History of N.Z. ski-ing

Press, 30 May 1987, Page 18

History of N.Z. ski-ing

Six years of research, during which time much old film footage was found and dusted off, lie behind “Turn of the Century,” a documentary on the history of New Zealand ski-ing, screening on One at 1.35 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday). It is produced and directed by Howard Moses, the maker of two previous New Zealand ski films, "Incredible Mountains” and “Across the Main Divide”; as well as a short documentary on the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. Both the National Film Unit and the National Film Library were good sources of material, as were individuals such as Roy McKenzie, a member of the first New Zealand team to attend a Winter Olympics, (Oslo, 1952), and Nui Robins, of Christchurch, a founding member of the Canterbury Winter Sports Club at Mount Cheeseman in 1929. A lot of the film discovered was poor quality, scratchy even, but came

up well with the application of modern techniques. The viewer may be occasionally confused, but should have little chance of being bored; old footage is spliced with new and action shoots back and forth between the North and South Islands. There are the “pioneers” teaching themselves to ski on blades fashioned from farm implements, and the hanggilders and heli-skiers of the 1980 s. The thoroughly modern quad “social” chairlift at Cardrona, Wanaka, is contrasted with the rope tows of the past, and further back, trekking by horseback to go ski-ing at Mount Cook in the 19205. Every variation of skiing is included, as well as other winter sports such as ice hockey, figure skating and even curling. “Turn of the Century” is from Zealando Films with John Callen as narrator and original music by Rob Winch.