|
GOINGS ON’ Around the Manganui Ski Area
Manganui Opening Day Wednesday 25 June
Wednesday 25th saw the field operating with a good soft snow cover in moderate NW winds, with rain/sleet prevailing most of the day. One of those days where you get wet, but the snow was soft and forgiving. Towards the end of the day sleet was coming down hard, so all looks good for the snow cover for the next few days at least. The top tow cover is building nicely. The learners tow has a good cover although maintenance is being carried out at present - we hope to have it running asap.
And I can attest to the fact that the canteen's hot pies are great!
JK
Snow.co.nz 6 day forecast for Manganui
Personal Belongings security at the DoC Shelter and Manganui Lodge
A reminder to all that please be vigilant in keeping personal items in sight in both the Public and Manganui Lodge. We regularly have issues with personal belongings being taken from both the lodges.
So please remember to keep the important stuff close to you at your day visit up here.
SMC Membership Card
- please display on lanyard when in the Manganui Lodge
SMC are attempting to create a culture of members wearing their membership cards around their neck on a lanyard or neck cord (as you would with Commercial Area season passes).
This season you should see your committee members leading the way with this initiative for other members to follow.
It is intended that this culture will easier identify members moving in and about the Manganui Lodge (and hence the general public), as well as providing a name badge for easier introductions.
The Manganui Lodge is for use by SMC members, who pay for the privilage, however visitors are most welcome to inspect the club facilities - as we do make the lodge available to the public to utilise our on-mountain accommodation.
Safety Services Coordinator's June report
Canteen
A new freezer has been brought for the canteen as the old one had run out of gas.
There is food and drink in the canteen and pies will be up there this coming week. The pies are coming from Le Dejeuner “The Real Pie”. We are getting two sizes of pies as the big pies may be too much for some people.
Coffee
Investigating lease or purchase of coffee machine. Good coffee would buy a good coffee if it was available. In summer it could sit in Manganui Lodge and is coin operated, and in winter it goes in the canteen and we could operate so the money goes though the till.
Ski Field
The ski doo has had several steering issues the last few years so I have had some new steering rods made up and adjusted one of the bent steering wings. Hopefully this will fix this problem. Thanks to Trout at Fitzroy Engineering.
I have made up a couple of new top safeties for the tee bar after the original was taken. The new safety is in place now hopefully it won’t get taken.
Media
Have spoken to news talk ZB on the up and coming season. Are talking with More Fm about the daily ski report they do. Also Rob Needs from Kiwi Outdoors will advertise the ski field in this spot on Classic Hits.
General
We had 5cm of snow on the night of Saturday the 7th. Almost enough to operate.
I have a new snow report fax form which will be going out to the radio stations and several stores. This will go out on operational days and several days after.
I have made a good start on rewriting the Operations Manual to bring it in to line with the recommendations from Peak Risks audit. Along with the operations manuals I have updated the avalanche response instructions to bring us in to line with what the Police have in their folder. This should make it easy for everyone to follow.
Upcoming dates
Next snow forecast according to Ken Ring
25th-26th and the 29th-30th
Todd Velvin, Safety Services Coordinator
Obituary - William George Brown (1926-2008) 82yrs
Bill became a member of the Stratford Mountain Club on the 7th November 1945, he was 19 years of age. He had previously been a member of TAC but decided skiing was his passion. Other members of note joining the club at the same time as Bill included Bob and Wade Stokes. Don Dorflinger was Club Captain at that time and Gordon Close was Club Librarian.
Bill was a very practical person; he could do everything and fix anything; he would never throw anything away and as a result he had a treasure trove of spare parts and associated items stored in his garage. Bill's practical capability suited the club very well at the time as just about everything on the mountain, tows and flying foxes were built by members using rough sketches of what someone had seen or photos. The results were amazing and the friendships forged during that time remain to this day and go along way to explaining the camaraderie and the commitment that exists within the club.
SMC has a long history of ski racing success and up until the late 1980s SMC racers dominated the NZ ski racing scene. However you cannot have a race without officials and Bill for many years during race days could be found with stopwatch in hand at the race course finish line. He loved being there as he could keep an eye on proceedings and he was always up with the play as far as times and placings was concerned.
Bill loved young people and he always got a thrill seeing SMC racers excel. He was always willing to transport in this various work vans, racers to Ruapehu. They were great trips and for many young racers of time those memories will last a life time. The last few years Bill's skiing activities had been restricted to Ruapehu with a group of friends and teaching his grandchildren the art of skiing with the odd driving lesson thrown in.
The last three years George Mason, Vern Newell and Bill had been landscaping around the Manganui Lodge after the rebuild, along with another one of his pet projects the track from the tunnel to the Lodge. Every time we went to the mountain Bill would have jobs planned, generally they involved filling holes with shingle unblocking drains or dealing to what is now affectionately known as 'Bill's Rock', a rock so hard we made virtually no progress in reducing its size at all-all we could do was leave chisel marks on it.
Bill's last trip to the mountain was about a month ago with his mates George and Vern. The day was perfect- clear, fine no wind with a perfect view to Ruapehu. Bill loved the mountain and skiing and he went as often as he could and I know his spirit will be watching over us all as we continue to enjoy an asset that is unique to Taranaki.
Bills achievements
1950 Carryer Cup First Place
1952 Joyce Beale Silver Award
1959 Joyce Beale Gold Award
1997 Life Member- Services to the Club.
Chris Burr. | 
5 Day Snow Forecast
