WINTER SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 11

WINTER SPORTS

FURTHER DELAYS BAD WEATHER CONTINUES MANY VISITORS AT CHATEAU EXCURSIONISTS' DAY SPOILED [By TELEGRAPH —SPKCIAL REPORTKR] THE CHATEAU, Sunday The spell of bad weather at National Park, which is the worst ever experienced for a winter sports meeting here, continued unbroken during the weekend. Only two out of six events in the inter-Dominion ski-ing contests have yet been decided. Australia and New Zealand have both won one. but Australia is leading by 195.25 points to 181.85. Heavy rain and sleet kept practically everyone indoors yesterday and the Australian visitors made a trip to Waitomo Caves. In spite of threatening conditions, a determined effort was made to hold the women's slalom today. The snow, which is still lying thickly about the Chateau, has been made very slushy by rain and a thaw, but on the higher levels an icy raincrust has been formed.

Track Flags Buried

Members of both teams, and the few supporters remaining, climbed to the slope'to the west of Scoria Flat where the race is to be held and found that the recent heavy snowfalls had completely buried many of the flagged poles left there after the men's race, while the jumping-platform near by had become a solid block of ice. When the icy crust had been broken with skis, a good running surface for the slalom was produced, but visibility was so bad that it was hopeless to hold the race. Heavy rain, which set in early in the afternoon, made a further postponement inevitable. The weather spoilt the day for the 220 excursionists who arrived this morning by train from Auckland. The train reached National Park shortly after six o'clock, and the excursionists were brought by a fleet of buses to the Chateau for breakfast. After the meal rooms that had been provided and the lounges, vestibules and basement of the building were filled with people changing into heavier clothes. They were provided with lunches and in spite of the rain the majority set out for the mountain. Inadequate Clothing Many were unsuitably clad, however, some women even attempting the journey in sandal-type shoes, and large numbers returned before going far. A considerable proportion of those who reached Scoria Flat found that nothing short of proper mountaineering equipment was sufficient to withstand the driving rain and snow arid bitter wind, and they got very wet during the day.

Quite a number reached Salt Hut, however, and some enjoyed several hours' ski-ing. Parties that did not attempt the climb to the ski-grounds went on one or other of the bush walks near the Chateau, while the abundant snow invited many snowfights. Many of the visitors danced in the lounge during the afternoon, and alter dinner the excursionists left to rejoin the train.

In spite of the departure of the ski clubs in the last few days all the accommodation at the Chateau is again full. Parties of boys from the Auckland Grammar School and the Hamilton Technical High School have arrived, and further parties from Auckland, Wellington and Waikato secondary schools are due shortly. Many large private parties also arrived during the week-end. A number of the schoolboys had the benefit of ski instruction from T. W. Mitchell, captain of the visiting Australian team, 011 a slope in front of the Chateau yesterday.