Conditions Report
Report from 29 June thru 2 July, 2025
It’s a line up of absolutely classic winter snow conditions for skiers and snowboarders of Ohau Snowfields, in the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island.
A weekend storm front has been followed by a welcome window of glorious sunshine. And another top-up of surly powder snow is developing even as this is written.
Snowpack at present has showcased every facet of what makes skiing Ohau and the Souther Alps so deliriously outstanding.
Falling or wind-transported fresh snow has gathered like shoals—and those chalk-dry beauties are ripe and rippable, for sure. That said, there is a very clear sense of hungry sharks lurking not far beyond. And this isn’t a bad thing, far from it. Shark-Rocks, Tussock Grass, and Rime Ice add healthy dash of spice and technical demand to skiing or riding at Ohau Snowfields.
Altitude is also playing a significant factor in consistency (and moisture content) of Ohau snowpack.Â
In simplest terms, the higher the dryer. And stoke is equally spiked for the heavier snow variety gathering below. Wet snow is definitely welcome as it coats Ohau’s epic rock drops and gullies, opening-up all kinds of possibilities which would otherwise be un-approachable.
Looking ahead to the next storm gathering now, new snow is already swirling at Ohau Snowfields. More than a foot of powder is forecasted for some sections of the Southern Alps before Sunday.
PHOTOS:
