Free skiing for kids and Spring Carnival fun at Coronet Peak
Tuesday 4 October 2011, 4:45PM
By NZSki
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Queenstown’s Coronet Peak ski area is celebrating spring and the final weekend of the 2011 season with a range of fun events for all the family.
It’s also the weekend all children and youths aged 17 years and under will ski or ride for free.
The Coronet Peak Spring Carnival will be held on the mountain this coming Saturday and Sunday (October 8 and 9) and will include a full range of fun activities and spectator sports for all ages.
For the kids, Spike and Shred will be out both days enjoying the spring weather too, and for families starting the New Zealand school holidays it’s their last chance for some snow time until next season.
Kicking off the weekend in colourful style, there will be free face painting on the Coronet Peak deck between 11am and 12 noon on Saturday. Then from midday daredevil skiers and boarders are invited to dress in their wildest and wackiest outfits for the Pond Skim, held right in front of the base building.
Coronet Peak will be filling up an icy cold pond with a lead-up ramp for contestants to attempt to ‘skim’ across the water without going for a dunking.
Entertaining-plus and a great spectacle for all, contestants will be judged on costume and style, the longest distance, and (of course!) for the best crash.
Entry is free and contestants can sign up on the day at guest services.
At 1pm the focus will shift to a new event, the Red Bull King of Bob.
Red Bull is looking to crown a new ‘king’ in an event that’s described as ‘boardercross meets tobogganing.’
In this inaugural Southern Hemisphere event, racers will fly down a purpose-built course in the snow on the smallest sled there is – The Bob. Little more than a child-sized sled, there are guaranteed thrills and spills as contestants navigate berms and bumps on their way down the course.
Sunday October 9 is Hawaiian day. Coronet Peak can’t think about spring without introducing an element of the tropics, so skiers, boarders and spectators young and old are encouraged to get dressed up in their loudest and brightest your Hawaiian gear and look forward to some long summer days.
Once again there will be free face painting on the deck, then at 11am the Streets Mini Shred will see young skiers and riders showing off their tricks in a specially-constructed terrain park at Coronet Peak after this event was moved from The Remarkables.
Categories include youth male and female Under 12, Under 14, and Under 16, both ski and snowboard.
Registration is between 9 and 10am at Coronet Peak guest services. Entry is free, but a $20 bib deposit is required.