Blake Marshall's Queenstown Flow

"I was born in England and started skiing when I was two and half years old in Switzerland. My parents were doing back-to-back winters at the time, so they would take me over. It was good to start early. Then, we moved here when I was three."

High school found Blake elsewhere, but the pull of this region was too powerful for him to stay away for long.

"I went to Christchurch, but I'd always come back for the holidays and weekends, especially in the Winter."

Roy T. Bennett said, "Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams, encourage your ideas, support your ambitions, and bring out the best in you." Blake did just that, and it paid off.

"I met some friends at university and we'd ski together all the time. They were doing free ride competitions and encouraged me to give it a go. I was around twenty-three or twenty-four when I competed in the North Face Frontier here at The Remarkables. It was my first comp and I came in fourth, which was wild. Things just progressed from there. After university, I started doing back-to-back winters, following the European circuit and trying to get onto the Free Ride World Tour. Then, I'd come back to New Zealand and coach the free ride team up at The Remarkables."

While there's plenty of fun to be had on groomers, the lure of getting off-piste and into untouched terrain is even more appealing to a Freeskier like Blake.

"Free riding is just basically going off-piste. Most people stick to groomed or maintained runs, while those of us looking for a bit more of an adventure or wanting to push ourselves a little more, head off and find our own way down the mountain. It's that feeling of escaping reality and forging your own path that I love."

To some, skiing is skiing regardless of where you are. If you have skis, snow and a hill, you're all set. However, it isn't quite that simple.

"The best snow is in Japan, but that's not necessarily the best terrain. Canada is quite good because you get the snow and terrain, but it's really vast, so moving around takes a fair amount of time. Skiing in Europe is great. There are all these massive resorts, and you can get from one to the other in the same day. And the magnitude of the areas is something else. There's also huge potential for freeriding. But given the topography and the amount of people in the backcountry, avalanche danger can be pretty serious. The terrain is really good in Europe, possibly the best. They don't always get the best snow, though."

The Queenstown and Wānaka region is the definition of simplicity. A region where Flow State thrives, offering a serene escape away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A hub of adventure, cuisine and everything in between. While nowhere is perfect and everywhere has something special about it, this beautiful region has a little bit of everything.

"I think what makes this area so unique is everything you can do alongside skiing. You can get up the mountain during the day, then check out an ice hockey game or head for a night out without having to travel far. We're stocked with so much to do and everything's really close together. To me, that's what makes us special."

Between Queenstown and Wānaka, the diverse terrain caters to all riders, regardless of style or level. With two towns and four mountains within a 90-minute drive, there's enough variety to last a lifetime.

"Queenstown's home. It's familiar and I just love being able to stay in my hometown. But it's also about the terrain, and the access. It's really fun in the alpine here, and when we get good snow, you don't have that super risky snowpack found in other parts of the world. Also, there aren't many people hiking up at The Remarkables. It's starting to get more popular, but it really is easy to get out into the wilderness and not see anyone. So I like that aspect as well."

In New Zealand, especially around Queenstown and Wānaka, the experience is not limited to skiing. Anything deemed 'non-skiing' elsewhere is part of the experience here, creating a seamless flow between mountain and town, adventure and relaxation.

"Starting the day off with a nice coffee is top priority. There are so many places to choose from. Hustl Cafe is popular with the locals. Bespoke Kitchen is also a nice spot if you're hungry. They have really good pancakes. Or, if you'd rather wait until you're up the mountain, The Remarkables and Coronet Peak both have good cafes and jars of free marshmallows to spruce up your coffee. Once you're caffeinated and your belly's full, you're ready to catch the first lift at The Remarkables. Head up the Shadow Basin and drop in the Alta Chutes for a lap, then hike back up for some freeriding. If it's a nice bluebird day, which we get plenty of around here, go ski some park in the afternoon until beer o'clock. I like hitting up Altitude Brewing, a little brewery by the lake, for a beer and to watch the sunset with some friends. Margo's does really good Mexican food, or, if you want to meet some people, you can head to The World Bar for a bite to eat and some drinks."

Blake paints quite a picture. This is the all-encompassing, fluid nature of the Queenstown and Wānaka region. A chance to fully immerse in a lifestyle that offers plenty of variety without the hassle of travelling too far. Just being in the moment. The definition of Flow State.

"The weather here's pretty sweet too. We don't get those freezing, subzero temperatures that you find in other ski regions. Most places I've been to have short spring skiing windows and the snow's basically slush. It's different here. One minute you can be skiing good snow up the mountain and the next, you're down in the valley sipping a beer in springlike conditions. That's why I love winter here so much. It's such an easy, mellow pace."

You may have noticed that changing weather has been mentioned a few times. Like any country with mountains so close to the ocean, the weather is a popular topic in New Zealand. Things can change quickly. Another noticeable change is the climate, which those who spend as much time outside as Blake are witnessing firsthand.

"I've definitely noticed less snowfall at the start of the season and the snowline gets a bit higher each year. Luckily, we get big flurries later on, which has been good. It leaves us wanting more for the next season. But the changes are a little unnerving."

Blake isn't alone in his observations. There are several initiatives to minimise the local footprint in and around Queenstown and Wānaka, such as Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism's Carbon Zero by 2030 goal, the Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group, NST Bike Aotearoa, and Protect Our Winters NZ, to name a few. While supporting these initiatives is vital to their success, making changes as individuals is equally important.

"I'm always looking for ways to do my bit, like trying to cut down on dairy and animal products. I feel like it's quite an important topic and it's good to see so much going on locally in favour of the planet. Hopefully more people start finding ways to lower their impact. Even small steps like carpooling or thumbing a ride up to the ski resort instead of having so many cars going back and forth. Any efforts we make are steps in the right direction."

In a country like New Zealand, where everything is close, our environmental impact stretches across various landscapes and ecosystems, meaning what happens in the mountains can also affect the ocean, which, to Blake's delight, isn't far away.

"If I'm not skiing, I like to head to the south coast. In roughly two hours, you can go surfing at basically the southern most part of the country. Nothing's far away, which is really cool."

Despite having skied in some pretty incredible places, it's safe to say that Queenstown is Blake's ideal spot, and for good reason. It's a place where the skiing lifestyle and everything else are not exclusive. Where, even if you're ripping hard all day, the pace is slow. And that's exactly how visitors should experience this extraordinary place - slowly. The longer you stick around, the deeper you can delve into the local culture and vibe, taking in the full spectrum of adventure and relaxation.

"There's so much to do and people are really welcoming. Just come here, explore and don't be afraid to get off the beaten path a bit. You know, go find somewhere without anyone else around. And there's no rush. Take your time, enjoy the area and disconnect a little. You'll love it."

In our next story, we'll catch up with Ruby Star Andrews, a freeski slopestyle and big air specialist. Ruby will give us the inside scoop on why the Queenstown and Wānaka region is so special to her and how she finds her Flow here. 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