the home of freeride
New Zealand’s Ultimate Freeride Stage
The Remarkables is the home of Freeride. Think wide alpine bowls, steep, technical chutes, & lines perfect for progression, this is off-piste terrain perfect for riders wanting to add a bit more adventure to their day. Whether you’re stepping off-piste for the first time or training at Freeride World Tour level, you’ll Find Your Freedom here.
Why Freeride at remarks?
Big mountain terrain, built for progression:
- The Remarkables offers expansive freeride terrain, from wide open alpine bowls to steep faces and technical chutes. It’s big-mountain skiing and riding designed for natural progression.
Sun soaked snow:
- With a predominantly north-facing aspect, freeride zones at The Remarkables benefit from long sun exposure, good snow preservation, and clear visibility. Consistent conditions are perfect to help you read terrain, manage risk, and ride with confidence.
A true freeride culture:
- Freeride is part of the mountain’s DNA. Home to Freeride World Tour Academy programmes, qualifying events, and a strong local freeride community. This culture shapes how the mountain is explored, respected, and ridden.
Freeride’s never been this accessible
Here at Remarks, freeride terrain is designed for easy access and maximum laps. With lift-accessed bowls, natural features, and world-renowned chutes, you’ll spend less time boot packing and more time doing what you came for, dropping into big lines and wide-open terrain.
room to progress, freeride style.
The Remarkables is built for natural freeride progression. Real alpine terrain that lets you build skills, confidence, and commitment step by step.
Step 1: First off-piste turns
New to freeride? Start with accessible off-piste terrain just beyond the groomers. Wide open bowls and natural features give you space to learn snow awareness, read terrain, and experience variable conditions in a controlled way.
Step 2: Steeper lines and technical terrain
As your confidence grows, work on your progression, work on mastering some steeper faces, tighter lines, and natural features. Refine technique, manage speed, and make deliberate decisions. This is where those freeride skills start to sharpen.
Step 3: Advanced chutes and big-mountain riding
For experienced freeriders, The Remarkables delivers committing terrain that demands preparation and precision. Technical chutes and exposed lines offer true big-mountain riding - serious, rewarding, and earned.
Terrain Maps
Curvey Basin
Discover the epic freeride terrain around curvey basin. This is where playful lines, natural features and plenty of stoke awaits.
- Straight above the lift is a freeride area that our lifties call Centurion/Ambush.
- Head left of the lift and drop into Curvey Headwall, where the terrain starts to open up and the fun really begins.
- Straight through the Curvey Headwall runs a manmade crossing that takes you to the Gallipoli Chutes, no hiking or climbing necessary.
Shadow basin
Catch the high-speed Shadow Basin Express Chairlift to unlock the ultimate chutes and freeride terrain on Shadow Basin.
A 10-minute walk up on your right of the lift will bring you to the Highway. Known for its epic views and many different routes to explore.
Alta Chutes
An uphill hike to your left at the top of Shadow Basin Express will take you to the famous Alta Chutes, named after the stunning accompanying lake.
The Elevator and Escalator chutes in that section are great for steep and exposed skiing and lead you to another epic freeride zone, called East Knoll. This area includes Boulder Basin, East Face, The Nose and Front Face.
Sugar Basin
Sugar Basin has some great freeride terrain to the Skiers Right of the Gallipoli Chutes for some double black diamond action. Take the Water Race from the top of Sugar past Swan Lake and work your way up Terrain Access Track 1.
Off to the left hand side of the Sugarbowl Express, you'll find Scarpa Bowl - a locals favourite for freeride.
Homeward & Outward Bound
Off to the far right at the top of Shadow Basin Express, you'll find Homeward & Outward Bound. Expect to find wide-open, steep freeride terrain.
Ride to the bottom of the Outward Bound and you'll find a shuttle stop, catch the shuttle from here straight back to the base building and do it all again.
Freeride safety & Mountain respect
Freeride is about freedom, but it starts with knowledge and respect for the mountain. At The Remarkables, we encourage all off-piste riders to understand conditions, assess terrain, and make informed decisions. Knowing when to drop in, when to step back, and how to ride responsibly is part of the freeride journey. Preparation, awareness, and respect for Kawarau Maunga help keep our freeride community strong and the mountain thriving.
Freeride world tour academy
The Freeride World Tour is the global circuit for freeride skiing and snowboarding, where the world’s best athletes compete on challenging alpine faces at renowned ski resorts.
The Remarkables has hosted a 4-star FWT Qualifier event for many years, which naturally led to the establishment of the Freeride World Tour Academy. The Academy offers a unique ski and snowboard programme that challenges young athletes to push their limits, build their skills and progress along a competitive pathway.
Freedom seekers
Freeride academy
Ski or snowboard with qualified and certified coaches who have extensive experience in Freeride. Our coaches will help you progress a range of elements and techniques necessary for strong freeride skiing or snowboarding. Choose from 2 to 3 days a week. Holiday Camps are also available during the July school holidays.
faqs
Yes. The Remarkables is home to the Freeride World Tour Academy and a dedicated Freeride Academy programme. Qualified freeride coaches help skiers and snowboarders develop the skills needed to confidently ride a variety of terrain and snow conditions, whether they're progressing recreationally or pursuing competitive freeride goals.
Freeride is best suited to confident intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers and snowboarders who are comfortable riding ungroomed terrain. Yes. The Remarkables provides a natural progression into freeride skiing and snowboarding. Beginners can start on accessible off-piste terrain near groomed runs, where wide-open bowls and varied snow conditions help build confidence, terrain awareness, and off-piste skills before moving into more challenging terrain while more experienced riders can carve through to steep chutes and big-mountain lines.
Many of The Remarkables' most popular freeride zones are easily accessed via lifts. Areas such as Curvey Basin, Gallipoli Chutes, Shadow Basin, Sugar Bowl, and the famous Alta Chutes can be reached with minimal hiking, allowing riders to maximise time on snow and enjoy more freeride laps throughout the day.
