Decked out in a pink helmet and red ski jacket, 9-year-old Phoebe Finlay is cruising down Coronet Peak without poles, making it look easy.
Her dad, Ian, tells her as they get off the chairlift, ''I'm following you, bub'', every now and then calling out directions.
She turns her head slightly to hear him and follows his instructions as she weaves her way down the mountain.
To anyone watching, Phoebe is just like any other fearless child learning to ski.
What they do not realise is Phoebe's negotiating the slopes using her ''special eyes''.
The smiles on the faces of Mr Finlay and his wife, Katrina, say it all.
In 2008, the couple were dividing their time between Queenstown and Brisbane when Mrs Finlay developed pre-eclampsia, a condition of the placenta which can endanger both mother and baby.
Phoebe was born in Dunedin Hospital at 25 weeks, weighing a tiny 670g - only slightly more than a block of butter.
She was rushed to Christchurch Women's Hospital where the tiny tot endured five major operations and 75 blood transfusions.
She spent three months on life-support and her parents lost count of the number of times they were told to say their goodbyes.
''At the end, it was a case of 'I don't care if she's in a wheelchair forever, we're taking her home','' Mr Finlay said.
She spent 130 days in hospital and later the family moved back to Brisbane. Her parents were told their daughter might not be able to walk or see.
Phoebe now has close-range peripheral vision - about 30cm of blurred vision in her right eye and none in her left, thought to have been caused by the extended period she spent on a ventilator.
She loves running cross-country, swimming, and blatting around on a quad bike with her little brother, biggest competitor and ''best mate'' Charlie (6).
But her new favourite pastime is skiing.
NZSki instructor Helen Freeman has been coaching Phoebe for three seasons at Coronet Peak during her family's visits to Queenstown and said her achievements were ''really phenomenal''.
Initially, Phoebe was understandably apprehensive, but trusted the process and her mountain mum.
''[When] we started she would hold my hands or my poles and we were in very close communication with each other, but now I can ski a fair distance in front of her and she'll listen,'' Mrs Freeman said.
''In respect of her limitations, she doesn't have a limitation in her mind.
''She feels that she can do just the same as everyone else, which is incredible.
''With that type of attitude, she will go far,'' Mrs Freeman said.
Her parents agree and believe it is a combination of her zest for life and competitive spirit.
''She was so sick, so little and had so many operations but ... it's in her,'' Mr Finlay said.
''You can only put her out there - she's doing it all.
''We give her the chance of doing everything she can but never, ever forget what she went through.
''Our wish, right back [at the beginning], we just wanted her to have a great life - and that's what she's having.
''She's having the life we fought for back in the hospital,'' he said.
And for happy-go-lucky Phoebe, who will turn 10 in January, she wants to spend as much of that life as she can on the mountains.
When asked what she thinks she might like to be when she grows up, there is no hesitation: ''A ski teacher''.
