SNOW PARK: Local Knowledge

Web address: www.snowparknz.com
Distance from airport: 60 K (approximately 37 miles) from Queenstown to Wanaka
Rideable acres: 20 Hectors (45 Acres)
Lifts: 1
Parks: The entire mountain is a park!
Superpipe: 1

Best Après: Red Rock
Cheap Food: Bombay Palace
Cheap Lodging: Alpine Motel or Purple Cow in Wanaka
Cheap Drink: Red Rock or Shooters
Meat Market: Shooters
Locals’ Bar: Red Rock or Shooters

When it comes to the current hotspot of southern hemisphere shredding Snow Park, New Zealand is it. The name says it all. This small peak, covered for the most part in manmade snow is exactly that: a snowboard park! Imagine riding the freestyle terrain of your dreams in one of the most pristine locales on earth. An epic superpipe with 20-foot transitions, multiple jump lines, an exaggerated quarterpipe, and a plethora of rails and boxes adorn this rider’s paradise. You name it they got it, thanks to Frank Wells and his international crew of talented builders.

While this is only the third season Snow Park has been alive, it has already made snowboarding history with legendary photo annual images, cover shots, movie clips in films including The While Album and The Community Project and a prestigious clientele to boot. Founded by Sam Lee in 2002, Snow Park didn’t open its lift (yes, there is only one!) to the public until 2003. Yet this summer snowboarding Mecca is quickly rivaling Mt. Hood as the place to go for North Americans once the local snows have melted. Currently a majority of the international visitors are top riders with hefty travel budgets, but as the facilities expand so do the legions of loyal Snow Park enthusiasts.

Merely half an hour outside of Wanaka, the region first gained acclaim as a topnotch area to test snow tires. At any given time teams of engineers from Subaru, Michelin, Pirelli and Bridgestone can be seen rallying about figuring out optimum rubber formulas and tread patterns. Wanaka, located on a lake of the same name, is similar in size to Aspen. Here you can find all manner of restaurants and places to stay ranging from full service lodges and gourmet bistros to hostel-style dorms and budget friendly Indian food.

Be on your own program and experience the best the southern hemisphere has to offer. Breathtaking views, solitude, sheep…New Zealand’s south island is called God’s country for a reason and anyone who’s seen Lord of the Rings will agree that it truly is one of the most exquisite backdrops on the planet. Plus they speak English, making communication a breeze.

Pack light and be prepared to hitchhike. No worries, Kiwis are the kindest, most genuine humans you’ll ever meet. And don’t be shocked when you do catch a ride up the dusty, switchback access road, past Snow Farm and there is no snow in sight. You’ll eventually end up at a small parking lot, with an equally modest base lodge and an authentic mom and pop vibe.

When visiting be sure to take advantage of some stable snowboarding traditions: Chase sheep. Rally your rental car. Drink flat whites. Eat the base lodge muffins. If you’re a girl, hang your bra on the bra fence. Bungee jump. (Just be sure to ask what their number of “accidents” is.) Take pictures. Text message instead of talking on your phone or even better, just leave the celly at home. Go for a hike. Watch a movie in Wanaka and treat yourself to some fresh baked cookies. Skateboard the town’s smooth park complete with a concrete bowl and mini ramp. Meet the locals, make new friends and fill your polluted lungs with fresh air.

While the season may be short—the end of June to early October being the prime time to ride—it’s worth gettin’ while the gettin’s good. Plan on losing an entire day of life when you fly over. But don’t worry, you’ll have groundhog’s day on the way home as you land before you left. This is ironic because once in the states you’ll start waking up each morning wishing you lived in New Zealand and got to ride Snow Park everyday.