Cardrona & Treble Cone Spring Events Guide

Spring is when the mountains show off. The snowfall can be some of the best all season, the vibe lifts a notch, and the events calendar is stacked across both maunga. Whether you want to race, ride in a jam, or just park up on the fence line with a hot choc and cheer, here's everything on so you can plan your trip around it. Here's some events to keep an eye out for. All events are weather-dependent. Keep an eye on our socials and the app for updates and any last-minute calls. You can check out our full events calendar here.

Redbull Riot Rail Jam Saturday

September 5, Wānaka

An open-format rail jam for skiers and snowboarders, with the Cardrona Parks Crew trucking snow into town and building a full rail setup right beside the skate park. Competitors battle through qualifiers for a spot in the finals across four categories: Men's Ski, Men's Snowboard, Women's Ski and Women's Snowboard. Action kicks off at 3pm.

Best viewing: Right beside the skate park in town, no mountain access needed for this one.

Jossi Wells Invitational (JWI)

Sunday 6 – Sunday 13 September, Cardrona & Treble Cone

Jossi and the Monster Energy team bring together the best skiers and snowboarders from around the globe for a full week of park jams and freeriding, building to the Big Air on the monster jump beside the halfpipes

• Sunday: Open Jam, all welcome, with selected riders joining jam sessions throughout the week.

• Tuesday–Thursday: JWI Jam sessions.

• Friday: Big Air Qualifiers.

• Saturday: Big Air Superfinal, head-to-head knockout format, 12pm–2pm.

• Sunday: Mini Pipe Jam.

Format is weather-dependent and subject to change through the week.

Best viewing: The skyline ridgeline beside the halfpipes for Big Air, one of the best spectator platforms on the mountain.

Green Steam

Saturday, September 12, Treble Cone

Now in its seventh year. Strap your planks to a bike, say "yeah, naaah" to the car, and conquer the TC Summit on pure Green Steam. Route runs Doughbin to Kai Whakapai via the TC Summit: ride, skin, ski, ride, repeat.

To join the steam, sign up as a member of Protect Our Winters NZ (POW) at protectourwinters.nz/signup. Every new member boosts the movement's voice.

• Meet at Doughbin in Wānaka: 6:30am

• Depart Wānaka: 7:00am

Best viewing: Doughbin for the send-off, or the TC base area to welcome riders back down.

Atomic Rise and Shine

Thursday, September 17, Treble Cone

The final edition of this one. A pre-sunrise ski touring race with breakfast and awards before dawn. Treble Cone invites the backcountry community to join a sunrise ascent and first-light descent race, on telemark skis or touring gear with skins.

Best viewing: This one rewards getting up early and joining in, the TC base area is the spot if you're there to watch the competitors come in.

The Snow League

Teamwork Challenge: Thursday, September 17, Treble Cone

World Challenge weekend: Friday 18 – Saturday 19 September, Cardrona

A week-long international team event bringing together the world's best snowboarders and freeskiers across Queenstown, Wānaka and Cardrona. Competition opens Thursday 17 September with the Teamwork Challenge presented by Ares at Treble Cone, where teams take on an athlete-led content challenge, self-shooting their best moment on the mountain. Clips are judged that evening at a draw ceremony at Rippon Vineyard, with the winning team earning bragging rights and a strategic edge heading into Saturday.

• Friday 18 Sept, 9am–12pm: Open Athlete Halfpipe Practice, Cardrona.

• Friday 18 Sept, 1pm–3.30pm: Mini-Pipe Challenge featuring Shaun White, Snow League athletes, and local young skiers and riders, Cardrona.

• Saturday 19 Sept, 9.30am–1pm: The Snow League World Challenge, Cardrona's 22-foot halfpipe.

• Saturday 19 Sept, 2pm–4pm: Awards Ceremony & après set, Base Area Plaza.

Best viewing: Cardrona's halfpipe for the World Challenge, then straight down to the Base Area Plaza for the awards and après.

Pengi's Birthday

Sunday, September 20, Cardrona

Help Pengi celebrate in the courtyard from 12pm, with face painting, dress up, cake and more. An easy one for the whole family.

Best viewing: The courtyard, from midday.

She'll Be Right + The Uninvited Boarding Pass

24–25 September, Cardrona

A female-only grassroots gathering celebrating emerging talent and pro riders shaping park culture. The two-day event includes a course build and training sessions, building to The Uninvited Boarding Pass, a rider-judged park rail jam and the main event.

Best viewing: Park side for the build and training, then back for the Boarding Pass itself.

Mini Pipe World Champs

Saturday, October 10, Cardrona

A free, fun-filled snowboard-only community event for all ages. Head up to the halfpipe, known as the people's pipe, and either enter yourself or watch the crew bust out their best tricks. Low pressure, high energy, on-mountain party included.

Best viewing: Head straight up to the halfpipe, you can enter on the day too.

Bikes on Snow

Sunday, October 18, Cardrona

Closing day wouldn't be complete without a crazy race to send off the season. Bikes on Snow celebrates the end of winter and the start of summer biking, with the Cardrona Bike Park set to open in December. Racers get a look lap of the gravity-cross course before the final race run down to the base.

Best viewing: The base area, front row seats to the finish.

How to Plan Your Day

• Check the snow report and socials the morning of, most events are weather-dependent and details can shift at short notice.

• Get to the halfpipe, courtyard, or Base Area Plaza early for the free events, fence line spots fill up fast.

• Pair your trip with a Spring Pass, from $105 per day, laps and spectating all in one!

• Follow both mountains on socials, especially through JWI and Snow League week, for day-before updates on locations and times.

Spring is full of surprises, so keep an eye out for events popping up beyond this list too. DJs, community days, and more to come.