We don't get many real powder days in New Zealand. Well, to be fair, I don't get many. My mate Eman is up to his 12th powder day this season alone. To be on the pulse of each winter storm is to be prepared to drop everything and give chase to wherever the storm is delivering its bounty of white utopia. Like swell events, not every storm brings the best snow to all aspects. We've had a season of westerly storms, perfect for places facing east like Ohau. Luckily, this past doubleheader was from the south and dropped light fluffy snow all over Treble Cone and Cardrona.
The stars finally aligned for us and we were on our way up to Treble Cone as the slow-moving system rolled off the peaks. TC was magic. Almost waist-deep up around the summit and easy knee deep all across The Saddle, which is probably the best lift-accessed terrain for fresh powder in the South. We weren't the only ones on the hunt – the main runs were tracked out by 10am. It was like a feeding frenzy up there. The vibes were high.
The summit bootpack was so well formed making it a quick and easy climb to the ridge. I managed to catch UK freerider Sam Spark dropping the double and then climbing back up to throw a double backflip off the top rock. Just insane. One guy, Will, came past and sounded a bit timid, but he hit the drop at full speed – he flew into space. The deep powder meant you could land without fear of injury. I saw a few people land on their faces. It was one of those days where you could really stretch out the bravado.
Snowboarding in powder is so dreamy. It's this moment of weightless magic that is so addictive. Like surfing on glassy days. Thanks, TC for turning it on for us.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS While heading up to Treble Cone we passed a long line of cyclists with skis and boards strapped to their backs. They had ridden from Wanaka and were heading to the top carpark at TC where they would swap their bikes for skins or snowshoes and climb to the peak. Then they'd return to Wanaka by the end of the day. Their efforts were to raise awareness for POW or Protect Our Winters. POW Aotearoa connects passionate outdoor enthusiasts and everyone who loves and needs winter to generate positive climate outcomes. Their focus is on educational initiatives and community-based empowerment to protect New Zealand's alpine environment from the damaging effects of climate change for the benefit of all New Zealanders and future generations. It's a pretty cool movement that has global traction. Check it out, donate, and earn good karma ...
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