Media upset ski clubs

Press, 26 August 1982, Page 26

Media upset ski clubs

Ski-ing’s growing popularity has put a far greater responsibility on clubs to teach the dangers of mountain use, according to the Canterbury Ski Association. Recent avalanches have not been good publicity for club ski-fields and the association is not happy with possible inferences from newspaper articles and a recent television programme that the clubs ‘ lack experience in the area of snow safety. "Canterbury clubs, without exception, have their own safety programmes relating to the running of ski lifts, snow and avalanche dangers, and search and rescue,” said the association’s chairman, Mr Ted Clarke. Mr Clarke said that there

were now many newcomers to ski-ing who were using the mountains but did not have “the benefit of the old timers’ hard-won knowledge.” The association had had a meeting with the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council about a month ago, and the two bodies were now working together to improve communications and snow safety, said Mr Clarke. “We are setting up an avalanche safety programme for ski-field managers and have asked the Mountain Safety Council for technical assistance, to supply the expertise.” Mr Clarke said that there would be an avalanche safety course next June. The

Porter Heights snow safety officer, Mr David McNulty, was certain to be involved in setting up the programme. “Every club will • have a standard procedure,” he said. Mr Clarke said that the association was working on communication links between many of the ski areas to provide essential back-up and assistance. Canterbury ski clubs had been passing on advice on the sensible use of ski areas for many year, he said.

Ski-ing had begun in Canterbury in the late 1920 s when members of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club formed several branches in the Craigieburn Range.

“These far-sighted and strong-backed people knew their mountains, their snow conditions, and when to expect nor-westerly gales, southerly snow, or avalanches; and they learned to live with these extremes of Nature,” Mr Clarke said. “Many of these originals are still with us to impart their wisdom to younger club skiers, and to teach the dangers of the unforgiving conditions which exist in our mountains.” Mr Clarke said that , the Canterbury Ski Association now comprised representatives of 15 ski clubs from Nelson to Timaru, and worked in the interests of the biggest body of skiers in New Zealand.'