Torpedo7 Club members have got it pretty good!
This year we committed to offering 150+ free or cheap events, to inspire Torpedo7 Club members to get active and outdoors around New Zealand.
With our events partner and Social Enterprise, Got To Get Out (GTGO), we're nearly half way towards delivering our promise, and together we've hosted some incredible events around Aotearoa.
We've invited Torpedo7 Club members to dozens of ski trips at many of the best ski fields around the country. GTGO Founder Robert Bruce has hosted every ski trip (tough job, right?), so we sat down with him to chat about his personal best ski fields across the country, and where you need to visit in Spring!
Q: So Rob, what makes a great ski field?
A: There's a number of factors that impact your experience on a mountain; the weather immediately before and during your visit, snow conditions such as depth and how recently it snowed, temperature, road conditions, and of course the people you are travelling with.These variables make the matter of which field is 'best' quite subjective! We've had it all; bluebird days, whiteout, powder, blizzards, closed roads, and sunburn. What I can also say is that New Zealanders are extremely lucky to have a wide range of quality ski fields across the country, all within relatively easy reach of most main centers.
Q: What is your favourite ski fields from those you've visited on Torpedo7 trips?
A: I'll list the fields we visited with a bit of info about my personal experience at each. I'll let the reader decide which sounds best! It's a bit like picking a favourite child, you love them all - just differently. Enjoy!
Mt Ruapehu: Whakapapa ski field (NZ's largest ski area)
Whakapapa Ski area is approximately 5.5 hours from Auckland CBD, which makes it a favourite for snow lovers from New Zealand's biggest city, partly for the shortest drive, and due to the many on-mountain ski lodges not found on other mountains. Staying on-mountain in a hut is a special experience: it saves you time getting onto the snow, helps build camaraderie between skiers, and is basically a lot of fun. Torpedo7 Club members from Auckland, Hamilton, Taupo, Palmerston North, and Taranaki all visited Whakapapa ski field on their Torpedo7 Club trips.
Whakapapa is the largest ski area in NZ. Their incredible crew work overtime to 'de-ice' the chair lifts and machinery, and keep the road safe and usable all season long. Happy Valley is definitely one to note if you have littlies as has magic carpets, chairs and a cafe. Chains need to be carried most of the season and fitted on (at least) two wheel drive vehicles reasonably often - so it pays to practice at home! Once Mt Ruapehu has some good snow, it's a great field for an extended ski season.
This year Whakapapa launched the multi-million dollar Sky Waka; a fully enclosed and very quick gondola, which bypasses two older lifts and now takes guests straight to the award-winning Knoll Ridge Cafe and essentially the top of the hill.
Mt Ruapehu: Turoa Ski Field
The good thing about Mt Ruapehu being so large, is each side can have its own weather conditions. Several times this year Turoa was able to open when Whakapapa was closed, and vice versa; this is the advantage of having two fields on one mountain.
Turoa is a very different field to Whakapapa. It offers some wider runs, higher lift elevation, different terrain, more parks, and has a closer proximity to the 'alpine town' of Ohakune. If your're just after apr?s ski as well as good snow, then Ohakune could be for you. There are pubs, shops, concerts (like the annual Mardi Gras), and hundreds of privately owned chalets and ski huts which together create a buzzing ski-town atmosphere.
Rainbow Ski Field: Nelson
Our first Torpedo7 Club trip in the South Island was to Rainbow Ski Area. Rainbow is approximately two hours drive from downtown Nelson, but the exact time to top of the hill depends largely on the road conditions and if you need to fit chains. The road is 'pretty gnarly' but it's been great to see Rainbow making considerable improvements over the years.
The snow at Rainbow is quite different to other mountains. It's pretty epic snow due in part to there being fewer people. The snow on our visit felt deep and untouched. Epic! Skiers and boarders are treated to a wide range of runs for all levels, and good practice riding the T Bars!
The facilities like the lunch room/cafe, rentals and workshop felt like an awesome step back in time to the days of club fields.
One fun part of the Rainbow experience was the 'festival feel' with families eating lunch on the back of utes in the carpark, or even boiling up tea right there in the snow on camp chairs. Rainbow is a must-visit, if you want some fresh powder with no frills, and good vibes.
Mt Hutt Ski Field: Methven / Canterbury
Skiers and boarders in Canterbury have a sweet deal! Less than two hours from downtown Christchurch and you're at the base of a very well organised and professionally run ski field.
The learner area at Mt Hutt is a great, non-threatening environment for first timers kids and families to find their feet. The upper mountain has a wide array of excellent runs for people of all levels, and many lifts which helps avoid bottlenecks and lines.
Torpedo7 Club visited on an absolutely scorching Tuesday, with many people riding in t-shirts. Despite near perfect conditions the wait was no more than a few minutes for lifts. There was also a hot pool on the top of the mountain - you won't find a tub with a better view than this!
Mt Hutt has a very good road, but as with most mountains mid-season you need to at least carry chains. With its proximity to the South Island's biggest city, Mt Hutt is a great option for those seeking day trips, or overnighters in nearby Methven.
Cardrona Alpine Resort; Wanaka (400 hectares)
After visiting Cardrona, many Queenstown Torpedo7 Club members said they wished they'd done so sooner!
Cardrona Alpine Resort, about 1.5hr from Queenstown near Wanaka, gets nearly 3m of snow a year and has dozens of chairs, cafes, pipes, parks and facilities to cater for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The park at Cardrona recently hosted the Winter Games while we were there, with pros showing their skills on the half pipe and big-air jumps. It is an incredible spectacle to watch big air athletes, even if taking part yourself simply isn't an option.
The road up is another 'authentic alpine road trip', but shuttles are readily available to get you up the hill if you don't want to drive it. The vibe at base is awesome, a fun hub for people to mix and mingle, eat, and listen to tunes.
Overall
Spring snow is awesome, get out there and make the most of it!
Torpedo7 Club members have a few more ski trips they can jump into, if they are fast! These are listed on Facebook here. If they are sold out, join the waitlist, you may get lucky.
Shortly we're moving into our next series of FREE events that are all about mountain biking.
If you want to have a go, join an upcoming in-store workshop here or attend a ride (event live soon)!
See You Out There!
