WINTER PLAYGROUND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 190, 13 August 1931, Page 8

WINTER PLAYGROUND

POPULAR SNOW SPORTS DOMINION’S ATTRACTIONS MANY EXPERTS ON SKIS. The fact that 20 New Zealanders have entered for the ski-ing championships of Australia, to be held on Mount Kosciusko this month, draws attention to the growing popularity of this winter sport among New Zealand and Australian people. Whereas ten years ago it was practically unknown in the Dominion, hundreds of ski-ing enthusiasts now visit the snow playgrounds of New Zealand every winter to indulge in the sport and increase their ski-ing efficiency. The skill displayed by many New Zealand athletes on skis, the development of facilities for the sport and the magnificent Alpine scenery for which the Dominion is famed, lead to the hope that the time may not be far distant when New Zealand will be a recognised centre for ski-ing sports of an international standard, to be visited by European competitors. Probably it will not be long before New Zealand will be sending teams overseas to compete in contests which are held annually in Switzerland. The snow slopes of Ruapehu, Egmont and the Southern Alps, form magnificent training grounds. The Ruapehu Ski Club, which is the pioneer club of its kind in New Zealand, and the activities of which are mainly devoted to the advancement of ski-ing and winter games, has done much to place this great sport on the plane on which it stands to-day. Club’s Annual Programme. Included in the programme of the club’s activities during the annual visit to Tongariro National Park every winter is a sports programme which is open to members of the club and a number of events for which entries are solicited from visitors to the Park at the time. Three years ago a New Zealand Amateru Ski-ing Championship was held and the fine standard of the ski-ing in that and other events since then has been noticeable.

It is now an important annual event and is held on Scoria Flat, on the slopes of Ruapehu, where a good skirun is obtainable. The third contest will take place during the annual visit of the club to the Park in three weeks. The race will be watched with interest, especially by Australian ski-ers, who are keenly interested in the sport on Ruapehu. The Ruapehu Ski Club in its annual report makes reference to the interest taken in New Zealand by the New South Wales Ski Council and Australian ski-ing enthusiasts 'in general. The Australian Ski Year Book, recently published, explained to Australian "ski-ers the Ruapehu Ski Club’s activities and the latter club expresses the view in its annual report that in the not too-distant future it will be possible to arrange for competitive visits of New Zealand ski-ers to Australia.

A splendid ski ground is situated on the summit of Alount Tongariro at National Park, but owing to the difficulty of transporting equipment and the distance from accommodation, the opening of this ground is not yet feasible. The nearest hut is that at Maungatepopo, from which ascents of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are usually commenced. Facilities in Other Directions. Alount Egmont is another winter playground with possibilities. This fine snow-capped peak needs careful climbing and under right conditions. The Egmont Alpine Club, with headquarters at Hawera, is the strongest Club, and the Syme Hut, which was built by members on Fantham’s Peak, is a base for ski-ers and climbers. Good ski-ing is obtainable round the hun, while on the Stratford Plateau, which is reached from Dawson Falls or Stratford House, is a cleared space which gives ski-ing when the conditions are right. The Tararua Tramping Club has its headquarters at Wellington and although almost entirely devoted to tramping tours of the Tararua Ranges, has among its members some promising ski-ers. There are numerous Alpine and tramping clubs in Christchurch, and the eas access from there to points of the Southern Alps has done much to encourage the mountaineer and Alpine sports enthusiast. The Christchurch Ski Club is a prominent body and has some very keer. members, who have scaled peaks in the Alps. Championships and all snow sports are now conducted annually by clubs visiting the Hermitage, a new area which is rapidly gaining favour. playgrounds in the South. Increasing numbers of people are visiting Arthur’s Pass each year and the recent great snowfall has done still more to bring this winter playground before the public. It is truly a mountaineer’s paradise, and Alount Rolleston, 8000 ft., has a fine- glacier on its shoulders. Down in South Westland are those magnificent glaciers the Franz Josef and the Fox. Ice climbing is obtainable and the huge snowfields at the head of the glaciers are reputed to be second to none.

A strong tramping club is in existence in Dunedin and some splendid week-end trips are made by its members along the coast and over the hills around Dunedin. Annual visits to mountain and glacier regions are largely attended. In Central Otago ice sports have a large number of followers. Ice-curling is a favourite game when lakes and reservoirs freeze and a recent bonspiel at Naseby attracted competitors numbering over 100 and spectators from all over the South Island. Tobogganing, ski-ing and skating also have their followers in the South.