2026 - here we come....
- Mar 9
- 3 min read
2026 Work Party - new dates
Work party dates are confirmed as:
· Whakapapa in Friday 10, to Sunday 12 April
· Ohakune in Friday 17, to Sunday 19 April
We encourage all new & existing members to do a work party, they are fun weekend! A weekend booking credit applies for all participants. Please email admin@iwikau.com if interested.
Summer lodge use
Reminder that Whakapapa and Ohakune properties are available for use – see October 2025 newsletter. Ohakune is a useful cheap stop over enroute south.
Northern hemisphere reports
For certain members, the wait for winter was too lengthy, prompting them to seek colder climates. Some traveled to Canada, while others ventured to Europe. The snow coverage was excellent; regions in Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany experienced significant snowfalls in February, with some snow bases doubling in size. North America also enjoyed substantial snowfalls, though some occurred later in the season.
Ski field news
Whakapapa
Summer: Stunning alpine, tussock and forest environment, for hiking, cycling, and gondola to Knoll Ridge cafe.
Season passes for winter 2026: Early Bird Anytime season passes until 30 April:
· Adult 18-64, $300 off = $699
· Youth 11-17, $150 off = $349
· Child 5-10, free if claimed by 30 April, then $499
· Full-time tertiary student, $400 off = $499
· Senior 65-74, $100 off = $499
· Super senior 75+ = free
Anytime season passes include 4 Buddy Passes (excl. Child/Infant/Super)
Parallel Pass - 10 days across 2026 & 2027 seasons
Snowmaking increases - last year WHL added 10 of the latest TechnoAlpin TT10 automated snow guns and repositioned existing snow guns. These cover the full length of the gondola skiing from Knoll café down the Rockgarden, and the adjacent Tennants Valley.
Turoa
Season passes for winter 2026:
· Adult 17-64, $699
· Youth 6-16, $299
· Child <6, free but pass required
· Student 17-64, $549
· Senior 65-74, $599
· Senior+ 75+ = free but pass required
Payment plans and perks available
FIS Racing & Winter Olympics
The big news this north hemisphere ski racing season was #3 all-time greatest racer Lindsey Vonn’s astonishing return to racing at age 41, nearly 6 years after she retired – due to too many injuries! Yes, some of us are slow to learn, and skiing is life!
Lindsey - "If there's anything I know to do, it's skiing"
She won 2 races, podiumed in 7, in FIS DH & SG. Despite her torn ACL she was 3rd fastest in Olympics DH training so if not for crash #2 could’ve medalled.
Also stunning was 35-year-old Italian ace Federica Brignone’s two Olympic gold medals, in GS and SG, despite struggling in earlier races following multiple legs fractures in April 2025. Some skiers won’t quit and can improve with age!
Alice Robinson has 3 wins, for 6 podiums, in FIS GS and SG (up to 7 March)
In FIS Men’s Freeski Park & Pipe overall Kiwis Finley Mellvile Ives & Luca Harrington are 1st & 3rd in points
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won a silver medal in the Olympics Snowboard Big Air, after an injury lay-off
Cardrona must have something in the water!
Don't talk - just ski
Perfect corduroy with Valentina Baetz (short):
A bit more rad than Pinnacles “Backstage” (3 mins)!
How to REALLY scare mum & dad (17 min):
Best Overall Action Award Winner – Dream Factory Film Festival 2025 | Watch L’Experience Magnifique
The mountains are exhilarating, fun, and a great leveller, but potentially dangerous with unwise choices! A fundamental of back country avalanche avoidance is decision making, choosing to back off from uncertain slopes and snow conditions (golden rule of avalanches – they’re not always predictable and detectable!).
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