A Flowing Gem: Ruby Star Andrews on all things Queenstown

"I do back-to-back winters, usually skiing at Cardrona while I'm here, then up to the Northern Hemisphere during our summer. After big stints on the road, it's always good to be home."

Ruby's love for skiing started at a young age, and a decisive family move opened the door for that love to become a lifestyle.  

"I was born in Christchurch, and started skiing at Mt Hutt when I was three years old, then we moved to Queenstown when I was four. We skied as a family every weekend at The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. I used to hit the smaller park at The Remarks with my sister, then when I was thirteen or fourteen, I started skiing at Cardrona and got involved in their park program with the High Performance Crew. Then, when I was fifteen, Snowsports New Zealand scouted me to ski for them."

At twenty years old, Ruby's five-year and counting career has taken her to many parts of the world to do what she does best. Having skied in so many places makes choosing a favourite spot tricky.

"I've lost count already but I'd say I've skied at roughly 30 resorts in 10 different countries so far. Overseas, I really like Laax, Switzerland. But my absolute favourite place to ski out of everywhere I've been is definitely Cardrona, particularly the big line of jumps."

Aside from having her favourite ski field in her hometown, where her family and friends are, Ruby also misses plenty of other things about this area while abroad.

"Mostly the people. In New Zealand, specifically in Queenstown and Wānaka, the community is incredible. There's such a good vibe about it, especially in winter. I miss that a lot when I'm away. Between both towns, everyone knows each other and running into familiar faces up the mountain is really fun."

There's a lot to skiing at a professional level, training, travel, sponsorship commitments, competitions, and so on. To remain dedicated to her career and goals, Ruby needs to find Flow State, a mental state in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energised focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the activity process.

"It's what I'm constantly searching for, especially when competing. Finding Flow State isn't always easy though, which makes it pretty incredible when I do enter it. It's the ideal headspace to be in. It happens when I'm comfortable with my surroundings - the people, location and my skiing - without much to worry about or distract me. That's when my brain slips into that Flow and I perform at my best. I'm able to trust myself 100% and feel like I can do anything."

That lack of distraction is key in finding Flow State. Fully focusing on the moment without being pulled in too many directions. Having everything you need at your fingertips so you can stay in the moment. The set-up in Queenstown and Wānaka offers just that: access to everything you need without constantly planning and worrying about logistics. It's a region where variety and ease make staying in the moment simple. There's nowhere quite like it.

"Honestly, I've never been anywhere with so much so close. This place has everything. When we're in Switzerland or France, for example, right in the middle of mountains, the villages are beautiful, but the variety is limited compared to Queenstown and Wānaka. The ocean's far away and we're just there in that one spot, living in the snow. Meanwhile, here, we have insane landscapes that change drastically all within a small area. It's so easy to get around and explore, and there are heaps of activities to do without having to go far. Also, I think we have the best food and nightlife."

Yet again, we see how Queenstown and Wānaka embody Flow State. The unique proximity and variety within the region amount to a simplicity not easily found nowadays. Whether living or visiting the area, the complications of daily life are peeled away, allowing us to focus on what's important and live in the moment. It's a region that's not just easy to love, but impossible to resist exploring. 

"This is a really healthy place to live and a magical place to grow up. As a kid, I had every opportunity under the sun, so I feel very lucky. But I don't think you need to be born here to experience this. You don't even need to live here. Just by visiting and spending a good amount of time to immerse yourself and soak in the vibe you can see how easy it is to find your Flow here. It's unbelievable!"

And what better way to explore a region than through the eyes of a local?

"I'd recommend heading up to Cardrona early. I spend most of my time in the park, but there's so much fun terrain up there that everyone will find what they're looking for. Stopping in at the Cardrona Hotel for a bite on the way back to Queenstown is always a good call, and passing over the Crown Range is gorgeous. After that, the world's your oyster. Night Skiing at Coronet Peak is cool if you still have energy to burn. Otherwise, some good relaxation options are Onsen Hot Pools or O-Studio, a wellness centre great for ice baths and recovery. If you're taking a break from skiing for a day or two, plenty of amazing road trips get you to places nearby that will blow your mind, like Fiordland. Country Lane in Frankton is a nice place to grab coffee and browse the shops. There's so much to do. You won't be bored."

Ruby's passion for Queenstown and Wānaka is evident. She's definitely proud to call this place home, and that pride shines through in more than her skiing. Spending so much time outdoors, professional athletes like Ruby have a front row seat to our changing global climate. As an ambassador for a sport that relies on specific weather conditions, Ruby does what she can to adapt in her own life. 

"The change has been really noticeable the last few years but not only in New Zealand. Everyone's feeling it. Part of being a professional skier is flying a fair amount, but, aside from the travel, I do everything I can to reduce my footprint."

In this region, a collective ambition is paving the way for positive change with incredible initiatives such as Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism's Carbon Zero by 2030 goal. 

"Cardrona Alpine Resort is doing so much to reduce their footprint. They've removed bins from the resort, so people have to take their rubbish home with them. This brings awareness to minimising waste, which is really important. Also, to encourage carpooling over unnecessary driving, there's a rule that you can only use the top car park if you have at least four people in your car. If they want people to keep coming back, we need to keep getting snow. So, they're leading the charge in helping people reduce their own personal footprint, to protect the winters and keep the snow falling, which is really cool."

Regardless of who you speak to, the message from Queenstown and Wānaka regional locals is always the same: head down here, slow your pace and enjoy. 

"Come for as long as you can, whenever you can. Take your time and soak it all in. There's nowhere like it."

In our next story, we'll catch up with sitskier and adaptive adventurer Jack Howatson. Not only is Jack's story inspiring, but his love for adrenaline and determination to enjoy the Queenstown and Wānaka region to the fullest is contagious. Keep an eye on our social media channels and sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss out. We'll see you soon.

Mike Bilo