Ski-field defence

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 19

Ski-field defence

Rastus Burn, if developed as a ski-field, would have been the first commercial field opened for the 1980 season, according to the general manager (land) of the Mount Cook Group (Mr R. R. Forward). Mr Forward has denied allegations made by Mr B. J. Mason, of Dunedin, in a letter to “The Press,” that the ski-field to be developed near Queenstown could not be certain of reliable snow-cover.

Mr Mason said that observations during two winters had failed to convince him and other skiers that a ski-field in the Rastus Burn was a viable proposition. “It is simply beyond comprehension that the

company has failed to learn the difference between a sunny and a shady face — any highcountry farmer could provide free advice on this subject,” Mr Mason said. Mr Forward said that Mr Mason obviously had no experience in commercial ski-field management when he based his statements on such a short period of observation. The chairman of the Mount Cook Group (Sir Henry Wigley) had been observing the Remarkables since the mid-1930s and the company had been making a detailed study since 1970. “Two seasons of snow observations in no way constitute a survey, and

they were poor seasons at that,” Mr Forward said. If Rastus Bum had been ready as a ski-field it would have opened on June 14. There had been a good coverage of snow since then. Shadow Basin and Sugar Basin, two of the main ski-ing areas, “generally face north-east and southwest respectively.” “We are well aware of the temperature differences between a north-fac-ing face and a south-fac-ing face; we should do as we developed the country’s first commercial ski area and are generally considered the authorities on the subject,” Mr Forward said.