Moves at the club fields

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 25

Moves at the club fields

Changes will be in evidence at all three club skifields in the Craigieburn Range — ’ Broken River. Mount Cheeseman, and Craigieburn Valley — during the 1981 winter. Broken River now has one of the longest continuous rope tows in New Zealand thanks to the relocation oi the "rugby’’ shed which previously precluded skiers riding non-stop from the foot of the access tow to the top of the “rugby” tow. Skiers will get a continuous vertical lift of 300 m over a length of about 720 m. Summer work parties have also brought the installation of three high-pressure fire hydrants near the accommodation lodges and added new foundations, a concrete base, and flooring to the old tow shed.

The Craigieburn club recently completed a $30,000 development which provides a big new car park, a new

generator and storage, and new toilet facilities. All this follows the $120,000 accommodation lodge development of 1980 and sets the field up well tc handle the increasing numbers of -both Australian and New Zealand skiers.

Craigieburn has tows giving 670 m of vertical lift and many varied runs are available." Ski weeks this year will cost $9O, the package involving full accommodation, all meals, instruction and sevenday tow fees. At Chceseman summer work was mainly devoted to general maintenance on the lifts and in and around the top and bottom lodges. T-bar users will be pleased to hear that a fluid drive has been installed enabling the restarting of the lift without everybody getting off. A new bathroom block has been built down at Bottom Lodge. The club will not employ an area manager this winter

and that work will be carried out by club members working in conjunction with hut mothers.

Mechanical affairs will be in the hands of Craig Ovenden. a fully qualified diesel mechanic, and the clubs grader driver. Kevin Hobson, who will bring his own machine. A Canadian. Eric Vanderkurk. from the Rabbit Hill ski area, will control the ski school with a fellow countryman. Ramone Rockar, and an N.Z.S.I.A. (stage one) qualified club member, Tim Gibson, as his assistants. Shamus Cureen will once again look after Bottom Lodge. Further west at Temple Basin, near Arthur's Pass, is the headquarters of the Christchurch Ski Club. It has been well occupied in recent weeks organising the mammoth auction, held al the Riccarton Racecourse. But the club has still had time to completely reline and paint

the main common room and kitchen.

During the summer the University Ski Club, which shares the field with Christchurch, has been making the final touches to the University Lodge. The bunkrooms have been carpeted, linoleum laid, and painting of the interior completed. There is also about $2OOO worth of new hire equipment. (N. 8. other Canterbury club fields do not have hire facilities.)

The University club this season will have'a Canadian. Greg Kozak, as its custodianski mechanic. Kozak was formerly a ski mechanic for a professional race team in Canada. Janice Harvey, last year's head instructor, is returning from Canada and another Canadian is also coming out. An N.Z.S.I.A. qualified instructor. Edwin Douglass, will be back as well for the holidavs.