SNOW SPORTS ON PORT HILLS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23362, 23 June 1941, Page 4

SNOW SPORTS ON PORT HILLS

Week-end Activity . ) '

Winter sports enthusiasts in Christchurch during the week-end made full use. of the snow which is stiiriying on the Port Hills near the city. Skiers had their best sport on Saturday, for by yesterday afternoon the snow had thawed considerably on the few useful grounds, but tobogganers had good fun both days.' One party of skiers bad good sport yesterday on the higher slopes of Mount Herbert, on the far side of Lyttelton harbour. On Saturday most activity was on the open paddocks at the back of Marley’s hill, about a mile beyond the Sign of the Kiwi. Here there was a fairly good covering of snow on gentle slopes, and a number of skiers made good use of this practice ground. Tobogganers used .steeper slopes near the road, where the snow was fairly deep in occasional drifts. Further on, at Kennedy’s Bush, about a dozen skiers were active on. a fairly steep but clear slope which was fried out on Friday. .The snow had dwindled slightly in the thaw, uncovering a few rocks, but some very good running was had. '. '' ■, ~ , The possibility of serious traffic blockages on the road beyond the Sign of the Kiwi, which seemed likely on Friday, was removed by Saturday afternoon, for the Transport Department kept a large grader bn the road, which by 3 p.m. was clear of snow to more than two-car width. . .. .. • Yesterday saw the greatest activity on the nearer ground at Marley’s hill. Although skiers were.•■but' again both here and at Kennedy’s bush on rapidly thinning snow, it was the day. All sorts of home-made sledges had been brought" out. Sojne laboriously carried large toboggans on their backs all the way from the tram terminus. - One or two

even dragged them behind bicycles, or on bicycle trailers. A large part of the crowd was out merely to see the snow, and there was a fair amount of snowballing—a sport not enjoyed by passing motorists, or by those who see much of snow. One party of skiers arranged for a special ferry launch to take them to Diamond Harbour early in the morning, to give them a good start in their climb of Mount Herbert. One or two who reached the top of Herbert Peak, after more than two hours 1 climbing, had really good running over deep, firm snow with no tussocks showing thfough. Lower down, at the level of the musterers’.hut, fair running could be had among tussocks, and jt was possible to use ski on the way back about halfway down the hiU. . _ ; : i