Cardrona Parks Squad
Welcome to the Cardrona Parks Squad, the stepping stone to Freeski and Snowboard Park and Pipe excellence. Cardrona is the Southern Hemisphere's hub for all things freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Expansive terrain parks, world-class coaches, and diverse features make us the ultimate destination to elevate your skills.
Starts 17 June
Core Skills
This programme focuses on revisiting and refining the fundamental skills of skiing and riding. Athletes develop a deeper understanding of how each movement contributes to overall performance, with an emphasis on technical elements that are often overlooked.
What's Included
2.5 weeks of on-snow technical training
Personalised improvement plans
End-of-camp report
Duration: 10 days
Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Dates: 17 June – 5 July 2026
Price: $2000 ($1500 when combined with a main programme)
Technical training centred on:
Body position
Weight distribution
Timing of movement
Ski racing techniques are applied to freeride and park to support efficient, high-level performance on snow.
Intermediate and above. Skiers and riders must be confident on blue runs and progressing into varied terrain, including park.
Starts 6 & 13 July
Snow Camp
Week-long on-snow training camps during the July school holidays for skiers and snowboarders aged 8–16.
Designed for intermediate to advanced athletes, Snow Camps offer a balance of technical progression across park and freeride, alongside a fun and social camp environment.
Athletes train with experienced coaches through structured on-snow sessions, with additional off-snow activities throughout each week.
Camps run across both weeks of the NZ July school holidays. Lift pass not included and must be purchased separately.
Introduction to Snowsports: Build a solid foundation in the fundamentals, developing confidence and understanding of technique through guided coaching.
Meeting New Friends: Train and connect with like-minded athletes in a supportive group environment, both on and off the mountain.
Meeting the Pros: Opportunities to interact with professional skiers and snowboarders, gaining insight into high-performance pathways.
Programme Length: 5 days per week
Training Days: Monday to Friday (Saturday weather day optional)
Week 1: 6–10 July 2026
Week 2: 13–17 July 2026
Price: $1250 per week ($1000 per week with a main programme)
5 days of on-snow training per week
Weekly trampoline sessions (Wānaka facility)
Social activities throughout each week
Optional competitions
Camp progress reports
Intermediate and above. Skiers and riders must be confident on blue runs and progressing into varied terrain, including park.
Sunday: Info session and meet the coaches 4.00 - 5.00 pm in Wānaka.
Monday - Friday: On-snow training at Cardrona from 8.30am, meeting outside Ski Patrol.
Evening Sessions
Tuesday: Movie night at Wānaka Community Centre
Wednesday: Trampoline session at Wānaka facility
Saturday: Optional weather day
Starts 22 July
Season Long
Full-time and part-time programmes designed to develop competitive skiers and snowboarders.
With nearly two decades of experience, Parks Squad delivers structured training focused on skill development, competitive performance, and long-term athlete progression. The full-time programme runs for 10 weeks in Term 3, plus two weeks during the spring school holidays.
Athletes are supported with coaching and guidance, while individual commitment and motivation remain key to progression.
Technical Focus: Emphasis on technical development, from body position and foundational skills through to advanced tricks, building a strong base for progression.
Mental Focus: Development of resilience and the ability to manage the demands of park and pipe. Coaches provide guidance, with parent–coach collaboration supporting athletes on and off the snow.
Tactical Focus: Structured planning to maximise training outcomes. Athletes are guided to make informed decisions around timing, terrain, and equipment, with learning through experience and setbacks.
11 weeks of on-snow training, including coaching at competitions
Weekly trampoline sessions (Wanaka facility)
Personalised season plans and goal setting
Mid-season and end-of-season progress reports
Advanced and above.
腿会累，人爽飞
仅需 $50 订金，今天就锁定你的早鸟多日雪票，畅滑两座新西兰雪山。抓紧时间，优惠截止至 4月30日。
Private Training
Private training is available throughout the season, either as a standalone option or alongside a programme. Sessions are fully tailored to the athlete, with 1:1 coaching focused on individual goals and development.
Working closely with experienced Cardrona Parks Squad coaches, athletes benefit from personalised feedback, technical insight, and targeted training designed to accelerate progression.
One-on-one park and pipe training
Technical development and gate training on the most extensive parks and pipes in the Southern Hemisphere
Option to include additional athletes
Work on exactly what you want to
Private lift line priority
High-quality on-snow training
Personalised coaching and detailed feedback
Focused technical, tactical, and mental skill development
Park and pipe focused training, including gates
Video analysis to support progression
Training aligned to individual goals and performance outcomes
Starts 20 July
Coaches Apprentice
Designed for ex-athletes transitioning into a coaching pathway, as an alternative to continuing with competition. A great opportunity to learn from the best through 2 days on snow per week plus classroom sessions.
2 days on snow per week plus classroom sessions
Mentorship from top coaches
Training for ski & snowboarding coaches
Providing skills, knowledge & resources
Start Date: 20 July
Duration: 10 weeks
Price: $7,150 (payment plan available)
18+ NZSIA L1 or equivalent experience.
"The best park I've ever ridden"
"I've been riding with Parks Squad for a long time now and it's been great for my progression. The park at Cardies is the best I've ridden. Shoutout to the boss park crew."
Rocco Jamieson
Wānaka
"Fostering progression and growth"
"I am truly amazed by the HPC programme and how it has transformed my son. He has progressed from having just a few tricks to mastering many skills in the park, and he has also grown and matured as a person. A big shoutout to Gonz..."I am truly amazed by the HPC programme and how it has transformed my son. He has progressed from having just a few tricks to mastering many skills in the park, and he has also grown and matured as a person. A big shoutout to Gonzo, his wonderful coach."
Andrea Murphy
Frequently Asked Questions
Still need some help? Get in touch using our
Depending on your programme:
Core Skills trains Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Snow Camp trains Monday to Friday (with Saturday as an optional weather day)
Season Long training days vary depending on full-time or part-time enrolment
Coaches Apprentice includes 2 days on snow per week plus classroom sessions
We recommend signing up as soon as possible, at least 4 months in advance. While we don't have a specific cutoff date, we do have limited availability!
We welcome athletes 8 years and over. In addition to the age requirement, each of our programmes has its own prerequisite skill level, this can be found under each programme. If you’re unsure, complete the enquiry form and let us know so we can help you find the right fit for your athlete.
Athletes are required to wear back protection and helmets (MIPS highly recommended). We also recommend impact shorts and mouthguards.
Lift passes are not included in the programme fee and must be purchased separately. You can view our lift pass options on the Passes page.
Transport options are available from Wānaka for athletes travelling to Cardrona each day.
Still need some help? Get in touch using our
