Craigieburn, New Zealand

Ajburn from AUSTRALIA writes:

Please, if you cannot ski, if you cannot ride, if you hate powder, if you hate it steep & if you love 4+ star hotels - DO NOT COME TO THIS RESORT.

Craigieburn is, to put it in simple terms, bloody 'AMAZING'. Known to the locals as steep, deep and cheap it certaintly lives up to the reputation.

In 2002 I took 16 good buddies over there for the ski trip of our lives and to film a documentary. On the 2nd night it snowed 40cm's of superb light snow and we had the whole mountain (1,000's upon 1,000's or acres inbounds and easy access BC) to ourselves. Ok well maybe not entirely,we had to let the 8 staff members cut a few lines too!

The peaks of the southern alps are insane! The lines you can find gnarly. Chutes (some over 55 degrees), bowls, ridges, cornices...BIG MOUNTAIN. Infact 95% of the inbound terrain is located in an avalanche start zone, path or run out. Lot's of control? Bombs go off pretty much every morning after it pukes fluff.

Rustic? Yes. Accomodation is generally bunkroom style with communal bathrooms (private ensuite rooms are available but in limited supply)and a communal eating area. BUT, CV is the only NZ resort where you can walk to the ski lifts, and that takes about 4 minutes.

For around 60 bucks NZ you can get fed three huge meals a day, lift tickets, lessons and accom. Oh, and there is a kick ass cosy bar upstairs in the main lodge.

Last year was the completion of the panoramic day lodge located at 7000ft on a razor sharp ridgeline offering a superb place for lunch, views and kicking back on the terrace surrounded by stunning peaks with a beer. SENSATIONAL.

No doubt in my mind. The best resort in the world...a place made by riders, for riders.

2004-06-14

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