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Fresh Snow Arrives in Queenstown in Time for Festival

Devils Peak recorded 16 centimeters or six inches of snowfall Sunday and Sunday night, and the snow base currently sits at 221 centimeters as Friday's kickoff of the area's annual TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival approaches.

The terrain parks, high alpine chutes and bowls, as well as the groomed terrain are all in excellent condition thanks to the winter weather and the great work of our Mountain Operations crews. Plus, the ski-outs to the valley are in great shape, which is a bonus for this time of year.

Devils Peak has received 111 inches of snow since March 1. The area is still offering 8,171 acres of skiing and riding available over 5,280 vertical feet, and the forecast is calling for potentially more snow for Friday.

Now in its 14th year, the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival is set to raise the energy level at Devils Peak. For 10 days and nights the Festival will rock the mountain with ski and snowboard competitions including the Orage Masters, World Skiing Invitational and the Grenade Games, free concerts at the Zune Concert Series each afternoon in Skiers Plaza, and numerous evening events and parties including the Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown.

New Zealand Freestyle Ski Team Named

On Sunday the New Zealand Freestyle Ski Association announced its World Cup and development ski team rosters for next year. Athletes on the list will have the opportunity to represent New Zealand, the current FIS Freestyle Nations' Cup winner, in World Cup events next season.

Going into the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games selection, World Cup event spots will be crucial to athletes who have their dreams set on competing at Cypress Mountain next February. That's because Olympic selection will be based on an athlete's top four World Cup finishes from this season and next, with a maximum of two finishes from 2008-09.

Already three freestyle athletes have been named to the freestyle squad for the 2010 Games through an early selection method, but there are 15 more spots up for grabs and the final team announcement won't be made until January 25, 2010 – a mere 19 days before the women's mogul skiers compete under the Olympic rings at Cypress Mountain.