Skiers Held To Need Snowcraft

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 15

Skiers Held To Need Snowcraft

Basic snowcraft was necessary for all skiers, delegates agreed unanimously at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Ski Association last evening. It was also decided that in order to facilitate rescuers in the event of an accident, all ski-touring parties should give notification of their intentions before their journeys.

The meeting recommended to clubs that during their ski schools they obtain someone qualified to advise participants m basic- snowcraft. A further recommendation that clubs arrange a warning system of possible dangers on their own respective fields was also carried. AU Canterbury clubs will be recommended to encourage ski-touring and to request that those members going on tour seek the advice of an experienced person, sign an "intentions book” and as far as possible keep to their planned route. Clubs should have an “intentions book” so that in the event of an accident searchers would at least know where to start, said Mr G. W. A. Day. If nothing was done before ski-tourers went out, nobody knew where they had gone. “I feel very strongly about this,” he said. Touring along the Craigiebum range was bound to increase. Mr A. C. Rattray said that he was surprised that there had not been a serious accident caused by skiers without basic snowcraft knowledge touring in the Craigieburn ranges. Junior Scholarship An endowment fund was established for the purposes of financing the association’s junior ski championships and Messrs A. C. Rattray and G. W. A. Day were appointed trustees. Mr W. Yates was appointed convener of a subcommittee to investigate ways and means of raising finance for the fund. It was agreed to hold the scholarships every season if the necessary finance were available. A notice of motion that the levy be in-

creased 6d to Is 6d for every senior active club member on the understanding that any surplus would go to the financing of the junior scholarships was put before the meeting. The association decided to seek support from the Federated Mountain Clubs for its efforts to obtain a licence for fixed V.H.F. transmitters in recognised ski clubs and mountain huts. At present the transmitters have to be mobile. A notice of motion that provision be made in the constitution to admit life members was heard. It will be moved at the February meeting of the association. Hie race instruction week will be held again in 1864. Officers Mr A. R. Robinson was elected president of the association. Formerly the vicepresident. he replaced Mr J. P. Godfrey. Other officers elected were;— Vice-presidents, Mr W. A. Wilson (North Canterbury'; treasurer, Mr G. W. A. Day; secretary, Mr C. R. Halstead; racing registrar, Mr G. Baudmet; racing committee convener. Mr M. Corner; social committee convener, Mr G. Howden; rules committee convener, Mr A. C. Rattray; junior scholarship rules sub-committee, Messrs A. R. Robinson, A. D. Coberger, J. P. Godfrey. A. C. Rattray; delegates, Messrs A. C. Rattray (Christchurch), S. D. Hughes (North Canterbury), W. A. Yates (Canterbury Winter Sports), G. Howden (Craigieburn Valley. Messrs A. R. Robinson, A. D. Coberger, J. P. Godfrey and A. C. Rattray were elected selectors for the McKenzie junior race training scholarship.