Spectacular Development Of Canterbury Ski Fields

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 15

Spectacular Development Of Canterbury Ski Fields

WITH the first falls of snow “ already putting tentative dustings on the country’s ski gelds, ski-ing enthusiasts are looking forward to another successful season. Mount Ruapehu this winter will have a new ski director, the former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Toni Spiess, and he will be assisted by two hand-picked European colleagues. As New Zealand’s largest ski resort, Ruapehu merits instructors of this calibre. In the South Island, preparations for the winter are unprecedented. In Canterbury, which now has nine major ski fields operating within its provincial boundaries, four professional instructors have been brought out by individual clubs on their own behalf, representing an expenditure running into thousands of pounds. Last season Canterbury put more than 1000 persons through its ski schools, and the clubs are prospering on the boom the sport is enjoying. Plans are now in hand at some clubs to cater giecially for North Islanders who are keen to obtain cheap ski-ing in the south. Coronet Peak At the South Island’s major resort at Coronet Peak, the popular Austrian, Otto von Allmen, will again be in charge of instruction this season, and the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company is also planning instruction at Lake Ohau. Coronet Peak has a new learners’ tow for use this year, and in back rooms planning is proceeding on something which will make this mountain rival, if not excel, Mount Ruapehu.

At the Rock and Pillar Range in Otago,, development has been going on and the field has been greatly improved by a new access road and better facilities. The Ball Hut at Mount Cook continues to cater for only a small percentage of the ski-ing public, but more and more skiers are tasting the delights of ski-ing high in the Mount Cook region after being flown in by aircraft. This is a sphere of the sport only possible in the South Island and seems likely to blossom out in the future.

Some of the greatest development during the last few months has been going on in the Craigieburn Range, where the mountains have reverberated to hammering and blasting and other sounds of great activity.

At Canterbury’s oldest field at Mount Cheeseman, the development is staggering. The Canterbury Winter Sports Club is at present installing another rope tow which will give a Mt from Long Spur—the present limit of vehicle access in the winter. This will mean that skiers can step from their cars, walk a hundred yards and then be hauled from there u ~y ery ridge of the range about 2000 ft vertical feet higher up. This will also give the club a downhill course of Olympic distance. Mt. Cheeseman

Expansion is also under way at the bottom hut at Mount Cheeseman, and the whole accommodation in the area has been increased greatly. The club has purchased a caterpillar tractor, and this machine has scarcely been still since its introduction to the mountain. One of the jobs it achieved was hauling a huge 3500gallon iron water tank up to the top hut.

Further along the Craigieburn Range, similar activity is under way at the progressive North Canterbury club. Although a relatively new club, the enthusiasm of members has resulted in a new

hut being completed this summer—one of the most handsome accommodation huts in Canterbury. A chalet would be a better description, for there is no resemblance to a hut about this building. Members must take off their boots at the door so as not to dirty the carpets, and two giant kerosene heaters give centra! heating and a hot water supply. Foam rubber is used as mattresses—a luxury no skier used to many hardships would dare hope to find at 4500 ft up a mountain in winter.

The main work at the Craigieburn Valley field is the checking of the T-bar tow which has given a great deal of trouble since its installation several years ago. Members have done prodigious feats on this T-bar near the slopes of Mount Hamilton, and it is hoped to have the unit in full operation this season.

has also proceeded apace at Temple Basin, Mount Olympus, and the new field at Hanmer.