Queenstown Ski Guide: Pro-Tips for Advanced Riders

Queenstown's four ski fields regularly play host to internationally renowned competitions across freeride, freestyle and alpine racing. With a stacked calendar of events every winter, the world’s best skiers and snowboarders gravitate to this alpine mecca of the south.

We’ve asked some of our local pro skiiers, Blake Marshall, Alice Robinson, Janina Kuzma and Sam Smoothy for their tips for an epic day at each ski area; The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone.

The Remarkables

Looking east from Queenstown, the jagged crown decorating the skyline is the dramatic border of The Remarkables ski field. Its just 40-minute drive or bus ride from central Queenstown.

The Remarkables is best known for its incredible freeride terrain but also boasts extensive pistes, up to seven terrain parks including the only Burton Stash concept park and architecturally designed facilities. Home to the Freeride World Qualifier events including The North Face Frontier, The Remarkables has been a launch pad for many professionals freeride skiers such as Queenstown’s Blake Marshall.

Pro-Tip: To put your freeride skills to the test, check out the The North Face Frontier competition venue located in the Alta Chutes: Elevator + Escalator. A short bootpack away from the top of the Shadow Basin chairlift, be sure to know the route before you go and pay attention to all safety and avalanche instructions.

The Remarkables Strengths + Style:

• Freeride
• Freestyle
• Great for progression
• 40 minute drive from Queenstown
• Terrain: 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced

Blake Marshall’s ‘Remarks’ Checklist:

Blake Marshall is a freeride skier from Queenstown, representing New Zealand on the Freeride World Tour. Shaped by the mountains and skiing community of Queenstown, Blake’s roots have played a big role in his journey to the top level of freeride skiing. Here's Blake's guide to The Remarkables:

• Start the day with a flat white from the Rastusburn Coffee Bar (in The Remarkables base building)
• Ride the Shadow Basin chairlift and watch all the freeriders shredding Shadow Basin and jumping the infamous Breakfast Cliff
• Lap Shadow Basin and get some air under your skis
• Hike up to the top of Alta Chutes and then ski Elevator Chute
• Loop back to Shadow Basin. Hike the Weather Station and ski out to Homeward Bound (skiers left). This takes you past the ski area boundary, but you can catch the mountain shuttle on the access road back up from 10am – 3pm
• Enjoy sunny afternoon park laps
• Finish the day off with lakeside beers at sunset

Read more: Blake Marshall's Guide To Skiing Queenstown

Coronet Peak

For those who have a love of shredding early morning corduroy, look no further than Coronet Peak. You can find most local skiers here between 8am and 9am on weekdays, getting their fix in before work with First Tracks. There’s nothing like a stunning sunrise and fresh air to start the day. Most of Coronet Peak’s First Tracks enthusiasts top off their early laps with a delicious coffee and hearty breakfast. 

In addition to the carefully prepared runs that make Coronet home to piste enthusiasts and alpine racers alike, the playful, rollercoaster terrain also makes the resort popular for off-piste pursuits. Most runs have fun drops and detours off-trail that will appeal to skiers and snowboarders with a range of abilities. Exchange Drop is a black run that stands out as a top contender for those who favour Coronet’s steep, leg-burning terrain.

Pro Tip: Because Coronet Peak has more tussock (alpine grass) than rock hiding beneath its snowpack, the fun off-piste terrain is accessible in the early season - no matter the snow coverage - making it the best choice for testing out your new skis or board.

Coronet Peak Strengths + Style:

• Leg-burning piste runs
• All-mountain terrain
• Alpine racing
• Closest ski area to Queenstown (just a 20-minute drive)
• Terrain: 14% beginner, 33% intermediate, 25% advanced, 27% expert

Alice Robinson’s ‘Coronet’ Checklist:

Alice Robinson is New Zealand’s most prolific World Cup Alpine Racer. Fast becoming a household name around the globe, Alice is building towards her Olympic debut with three Giant Slalom World Cup titles to her name in the last two seasons.

• Grab a coffee from Coronet Peak’s base café
• Boot up and head out to the Coronet Express
• Head down the M1 and lay down some arcs on the freshly groomed slopes
• Meet some mates and head to Green Gates Express and race them down
• Make my way over to the Rocky Gully T-bar to grab some pizza at Heidi’s Hut (and more coffee, obviously!)
• T-bar laps skiing through the Race Arena
• Afternoon laps on Exchange Drop’s perfect wind-buffed snow
• Hang out at the base buildings while the sun sets over Whakatipu Basin
• After dark, the lights come on and night skiing is on!
• Enjoy the pretty lights of Queenstown over a hearty dinner before driving home

Cardrona Alpine Resort

Cardrona Alpine Resort is the hub of freestyle skiing in the Southern Hemisphere, playing host to a multitude of competitions such as FIS World Cups in Big Air, Halfpipe and Slopestyle. The world’s best freestyle skiers and snowboarders flock to Cardrona for competitions and intensive training every winter. This means that you can see the likes of Eileen Gu, Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson and James Woods progressing in the sport of freestyle alongside homegrown heroes such as Jossi Wells, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous.

Get ready to be inspired by the biggest names in freestyle and take on Cardrona from whatever level you are at. Cardrona’s extensive terrain parks span from beginner (Lil’ Bucks) to the global gold standard of freestyle (Big Bucks).

Cardrona Alpine Resort Strengths + Style:

• Freestyle Skiing – the hub of freestyle in the Southern Hemisphere
• All-mountain terrain
• Freeride in Soho Basin, Captain’s Basin and Arcadia Chutes
• 60 minute drive from Queenstown
• Terrain: 20% beginner, 35% intermediate, 25% advanced, 20% expert

Janina Kuzma’s ‘Cardies’ Checklist:

Janina Kuzma is a professional skier who represented New Zealand on the Freeride World Tour, before switching focus to a career in halfpipe that landed her in 5th place at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. 

• Wake up well-rested and discover an epic powder day outside
• Sunrise laps in the freshly shaped Olympic superpipe
• Take the first Willows Quad chairlift or Soho Basin Express and lap the fresh pow in Soho Basin
• Head through the Arcadia Chutes down to the Valley View Quad for a long black at little Meg Cafe 
• Ski over to the Big Air to cheer on the next generation of freestyle skiers
• Snack on oodles of noodles at Cardrona’s Noodle Bar
• Embark on a sunset ski-tour up Cardrona’s Skyline run with a flask of hot choccy
• Book a night at Cardrona’s lush apartments with your loved one and enjoy a delicious dinner at Mezz Café

Treble Cone

Treble Cone (TC) can claim the South Island's longest groomed run, 550 hectares of incredible terrain across 700 metres of vert. Popular with freeriders, TC is packed full of natural halfpipes, playful features and steep off-piste runs to challenge the most demanding skiers and snowboarders. The Saddle Chairlift is a piece of live theatre: watch for skiers sending it off Glory Rock and rat-packing their way down the mountain amid much heckling, hooting and hollering.

In addition to absolutely showstopping views across Lake Wānaka, Treble Cone also serves up a beautiful panorama of the Southern Alps. With some of the longest groomed runs in the Southern Hemisphere, TC is the place to go to spend less time on the lift and more time ripping it up.

Pro-Tip: Pocket pizza might be the chairlift snack of choice in the USA, but Treble Cone’s pastries provide a more refined on-mountain experience. From the delectable almond croissant to the hearty and yet light jambon/fromage croissant. It’s rumoured to be better than French patisseries and will keep your ski legs going strong from first lift till last.

Treble Cone Strengths + Style:

• Freeride and off-piste terrain for all levels
• Longest piste in the South Island
• Showstopping views
• 90 minute drive from Queenstown
• Terrain: 10% beginner, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced, 20% expert

Sam Smoothy’s ‘TC’ Checklist:

Sam Smoothy made an international name in skiing via his exploits competing on the Freeride World Tour. Racing big mountain lines is still his game, but these days he skis in Teton Gravity Research films, or for himself at his home mountain: Treble Cone.

• Down an oat flat white and shove an almond croissant in your pocket
• Powder Bowl is open and firing! Dive into the fresh below the old tow shed
• Head up to Saddle Basin, heckle anyone skiing under the chair for showboating, pick your glory line and send it
• Mosey up the boot pack to the summit for the best view around. Milk powder 8 jump turns past the teenagers throwing (crashing) flips off Summit Rocks
• Motatapu Chutes are open and it's so silky good that you "accidentally" miss the high traverse out. Swear you will make it next time
• Drop off the back of the summit to tour a few laps of Gold Rush chutes until your legs crumble. Cry with joy when you find the croissant in your pocket
• The burn in your legs is telling you its burger time. So slash your way down Gun Barrel run and grab a burger from The Southern BBQ
• Soak away the aches with a rejuvenating dip in the brisk waters of Glendhu Bay. Stare at the last light slipping over Tititea/Mt Aspiring and crack open a frosty boy

Plan your Queenstown local experience

Our local profile stories are packed with more ideas to inspire you to experience Queenstown and the surrounding region like a local this winter. See Queenstown through the eyes of photographer, Krista May, or discover mountaineer, Hamish Fleming's favourite winter adventures.