Among the many ski stars found on the slopes around the Rocky Gully race arena were Vancouver Olympic gold medallists Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller.
The Americans both raved about staying in Queenstown and about the snow conditions at Coronet Peak.
"When we first got here it had been raining at the skifield.
"But with the new snow and cold temperatures, we are back to winter conditions, which is really great," Miller said after he had finished the day's training.
"The great thing about training here is staff can adjust the snow conditions on the race course by injecting the slope with water to create the fast surface we need," he said.
A smiling Vonn happily mingled with the crowd and shared her rides on the T-bar lift with young skiers in between her runs on the slalom course.
She told the Otago Daily Times she enjoyed training at Coronet Peak.
"Everyone who works here is so helpful.
"During my last season, slalom and giant slalom were the two areas I struggled a bit with, and the facilities here are practising my slalom."
Both top skiers said they were just starting to find their form after their break following the northern winter, and neither of them expected to be competing in races during their time at Coronet Peak.
"This time of the season it is more about perfecting technique and equipment," Vonn said.
Several other members of the US team will be competing in New Zealand, with the next major race the Continental Cup races in giant slalom and slalom, at Coronet Peak on Monday and Tuesday.
