Have you ever dreamt about skiing in New Zealand? Well, in this episode, I talk with local Kiwi experts, John Knight and Darren Grimmett, from our Blister Recommended Shop, Outside Sports, to give us the rundown on what skiing in this Southern Hemisphere destination entails, and how to make the most of it.
We discuss the best gear for the conditions and terrain in NZ; the difference between ski fields and club fields; backcountry skiing and heliskiing; plus all the other things you can enjoy while in New Zealand, including eating the best meat pies, biking, hiking, and being around some of the genuinely nicest people.
TOPICS & TIMES
John and Darren’s backgrounds (5:02)
Outside Sports’ humble beginnings (11:15)
Gear Trends in NZ (18:18)
Skis for Variable Conditions (24:50)
Getting to New Zealand & Ski Fields vs. Club Fields (27:04)
Backcountry Skiing & Heliskiing (33:18)
Getting Around (40:04)
More than just skiing (42:51)
Best Gear for NZ (47:22)
Heavier BC Gear for a Reason (48:51)
Ski Season Itch (54:26)
Crashes & Close Calls (56:56)
RELATED LINKS:
Blister Recommended Shop: Outside Sports
Blister Recommended Shops
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23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide Pre-Order
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Turoa and Whakapapa in the North Island are super fun. Its a volcano and lots of natural half pipe style gullies.
If skiing the club fields of Canterbury with nutcracker tows buy/rent the glove protectors. The rope can make a mess of your gloves. Lack of people and cooking your lunch on the deck at the base of the slope and in some cases staying up at the ski field make it an experience to remember.