Ski Enthusiasts Begin Season—Without Snow

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 13

Ski Enthusiasts Begin Season—Without Snow

JN New Zealand there are thousands of persons who have not seen, let alone taken part in, the sport of ski-ing. To these thousands the sport conjures up the impression of large sums of money required for travelling, accommodation, and equipment, and little phyical effort called for on the part of the skier. For a country which is so wonderfully endowed with natural ski grounds the lack of knowledge of the activities of skiers must seem surprising to overseas visitors. Noone would deny the sport is expensive by such standards as Rugby or hockey, but compared with golf, ski-ing is shown in a very favourable light. As far as physical effort is concerned, ski-ing is not a six months of the year game, but an all-the-year-round one. The greatest amount of work is done while the mountains are devoid of their winter cloak. Preparations Over the Easter holiday period, members of ski clubs in Canterbury made excursions to the ski fields to prepare for the winter snows. Tow ropes, building equipment, fuel, coal, and non-perishable foods were the main preoccupation of the enthusiasts, and,in all sorts of weather this equipment was carried bodily up the mountain sides—sometimes as high as 5000 feet. Those who were not fit when they began would have done themselves credit on any

football field at the end.

To ensure that adequate supplies of fuel arp available for the ski-tow motors during the months of snow, hundreds of gallons must be carried up the mountainside and stored close by before the snow falls. At many ski grounds in Canterbury, the fuel and supplies are taken a large part of the way up the mountain by fourwheel drive vehicles, but in all cases • the final means of cartage is by way of an enthusiast’s back. Maximum Load

The cans must be filled to brim to avoid the fuel swirling about inside and causing the skier to lose his balance while scrambling up the mountain, and in some cases these weigh 401b —about the maximum that can be carried for any distance in comfort. Ski-tows, although a boon to any ski ground, are a constant source of hard work. To keep them in top operating order, many of them must be taken apart for repairs and general maintenance each summer. The carting of a 5001 b or so engine up and down a very steep mountainside is an engineer’s nightmare. Access to the areas of ski-ing by road is limited in Canterbury as yet, but work in all areas is progressing apace. Much of this work is done by voluntary helpers, although in some areas help is given by National Park Board authorities.