sports and look for the Japanese guy.
May 20 2013 6:49PM
0 0
profile picture
DrewEire
Posts: 20 - Karma: 13
haha yea he's pretty hard to understand alright.

Next time you are chatting to him ask him about Bode Miller, my friend and I had a real good laugh about it after.
May 20 2013 6:53PM
0 0
profile picture
Sim.a.Ride
Posts: 1 - Karma: 11
I'll hit NZ for two month this summer, jully/august, mainly to ski, and i'm not sure about how i'll manage it, but if you'r still searching someone to share a flat near any ski ressort in NZ, i'm your guy.
I was also thinking to rent a campvan and tour the south island ski ressorts, if you'r interested ...

Let me know !

P.S: i've never been in NZ
P.P.S: i'm french
May 21 2013 6:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
I'd be keen. Sent you a PM.
May 23 2013 7:58PM
0 0
profile picture
Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
What's the best way to get to Cardrona from Wanaka for those without a car? Hitch hike?

Cheers
Jun 16 2013 9:45PM
0 0
profile picture
--ski--
Posts: 1670 - Karma: 817
Yep, hitch hiking should be a good bet. Make your way to McDougall St and hitch from there.
Jun 17 2013 7:20PM
1 0
All times are Eastern (-5)