Skiing In The South Island, NZ

This year has been a fantastic one for skiing in New Zealand. We've had extra dumpings of snow, which has made the skifields nice and powdery. Everyone who wants to go skiing should read my lens.

If you want to go skiing in New Zealand, a daily pass costs between NZ$60-100. To hire skis and clothing: NZ$70-80. For lessons, it costs NZ$80.

Beginner Skiiers

If you're a beginner, start by getting lessons. You'll learn a lot faster. Get up there early to get the best snow. It will be freshly groomed but later it could turn into slush, ice or get rough.

You need to listen to the weather forecast or go on a website to check the weather. If you are just starting, wait until a sunny day that has no wind, no clouds coming in. If it is snowing or raining, don't go!

Always wear layers of warm clothes you can strip down during the day if you get hot. If it gets icy in the day, you can go into the cafe to get warm. There is hot food and hot chocolate for sale.

If you have a four-wheel drive, you are lucky because all you need is a set of chains just in case the roads are icy. You will not normally have to put chains on a four-wheel drive, only on two-wheel drives. If you have a two-wheel drive, always take chains with you. Ask about these at your nearest ski shop.

Where to go: Round Hill, Mt Hutt, Cadrona, Porter Heights, Ohau

Intermediate Skiiers

If you are an intermediate skiier, you should be able to ski confidently down the mountain. When you get the hang of skiing, try some harder places to ski. But you could crash and really injure yourself. What you really want is a nice slope, not too steep and not too crowded.

If you are getting bored of just skiing, try some grinds or jumps. Just start with a nice, easy small jump or a wide grind. Go straight over the grind, don't try anything fancy too soon. (A grind is an object in the snow that you can slide your skis along).

Where to go: Mt Hutt, Mt Cheeseman, Cadrona, Coronet Peak, Porter Heights

Advanced Skiiers

Now you are a pro, you can ski anywhere you like. Start by skiing on different ski fields like Treble Cone or the Remarkables. If you want to get better, you should try skiing in really horrible conditions that are icy, cloudy, snowing or raining, even high winds or white out.

If there has just been a fresh dumping of snow, get out of bed and get up the slopes. Later in the day, parts of the skifields turn into moguls. A mogul is where a lot of skiers spray snow when they turn corners, creating mounds of snow. Moguls present a great challenge for pro skiiers. They work your legs and tire you out quickly. They are great fun becasue you learn how to flick your skis.

If you like powder, virgin snow and want a challenge, go heli-skiing!

Where to go: Mt Hutt, Mt Cheeseman, Cadrona, Treble Cone, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Porter Heights

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