Ski-fields assessed

Press, 24 June 1981, Page 25

Ski-fields assessed

There is some irony in the ‘"‘fact that the first book offerring a guide to all New '•'•Zealand's 23 ski-fields has q.been written by an Australian. Mr Rodney Smith. Mr Smith, now living in had to resign his 'job with the State Services 'Commission last year to ‘spend five months without pay researching and writing the book. “It. was bloody hard work.” ,he said while he was in ■’Christchurch promoting his ‘book. "A Guide to the Ski■f Fields of New Zealand." published by A. H. and A. W. <Reed

Actually visiting the fields took up two months and the author clocked up all of 6000 km in a car laden with spare tyres, skis, and "a huge roof rack full of junk." For a while his "sort of Triumph Herald” would only go in third gear and it eventually needed new piston rings, bearings, and a gearbox. ’Some of the ski-field

roads were a bit rough," he ( said with a wry grin. 1 Mr Smith,, who began his I ski-ing at Smiggin Holes Tn' Australia 15 years ago. came 1 to New Zealand in 1974 and completed Bachelor of Arts/ , i and Bachelor of Science • dew

grees at the University of Canterbury. His first experience of skifields on this side of 'the Tasman was at Temple Basin, near Arthurs Pass, and that came about because his next-door neighbour in Halswell was the custodian of that field. He spent a lot of the 1977 winter ski-ing at Whakapapa (Mount Ruapehu), but it was last season that was devoted to the research for his book. Mr Smith tried to spend a few days at each field, but .was unable to get to a few of the small club ones. "The AWakino road was washed

out. for instance, and Fox Peak was closed." At the back of the 130-page book are a number of appendices. including a very detailed ski-field information table for which Mr Smith took almost as long to elicit the information as the writing of the actual text. Considerable information was gained from Department of Lands and Survey topographical maps and aerial photographs. Many of the fields impressed the author, with his favourite being Coronet Peak — "given decent snow.” Queenstown had three things in its favour, cheap accomodation, the night life, and the sunshine hours, he said. The first edition of the book had a print of 7500 and

Mr Smith said 2500 copies had been sold in Australia. 2000 apparently taken by Qantas and the rest by an Australian publishing company. He is also keen for his publishers to try the market in Canada and California.

The author is hopeful that the book will be reprinted in a year, and ski-field information will be updated on each printing. TIM DUNBAR