Dandy idea for a break in the snow

New Zealanders in search of an endless winter and dry powder snow are proving big business for North America's alpine resorts.

During our summer thousands of skiers and snowboarders forsake the idea of two weeks at the beach and instead fly off to the snowfields of North America.

The New Zealand dollar might not seem to go far, particularly in the United States, but it is a more than welcome bonus to the finances of the North American ski industry. New Zealanders are particularly numerous in Canada because of the more favourable exchange rate. Along with Australians, we make up the biggest international market for Colorado's Aspen Snowmass resort.

A mark of the importance of the New Zealand market is the size of this year's ski and board Canada-USA travel show at the Maritime Museum, Auckland, on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

The show will have representatives from Canada's Whistler/Blackcomb, Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, Banff/Lake Louise and Aspen, and the United States' Steamboat, Mammoth, Vail and Winter Park.

New Zealand tour operators will also be there.