It's a constant surprise when you see people saying certain things that you'd never normally hear, for example last week when I overheard someone say, "Yay, it's raining". You normally only hear comments like that in the middle of summer during the middle of a rather dry patch - Residents in Lake Hayes will be familiar with that, - or in the middle of winter, because rain in winter most often means snow! Speaking of snow, we finally have all the 2007 season pass prices for the local skifields. Who has the best value one wonders? Let us know by voting and commenting on the weekly poll - What skifield has the best value seasons pass?

This time of year is always interesting in regards to the efforts that the skifields go to, in order to attract customers. Millions are spent over the off season in order to ramp-up facilities in order to get people up there. This is great for local economies, and although the fair share of people whinge about seasons pass pricing, etc, we here in Queenstown depend on the revenue that's brought in on the back of the 'white dollar'. Yep, I made that up myself, but one must give credit where credit is due.

Two weeks ago when I drew the connection between global warming and it's possible local consequences, I came across some pretty telling statistics. Here are two more to illustrate my point:

• Over 60% of the businesses receive definite benefit to their business from the region’s ski areas; only 13% see little or no benefit. Two thirds of Wanaka businesses see definite benefits compared to 57.1% of Queenstown businesses.
• Almost half of businesses (45%) saw definite value in the extension of the snow season through snowmaking; a further 39.3% saw some value in this.

So when millions are spent on upgrading facilities in which over 60% of business benefit from, complaining about prices that are still below what they were just a few years ago, just doesn't hold water.

Those of you who partake in frisbee golf will have noticed some major changes on the course recently. Changes include upgraded tee platforms, new basket holes, protective ground guard and new course markers. So, I'd like to issue a big thank you to James Smithells for organising this, along with Uan, and Regan for your hard work over the last few weekends. The course is looking in great shape for the upcoming tournament in March.

The tournaments in question are The 9th Annual Paradise Plates Disc Golf Tournament in Glenorchy, and The 12th Annual The Helicopter Line Queenstown Classic Disc Golf Tournament in the Queenstown Gardens. It should be a great day out with compeditors coming from Auckland, and most likely Holland too.

Well that wraps up this weeks editorial, so enjoy the editors picks, and see you all next Monday.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Queenstown.com Content Manager & Editor

Movie Trailer of the week!

On the heels of 2005’s blockbuster The 40-Year-Old Virgin, writer/director Judd Apatow again mines hilarity from the relatably human in a comedy about a one-night stand with unexpected consequences: Knocked Up. Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy, Roswell) joins Virgin alums Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann for a comic look about the best thing that will ever ruin your best-laid plans: parenthood.
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel

Having issues with the Quicktime movie, then click here to view it via Apple's website.
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Joke of the week

Letters Trick

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.