School Holiday Update

Kia ora,

Welcome to school holidays! As we enter week one of the July school holidays, there are many excited kids around the region, eagerly anticipating the fun times on the snow that lie ahead. We’re all set, with some fantastic skiing on the upper mountain, we’ve had an awesome lead in to the holidays, and many happy skiers cruising the slopes.

This is the first of our in season newsfeeds for 2010. We’ll be getting them through to you each week with more info and footage direct from the ski area. To stay in touch even further, hook-up with is via Facebook where we bring you up to the minute information from the ski area.

FROM THE MOUNTAIN

It’s been a fantastic start to the season. Once again, as in previous years, the season began with both Big Mama and Bluff Face open for business, top to bottom skiing, and even fresh snow on opening day. Those who told the boss they wouldn’t be in for that Friday definitely got their fix. Check out some action from opening day 2010 here.

As the snow has consolidated, it’s given us all a chance to ‘ski-in’ the snow, leaving us with a substantial base at higher altitudes, with slightly less at lower altitudes. Cooler temps in recent nights have allowed the Porters snow-making team to begin filling in the snow at lower levels, and with more natural snow forecast later this week, it’s all shaping up well.

The school holidays are a fun time at Porters, with something for the whole family. Porters training programmes for kids get underway, Kid’s Club for the young ones, and plenty of fantastic skiing around the mountain. Check out the latest video report from the mountain here.

PORTERS CORE CREW - AL LELIEVELD

Back at Porters again this winter after a number of seasons on the Porters crew, Al Lelieveld definitely qualifies as a ‘core’ crew member. Al is the Manager of the Porters Community Park for the second year, and takes care of all things freestyle at Porters.

Always looking for innovative ways to challenge Porters terrain park users, Al is continually on the hunt for bits and pieces he can rustle together to utilize in a new way in the Park. New for 2010, the park crew have set up their first shape in the natural terrain area in lower McNulty’s Basin, higher on the mountain where there is more snow and more natural features to take advantage of. As more snow arrives on T-1 and the Park terraces, the crew will be shaping up more features lower on the hill, and maintaining the initial set up in McNulty’s.

Come up this weekend and check out the park, official park opening this Saturday. More information and pics up at http://www.skiporters.co.nz/community-park.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN – KIDSFEST

Porters is the alpine destination these school holidays for those involved with KidsFest 2010. The special KidsFest package for youths aged 5-13 gives ski lift pass, gear rental and a two hour lesson for just $50 (usually $80). Bookings can be made directly via Tiketek – if the ski area is closed on the day you book, you may use the voucher at any time during the 2010 season. More information and bookings available here. <link to;

SNOW SPORTS SCHOOL – GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SKIING

The Porters Snow Sport School is second-to-none, with a wide range of international and local instructors ready to make serious improvements to your skiing or boarding. Our popular holiday and improvement programmes for young skiers and snowboarders are the perfect way to progress skills and technique. Put our fantastic team of expert ski and boarding instructors to use - whether you are learning for the first time, are feeling rusty or have some new gear to master, they can show you the way and make the learning process swifter and more enjoyable.

PART TIME INSTRUCTORS – TAKE NOTE! We have a number of part time positions during the school holidays and beyond that are currently available. If you have minimum level 1 ski or snowboard instructors ticket, and are available to join the Snow Sports team at short notice, drop us a line at admin@skiporters.co.nz with your CV and a passport style photo and we’ll be in touch.

PORTERS GROMFEST 2010 

Building on the successes of recent years, the Porters Gromfest 2010 moves forward this year, taking place off the back end of the July school holidays. This is a fun event for the young'uns to show off their skills and shred the park, designed for 6-15 year olds, and entry is free. Contact CHILL Studio for more information and to enter, 03 365 6530 or email hq@chiilout.co.nz.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

    •    KidsFest 2010 – 3rd to 16th July 2010.
    •    Dynastar CHILL Gromfest 2010, 24-25th  July
    •    Snow and Surf Big Mama Extreme – 7/8th August

YOUR NEWSLETTER - FEEDBACK LOOP

We'd love to hear from you, and what you'd like to see in the Porters Newsletter. If you've got an idea on something related to Porters that you'd like more information about, drop us an email to marketing@skiporters.co.nz. We'll take your ideas on board, and we'll do our best to incorporate them into our news messages.

THANKS – SEE YOU SOON!

That’s all from us this week. We’d love to see you these school holidays, come up for some fun in the snow. If you’d like more information about anything to do with Porters, head online to our website at www.skiporters.co.nz, hook up with us on Facebook, or drop us a line on info@skiporters.co.nz.

Thanks,
THE PORTERS TEAM.