How to ski in the Southern Hemisphere this summer (Part 1)

The end of the ski season doesn’t mean your skis and boards need to be put into storage. There are plenty of options for how to ski this summer. With the Southern Hemisphere gearing up for their ski season and the many glaciers across North America and Europe still open and with good snow cover. So which ski resorts are worth taking the trip to? We’ve got put together a list for you.

Salsa Dancing, Rice and Beans in the High Altitude Andes Mountains

South America isn’t just about salsa dancing, warm beaches and soccer. It boasts one of the largest mountain ranges in the world and subsequently great skiing conditions in the Andes Mountains. The Andes Mountain Range provides a variety of skiing and snowboarding – including high altitude open terrain, powder and well groomed trails, and both off-piste and marked trails. July, August and early September the best months for dry powder in South America.

 

Portillo, Chile

Chile

Chile is one of most popular options for skiing and snowboarding in South America. With a reputation as an adventure hub, Chile is a top option for those looking how to ski this summer.

There are roughly 15 ski resorts in Chile including the well-known ski resorts of Valle Nevado, La Parva, and Nevados de Chillan. However, Portillo ski resort, just 100 miles from the capital of Santiago, is the oldest ski resort in South America and the preferred resort for summer World Cup training by many countries official ski teams. With a vertical drop of 2,500ft Portillo ski resort compares its snow conditions to that of the Rocky Nightly grooming takes places on easier and intermediate terrain, while powder conditions are available on off-piste and advanced terrain. Their terrain breakdown is Beginner -15%, Intermediate – 30%, Advanced – 30%, Expert – 25%.

 

Catedral Alta Patagonia, Argentina

Argentina

In Argentina, there are three dominant ski regions with 14 top-notch ski resorts. In the region of Mendoza, Las Lenas ski resort is one of the most famous with 17,500 hectares of ski-able terrain and a vertical drop of 1,200ft. While the terrain is split up between mostly intermediate and advanced slopes, there are plenty of options for beginner and experts as well. Off-piste enthusiasts rave about the terrain and vast variety available at Las Lenas, weather permitting.

In the region of Patagonia lies Catedral Alta Patagonia ski resort. With a vertical drop of 3,773ft, Catedral Alta Patagonia is known for its challenging trails and vast off-piste terrain. The views from the resort are some of the most beautiful in the world, with mountains named after their resemblance to a gothic church and views of the incredible Lake Nahuel Huapi. Cathedral Alta Patagonia is also one the only South American ski resorts that offers a ski village at the base of the resort.

Heading to South America is a great choice how to ski in the summer months, combining vibrant Latin culture and rocky mountain type snow.

Kangaroos, Rugby, Family Friendly Slopes and Adventure Capitals

Australia and New Zealand aren’t usually the first destinations that come to mind when planning a snow vacation. The stereotypical perception of Oceania most likely consists of Kangaroos, Ayers Rock, endless tropical beaches and spiders, sharks, snakes and drop bears that WILL kill you. Surprisingly, Australia has some small but substantial ski resorts. And New Zealand offers adventure sports and high altitude mountains on both the South and North Island of the country.

Mt. Hotham, Australia

Australia

While Aussie ski resorts are smaller than your typical European or North American resorts, there are quite a few solid ski areas that offer great family friendly vacations. There are roughly 10 proper ski resorts in Australia, with the most popular resorts being Thredbo, Perisher, Mt. Hotham, Mt. Buller and Falls Creek.

Located in New South Wales, Thredbo ski resort is the most cosmopolitan of all and most closely resembles the European village and après-ski environment. Thredbo has the longest run of all the Australian ski resorts – just under 4 miles long – and the largest a vertical drop of 2,214 ft.

Perisher ski resort, which was just purchased by Vail Resorts, is the largest ski resort in Australia with four linked resorts offering 62mi of skiing serviced by 47 lifts. You can get to the ski resort by car or easier from by train that takes you directly into either Perisher or Blue Cow, one of their connected ski resorts.

Located in the Victorian ski fields is Mt Hotham ski resort, offering 30 miles of terrain. Their terrain is more for intermediate (40%) and advanced (40%) skiers and snowboarders. And they have their own airport so you can fly straight in from either Sydney or Melbourne.

 

Craigieburn Valley, New Zealand

New Zealand

As New Zealand’s adventure capital, and skiing and snowboarding is easily accessible from vibrant Queenstown, including Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. However, some of the best skiing on the South Island is found at Treble Cone ski resort. Skiers and snowboarders can find a vertical drop of 2,323ft, 1359 acres of ski-able area, terrain parks and predominantly intermediate and expert trails. Treble Cone is the largest ski resort on the South Island of New Zealand and was voted the Best Ski Resort in New Zealand in both 2013 and 2014 by the World Ski Awards.

There are many smaller private ski fields in New Zealand. One of the stand- outs is Craigieburn ski resort, which is best suited for advanced and intermediate skiers and boarders. The ski resort has trails easily accessible by rope -tow and the terrain is often compared to a heli-skiing experience. If you’re looking for adventure, Craigieburn and Treble Cone may be the perfect option how to ski in the summer months.

Look out for Part 2: How to ski in the Northern Hemisphere this summer!