Canadians back at the club fields

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 20

Canadians back at the club fields

Canadian ski instructors will once again be greeting people for lessons at quite a few South Island fields during club ski weeks this winter. However, those who prefer the Continentals or the British can still find the instructor of their choice at other fields.

A lot of skiers make their first hesitant moves on those awkward long things at big commercial fields such as Mount Hutt or Coronet Peak. But those who have experienced a club ski week will swear by them — despite the relative inconvenience of rope tows. Daily lessons are a great way to make progress and instructors perhaps tend to strike up more of a rapport with their pupils on club fields with all that apres-ski socialising.. Broken River is one club whose partiality for Canadian ski instructors has now extended over five seasons. This season’s combination is Martin Olsen and Don Kjorven, both members of the Canadian Inter-ski team.

During the “family” weeks the Canadian pair will be assisted by a New Zealand woman, Mrs Joan Hamilton. Colin Smith has been appointed custodian and he will be getting some help from Tim Nicholson and John Laycock.

A senior week at Broken River costs $75 for six days. All the family weeks are already fully booked, but places are .still available in the second and third

senior weeks, starting on July 27 and August 3 respectively. This also applies to the “spring ski-ing” weeks starting on September 14 (sixth senior) and September 21. Blount Cheeseman, another field in the Craigieburn range near Porters Pass, has the Canadian, Steve Feedham, back: for another year as ski school director. Feedham will be assisted by Rob Smith (from Silver Star, British Columbia) and a New Zealander, Martin Jones, who furthered his experience in Japan during the northern winter.

Roslyn Taylor has come from Craigieburn to act as the top lodge custodian and the club’s “old friend,” Shamus Cureen, will look after the bottom lodge. The club’s grader drivermechanic, Kevin Hobson, is actually bringing his own grader, with him. • Partly because the club has been keeping their ski week rates at last.- year’s level there has been a big demand for places. However, limited accommodation is still available for the first (front July 27 to August 2), second (from August 3). and fourth (from August 17) . senior weeks. The family Weeks and the fourth senior week have waiting lists. \ If there is sufficient snow there will be four spring ski weeks (the first starting oh September 14) and

the first two of these have already been well supported. Some Australians have expressed interest.-

Ski weeks at Cheeseman cost $B5 which includes meals, six nights accommodation, instruction, and lift fees (including the Sunday proceeding the ski week). Temple Basin, home to both the Christchurch and University ski clubs, is another with Canadian instructors. It has gained Janice Harvey from Craigieburn and she will work with Mike McGrath. The Canadians will be assisted by a Canterburi’ man, Edwin Douglas. This is the only Canterbury club field which hires out ski gear — at the reasonable cost of $25 for a full set over a week. All the Christchurch school weeks are full, but the allcomers weeks have vacancies.

By contrast the Mount Olympus field (Windwhistle) will have an instructor by the name of Robert J. Wurzer, who hails from Wyoming. As usual, Alan Stratford will be the custodian.

Ski weeks began at the club on Sunday but, there are no vacancies until the senior week from August 3 to 9. For the so called “nudists” ski week from September 14 to September 20 there are plenty of places: Craigieburn has stayed

with its popular Scottish instructor, Jim Thompson, for this season. Manager of the field will be Kim Muirson, who runs Whitewater Tours on the Motu River in the Bay of Plenty and has intiated “para-flying” in Mount Maunganui. Hugh Bannehr (back from overseas) is assistant manager and in charge of the ski patrol Hugh Young and Stephen Ward are also on the field staff.

The club has had a “terrific response” from Australians, but there is still space in all Weeks apart from the first junior (or family) week. The second and third junior weeks are filling up fast. A week seven days ski-irig) at Cragieburn costs ,$llO with all meals included.

A public transport service is provided by this club at the cost of $9. for an adult return fare. The bus leaves from near Church Corner at 7.30 a.m. oh week-ends. Amuri’s instructor this winter is a Swiss, Phillip Wieland, ... and the custodian-caretaker is Chris Atwell, described as a .“good man on die bulldozer.”;

Patrons of the field shotild note: that the road is in much better shape with the difficult corners widened. Accommodation on the field is $5 a .night and longer 1 bookings are welcomed. There may still be a little capacity during the formal school holiday Avecks.

. 'Fox Peak, in South Canterbury, has another German as ,its instructor this year. A hew feature of the field is its new rope tow which, extends nearly 200 m above the existing system. CI4IB Starlifter.