If skiing and riding in the summer is on your bucket list, make it happen this year with options from California to the Southern Hemisphere to the European Alps.

Current snowfall, forecast amounts, and snowmaking make for a good start to the season just getting underway in New Zealand.

The Remarkables in Queenstown, New Zealand is undergoing a $45 million new development with the addition of a six-seat, high-speed detachable lift, increased snowmaking capacity, expansion of the learners area, new trail development, resealing part of the ski area road, and the realignment and expansion of its car parking.

Coronet Peak, located 25 minutes from Queenstown, is the first ski area to open for the 2013-14 season in Australasia. The area is reporting the best opening day snow cover in recent years.

The snow keeps piling on – higher and higher in Australia and New Zealand. Australia’s Mt Perisher recently received about 20 inches in just two days, while Mt. Hutt, NZ picked up two feet this week.