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It's snow time for Mt Taranaki enthusiasts
Taranaki's snow season has officially begun.

By The Daily News 10/June/2010

Skiers and snowboarders took delight in the 10cm to 30cm covering of snow on Mt Taranaki yesterday, signalling the first day of the season at Manganui skifield.
Stratford Mountain Club secretary Mark Braddock said it was a fantastic start to the season. "There was about 35 on the mountain and people are enjoying themselves on the slopes," Mr Braddock said.
"There is 10cm to 15cm of new wind-blown powder and there are families, seniors, juniors, snowboarders and skiers – all sorts."
Club vice-president Rhys Williams said members were expecting the snow to come a lot later this year. "Last year was exceptionally early. We were getting powder snow and skiing the top tow in May and that's almost unheard of," Mr Williams said. "This year we thought it would go back to a late season or back to around this time."
But a large dumping of snow after the weekend's heavy rainfall granted snow bunnies the windfall they needed to get on the slopes early.
"We are very happy the season is now under way.
"We have just got our new snow safety operator, Nick Fountain from Colorado, so it's his first day today so it's good that he is not waiting around. He is straight into it."
Although rain is forecast for today and tomorrow, the next snow fall is due on Saturday. "It's all good to start with, but we might find it will be washed away within the next few days but hopefully it might be back."

Skiing at New Zealand’s unique club fields is a growing business,  keen clubber Ady Shannon discovers.

Ski and alpine clubs have been around for a long time.
Established by hardy and tenacious individuals who shared a love of the mountains and a keen sense of pioneering spirit, many of those early alpine clubs have grown and evolved to own and operate on-field accommodation lodges. And some clubs manage a skifield operation as well as accommodation.
In exchange for their input, club members receive discounted accommodation rates, reduced or free ski passes and the companionship of others who share a common interest. But it is not only members who are drawn to ski the club fields; challenging terrain, amazing powder runs, uncrowded slopes and lift rates as much as half those of commercial fields are just some of the perks offered by the club fields.
Club fields are a special New Zealand phenomenon. There are more club fields in the South Island than the North, but many people belong to ski clubs that exist alongside commercial fields: on Mt Ruapehu, 47 lodges are owned and operated by alpine clubs.
Most offer shared facilities, congenial communal living and a relaxed and rustic atmosphere, and there is an expectation that guests will contribute to their keep. The skifields have a rare novelty value and appeal. Although day trippers do not have to volunteer to help out, the atmosphere is as laid-back and inclusive as in the lodges.
In the North Island, some ski clubs are enjoying growing memberships.
Clare Nixon, president of Aorangi Ski and Board Club, suggests the self-help lodge atmosphere is part of the appeal. Aorangi Club owns three lodges at Tukino, Ohakune and Iwikau and its members contribute to operations at Tukino club field, a small field accessed from the Desert Road. "A big day at Tukino is when you don't know the names of everybody on the field," laughs Nixon.
Aorangi started in Wellington but its 600-plus members come from all over the North Island.
"At the moment we have lots of families. They are attracted by the atmosphere. Kids ski in a flock; parents get the extra freedom and the kids learn to be more self-reliant. There are DVDs and laptops but generally no TV, so kids play board games and cards, while parents talk. It's a healthy atmosphere."

It was early May when Jenni and Brooke Fletcher headed up to Manganui Ski Area laden with supplies and gear in preparation for the opening of the field on May 12. Jenni makes soup, staffs the canteen, sells passes and does ski patrol.
Brooke spends his time outdoors, getting the tows running, mending broken equipment, operating the groomer and troubleshooting. In between, if time permits, they ski. Jenni puts a sign on the canteen: "Come Back Later; I've Gone Skiing".
The Fletchers joined Stratford Mountain Club in 1990. Living in Taranaki with three young children, they were attracted by the Manganui Ski Area on the flanks of Mt Taranaki, owned and managed by the club. Twenty years on, the Fletchers are still heavily committed.

My first experience of skiing a club field was at Mt Olympus almost 20 years ago. I had heard about the benefits of ski club membership and the appeal of club fields: friendships forged in the lodge and on the snow, the challenge of hard-out days skiing untracked powder, and the relaxed ambience of the on-field lodge where snow enthusiasts come together to board, ski and party in amazing alpine environments.
As a novice skier, I was keen for a week in the mountains but less enthusiastic about the prospect of using rope tows and the ubiquitous nutcracker. Access was a ride up a gnarly goat track, several of us "ski weekers" wedged into the back of a Land Rover. I was given a leather glove protector, a device for flipping over the rope and gripping (a nutcracker) and pointed towards a rope tow that snaked up a slope towards the lodge on a ridge. I was advised to "hold tight, keep your skis straight and maintain a line close to the natural run of the rope". Stay close, heck. I sideswiped every steel pulley and got blue bruises on my hip that took weeks to fade.
Our all-inclusive package included full board, tow fees and daily lessons. For seven days we skied perfect powder and at night after dinner, those too tired to party retired while in the lounge, cards, board games and dice were rolled out.
Like all clubs, Mt Olympus has survived dismal seasons and financial highs and lows. The club now has about 450 members and club captain Thomas Stephens says work parties this year have been well supported.
In a commercial world, poor seasons can ruin a skifield operator, yet ski clubs have weathered storms, avalanches, lodge fires and too much and too little snow, and continue to operate. Revenue from daytrippers makes a contribution to the bottom line, but ski clubs depend on their members to do much of the spadework involved in their upkeep and survival. Given the choice of leisure activities these days and the demands on time, ski clubs are having to endure more than adverse effects of nature to survive.
Club stalwart Anton Coberger says it is increasingly difficult to find people with the skills and practical knowledge to volunteer their time but "maintaining a stream of capable volunteers" will alleviate what he considers to be the biggest threat to the survival of club fields. Coberger's daughter, Annelise, was the first person from the southern hemisphere to win a medal at the Winter Olympics - a silver in slalom at Albertville, France, in 1992. He has skied all over the world and rates New Zealand's club fields as "unique in the whole world of skiing".
"They exist in a parallel universe. Cost is not the only reason people belong; savings compensate for the extra time, effort and energy to get there. It's a rather Kiwi ethos; practical people using skills to maintain their skifields."
A good season helps ease the financial pressure on clubs' resources and allows for redevelopment and capital expenditure, but member numbers do not appear to be adversely affected by poor snow conditions. Member loyalty transcends fickle weather patterns.
Nick Jarman has overseen the operation at Craigieburn Valley for more than 20 seasons and believes a change in the way people manage their time has affected club numbers.
"Time is precious and people's ability to put aside time for recreational pursuits has diminished. They are more picky now. Information is readily available; they get up, trawl the internet and make a decision based on different mediums. They want to make sure they enjoy their recreation time."
Like Coberger, Jarman has a sneaking suspicion that a lack of Kiwi ingenuity and know-how could be the biggest threat to ski clubs. "If I need help with my computer, nine out of 10 people offer to help me. But if I say 'here's a post rammer, I need help', people just look at me."
Regardless of the motivation - a love of deep untracked powder, an aversion to crowds or a desire for new adventure or a recession-proof winter option - club fields offer a cheap and very cheerful high- altitude experience. And given the commitment of members, it seems likely the club culture will continue to thrive in the lodges and snow-filled basins of New Zealand's high country.

THE CLASSICS

NORTH ISLAND
Tukino
Manganui

SOUTH ISLAND
Rainbow
Amuri (Hanmer  Springs)
Mt Olympus
Craigieburn
Mt Cheeseman
Broken River
Temple Basin
Fox Peak
Awakino

CHILLING IN CLUBLAND

Stuart Waddel is adamant there is a great future for ski clubs and especially club fields,  and he is staking his livelihood on it. Waddel is co-founder and owner of Chill, a business  selling multimountain passes to many of the South Island's ski areas.
"Club fields are all  about experiencing something alternative and new; they are more about finding a lifestyle  and enjoyment of outdoors rather than just saving money."
In 1998 when Chill was launched, four of the five mountains on the pass were club fields.  This year the pass includes 12 fields, seven of them owned and operated by clubs. Waddel's  concept has had a significant impact on patronage of club fields and, in many cases,  generated new memberships.
"Lots of people have purchased Chill passes, found they like  to ski the club fields, and have then chosen to join. Club fields break down barriers. The  terrain and enthusiasm is inclusive, not exclusive."

* The writer is a member of Porter Heights Ski Club and is still working on her skiing technique.

Hundreds hit slopes for big weekend
By GLENN MCLEAN - Taranaki Daily News
02/06/2009

Clear skies brought a Queen's Birthday rush to the Manganui Ski Field yesterday.
Close to 300 skiers made their way up Mt Taranaki after a cold snap dumped more snow on Sunday. Ski field spokesman Brooke Fletcher said yesterday's clear conditions, coupled with good conditions on Saturday, meant about 600 skiers and board riders had hit the slopes over the long weekend. Mr Fletcher reported no problems, with the only injuries operators knew of being a dislocated shoulder and blisters. "It was one of the better Queen's Birthdays, for us anyway," he said. The roads to Mt Taranaki were busier than normal yesterday, with onlookers not interested in skiing just keen to get into the snow.
Sunday's cold front brought sleet to a number of Taranaki towns, including Inglewood and Stratford.

In the South Island, the glamour ski resorts finally opened, three weeks after the Manganui Ski Field got the drop on them. Skiers have crossed the Tasman for the earliest opening of the Mount Hutt skifield in 15 years and about 2000 people enjoyed Saturday's opening in sunny conditions. Ski area manager David Wilson said skiers had flown in from around New Zealand and Australia. "We were so excited at having just over 2000 people," he said. "It was my best opening day for nine years. "We have got good snow people have been hearing about it for weeks. We had people from Melbourne who had heard about the snow, a family of five. They are here for four to five days. This is setting us up well for the season, sending a great message to Australians, (as) they haven't got enough snow, any snow, at the moment." "We're just pumping."

Taranaki's humble Manganui skifield is the first in the country
to open for the season.
Taranaki Daily News | Wednesday, 14 May 2009

Yesterday Mt Taranaki's skifield opened thanks to a 25cm dumping of snow the previous day. Other skifields around the country in both the north and south are still almost a month behind, with most opening in mid to late June. Manganui ski field operators had initially hoped to open today, but got in a day early after the weather cleared up. Stratford Mountain Club member Jack Cran said the field was opened about 11am. "It was lovely, the wind turned south-west and it cleared," Mr Cran said. About 50 people took the opportunity to get a taste of the fresh powder. Mr Cran said the snow had fallen without any wind and the field had a good even covering.
The learners' tow and T-bar were open yesterday with a had 30 to 50cm snow base and Mr Cran said he hoped the top tow would be open today. The North Island other two skifields, Turoa and Whakapapa, on Mt Ruapehu, are not looking to open until June 20 and June 27 respectively. In the South Island Mt Hutt had a 110cm snow base and staff were considering an opening the skifield early but a June 13 launch still looks to be on the cards.In Central Otago, both Cardrona and Treble Cone are looking to open around June 27 and Coronet Peak and The Remarkables in Queenstown will open their slopes June 6 and June 20 respectively.

Heavy snowfalls herald prospect of early skiing
8:29AM Tuesday May 12, 2009
New Zealand Herald

The Stratford Mountain Club on the slopes of Mt Taranaki may open for business as early as tomorrow following exceptional early-season snowfalls. Photo / Kenny RodgerWhile commercial skifield operators talk about the prospect of starting the season as early as next month, Taranaki's club field plans to get on with it tomorrow.
If the weather clears, Manganui Ski Field on Mt Taranaki could be the first to open this winter.
Ski-field operators the length of the country are rubbing their hands together at the exceptionally early and heavy snowfalls which have arrived in the past fortnight.
Mt Taranaki had a snow base of up to 50cm, enough for the Stratford Mountain Club to open the lower and learner's slopes and t-bar as early as tomorrow, said club safety services convener Todd Cations-Velvin.
"We get a light dusting of snow around this time of year but it's just that there is quite a bit. It has definitely come in a lot heavier for this time of year," he told the Taranaki Daily News.
With heavy snowfalls sweeping across the South Island at the weekend, operators were looking at what was involved in bringing forward their planned season opening dates.
Advertisement in Canterbury, snow packing and avalanche-control work was already under way at Porters Heights. General manager Uli Dinsenbacher said there was 40cm of snow in the car park and 1.5 metres at the top of the mountain.The skifield is looking at opening on June 26. Mr Dinsenbacher said it was 20 years since he had last seen such conditions in May. He was confident the snow would stay. "It's pretty hard to melt over a metre of snow and we're getting cold nights, and that will keep the snow there," he told The Press.
Mt Hutt has a base of 110cm after more than 170cm of snow fell over the past 10 days.Assistant ski area manager James McKenzie said they would know tomorrow whether it was feasible to open, after considering health and safety and logistical issues. The field had planned to open on June 13.
In Central Otago, both Cardrona and Treble Cone have 30cm bases on the upper runs, while Coronet Peak and The Remarkables have bases of more than 50cm.
Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said snowmaking was due to start about May 25.
The Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence said some "keen, local freestyle skiers" had taken advantage of the snow over the weekend.

- NZPA

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