Canon kept G12 in the lineup for now but has G1X out, which is like a souped up G12 with a huge sensor for better overall IQ and a huge increase in price (2X).
If you are going to be taking the camera to active style places as you mentioned such as skiing/snowboarding and out on the water, you might want to consider more rugged, water and impact resistant model like Nikon AW100 or Panasonic DMC-TS3.
If you like G12, you might want to also consider Nikon's P7100. It has similar features and size but Nikon has a longer zoom lens with useful range of 28-200mm.
If you like P510 and it longer zoom, you might also look at Canon's SX40, which also has simliarly long zoom range. Both are competitively priced.
G12 and P510 are completely different class of cameras. Since your priority is stated as distant object, P510 or Canon SX40 might be the cameras to consider as well as Panasonic DMC-FZ150. At their maximum zoom, it will be useful to use a tripod.
