Chasing the Snow Down Under

Snowboarding at Cardrona, NZ 🇳🇿🏂

While everyone else was probably at the beach or eating gelato in the European summer heat this September, I was doing something a little… colder. I packed my board bags, grabbed my favorite Roxy gear, and headed straight for the Southern Alps of New Zealand!

If you’ve never been to Cardrona, let me tell you—it is legendary. But it’s also tough.

Learning the “Mitch Way”

The absolute best part of this trip was training with Mitchell Davern. Mitch is such a beast on a board, but as a coach? He is the most patient human ever. Seriously, he deserves a medal just for putting up with me!

Being a local “Kiwi,” Mitch has that classic, super chilled New Zealand vibe. Nothing rattles him! Even when I was frustrated or nervous about a new feature, his calm energy made everything feel way more “sweet as.” He has this way of breaking down a trick until it finally clicks in my brain.

We spent hours (and I mean hours) grinding away in the park. We worked super hard on my rails, and I finally managed to dial in my 180s off the rails, which felt so good! But the highlight? Landing my 360 on the medium line! 🏆 There’s nothing like that feeling of spotting the landing, spinning, and actually sticking it. It’s those tiny moments of “Yes, I did it!” that make all the freezing mornings worth it.

The “Cardrona Crust” and the Gravity Checks

Okay, let’s be real for a second. It wasn’t all perfect bluebird days and smooth landings. Cardrona weather is wild. One minute it’s sunny, and the next, a massive storm rolls in out of nowhere. The wind starts howling, the clouds drop, and suddenly you can barely see your own boots!

It can get pretty rough and “crusty” up there, but Mitch taught me that this is all part of the grind. If I want to be a professional athlete and make it to the Olympics, I can’t just train when the weather is pretty. You have to learn to ride in the flat light, the wind, and the “variable” (aka crunchy) snow. It builds character, right? Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I’m shivering on the chairlift!

Also, can we talk about gravity? Because gravity and I had a very close relationship this trip. I think I spent more time sitting on my behind on the cold snow than I did standing on my feet! 🍑❄️ Honestly, my poor tailbone has seen more of New Zealand than my eyes have. I’m pretty sure the mountain staff started recognizing the specific shape of my “butt-print” in the snow. If falling was an Olympic sport, I’d already have the Gold!

Five Weeks in Winter Wonderland: Wanaka & Beyond

I ended up calling Wanaka home for five incredible weeks, and honestly, I never wanted to leave. There’s a certain magic to waking up in a town that truly lives and breathes mountain culture. When I wasn’t at the park, I was out exploring the rest of the South Island’s winter gems. I took the winding Crown Range road over to Queenstown, the absolute “adrenaline capital,” where the energy is high and the lakefront is always buzzing. For a change of pace, I wandered through the historic streets of Arrowtown—it felt like stepping back into a gold-rush movie, especially with the snow dusting the old miners’ cottages. I even made the journey down to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. Standing by the lake there in the dead of winter, with the air so crisp it makes you feel more alive than ever, was the perfect moment of calm before heading back to the chaos of the halfpipe. This corner of the world isn’t just a training ground; it’s a soul-recharge.

So, Why New Zealand?

People always ask me, “Zazi, why travel halfway across the world just to find winter again?” And honestly, it’s because I just can’t stay away! I love the “endless winter” vibe. While everyone else is scrolling through their summer vacation photos, I’m getting to keep my “snow feet” alive.

If I took six months off every year, I’d feel so rusty when the European season starts. This way, I stay sharp, strong, and ready. Plus, the vibe in Wanaka is just so cool. It’s like a giant family of people who are all obsessed with the mountains. It doesn’t feel like “work” when you’re surrounded by people who love the sport as much as you do. New Zealand just has this magic energy that makes you want to push harder, even when your legs are screaming and your jacket is frozen stiff.

I’m leaving NZ with a bruised bum, a much better 360, and a huge smile on my face. Huge thanks to Mitch for being the best, most chilled coach ever, and to Cardrona for the epic sessions.

Next stop… wherever the snow takes me!

Kia Ora and stay stoked!

Zazi 🇮🇩🇳🇿✨