Fox Peak has name change

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 34

Fox Peak has name change

Fox Peak has gone upmarket. It is now calling itself the Fox Peak Ski Area, the playground of the Tasman Ski Club.

The slight change of title for this club ski-field near Fairlie, is meant to clarify things for folk who were confused about the whereabouts of the Tasman Ski Club. Fox Peak, one of the more venerable club fields around, turns 60 this year, though the occasion was initially going to pass without any great celebrations. “We’ll probably have a few wines at a committee meeting,” said a club spokesman.

But on deliberation there were thoughts that the opening of the new hut extension might be a good time to mark the occasion.

During summer things have been happening. The 30-bunk, rather ancient, bottom hut should now be more comfortable. A big new common room, or living room has been added together with a new toilet block. New kitchen facilities are also a possibility for the coming season.

These moves are leading into a major redevelopment of the rest of that hut next season.

Eventually there will be a new drying room and redeveloped bunkrooms. The intended final product was described as basically "a new hut but the old shell.” Otherwise there has been general road maintenance with the rope tows regarded as being of sufficiently good standard not to require any work.

The Tasman Ski Club is still in the black. Again last year there was not a lot of ski-ing, but enough to make ends meet. Like the Amuri club field, Fox Peak is blessed with a snow-groomer, in this case a Bombardier “ski

dozer.” Fox Peak is sticking to its tradition of hiring German ski instructors and this year’s is the 30-year-old, Thomas Scheufele. Each year the club’s contact in Germany, Dr Suzi Gartner, sorts out the current crop. The club runs a ski sale in Timaru every year and the 1989 one was held last Saturday. ® Fox Peak, 37km from Fairlie, 98km from Timaru, five rope tows. Vertical drop: 650 metres. Adult lift charge: $2O. Road toll: none. Ski touring from Apex lift.