It's not only circus aerialists who fly through the air with the greatest of ease. Skiiers and snowboarders now give them strong competition.
As freestyle skiing and snowboarding continue to gain popularity, the snow fields of New Zealand are creating snow parks dedicated to these high-flying freestyle skills.
From the South Island, home of much snow activity close to Queenstown, to the snow fields at Mt Ruapehu on the North Island, "air" manoeuvres are finding homes in the traditional ski resorts and in new venues dedicated solely to freestyle moves and acrobatics.
Dedicated freestyle resort
At the Wanaka snow fields just north of Queensown, the first dedicated freestyle resort, Snow Park, is going strong season after season.
Snow Park's already existing pipes, terrain park, bordercross course and rail park have been augmented with new jumps, metal rails and fun boxes carved out of the earth in the summer.
Snow Park is totally dedicated to the thrill-seeking freestylers.
Getting there
Snow Park is 35 kilometres from Wanaka and 55 kilometres from Queenstown.
If you're traveling from Queenstown, head north across the Crown Range, following the signs to Wanaka. Snow Park is located just after the village of Cardrona. Coming from Lake Wanaka, head up the Cardrona Valley about 20 kilometres to the entrance of the Snow Park and the Snow Farm.
Buses from Wanaka and Queenstown travel to Snow Park every day.
More information at the Snow Park website.
Biggest ski area
At Wanaka's Treble Cone, freestyle activities are getting the royal treatment with a new terrain park which will include a variety of rails, a funbox, two tabletops and a hip jump.
The terrain and rail park is located in what is named the Saddle Basin on Pete's Treat and extends to the bottom of the Double Chair.
Covering some 550 hectares, Treble Cone lies at the southeast end of the Southern Alps, 19 kilometres from the lakeside town of Wanaka. It is the biggest ski area in the South Island.
Getting there
It's a 35-minute journey from Wanaka to Treble Cone on 19 kilometres of paved highway along the shores of Lake Wanaka through the Matukituki Valley followed by 7 kilometres of Mountain Road accessible by all vehicles.
Round trip coaches pick up from most Wanaka hotels and motels i the early morning, returning to Wanaka in the late afternoon. Check at Wanaka for pickup and return times.
More information at the Treble Cone website.
More snow parks
Other snow fields on the South Island turning their attention to freestyle skiing and snowboarding are Cardrona, also at Wanaka; Coronet Peak and The Remarkables closer to Queenstown; and Mt Hutt west of Christchurch.
On the North Island, freestyle parks can be found at Turoa and Whakapapa at Mt Ruapehu, southwest of Taupo.
