Telefest at Broken River ski club, New Zealand.
The
Broken River ski club
is a club ski field located on the South Island of New Zealand. It is 100km
west of Christchurch in the Craigieburn range.
There are quite ski clubs that have their own fields snow fields in New Zealand. On researching the skiing areas I found that this club had a telefest running in August, with a well priced package including accommodation, some instruction and a lift pass.
Jetstar had a one of their Friday specials for flights, and the YHA in Methven had a bus shuttle service from Christchurch to Broken River: fast forward from April to August and here I am on the slopes.
Looking at the mountain in the picture above and looking at the mountains in
the picture below for comparison in Australia; you might understand that
little old Stuart was somewhat intimidated. Fear prevailed over any skills I
might of had, and on the first day and I tumbled a few times.
I was, yep I was a bit scared. I felt like a rank beginner and didn’t help
that I fell over more than a couple of times before getting the skill set
necessary to use the rope tows.
Remember those times when you first tried the T-Bars on the ski slopes,
well they are a mere triviality compared to the rope tows. You have these
devices called nutcrackers, aptly named in their likeness to a Christmas-time
nut cracker. The nutcracker is attached to a waist belt, and the idea is that
you use it to clamp on to this fast moving continuously looping rope that runs
up the slope. Timing is everything, get your posture right and your hands out
the way all before the fast encroaching pulleys attempt to crush your –
fortunately gloved – fingers – and make sure you bail out before that happens
!
If things go wrong and you don’t let go, the consequential punishment is
brutal.
OK, I was intimidated, my ski gear had to be upgraded from the narrow S-Bound
touring skis to some 100mm resort telemarks and I needed some lessons to take
on this beast of a mountain. It was not all bad, in fact I took the bait, got
hooked, landed and am now in the frying pan ready to be served to the hungry
masses.
My skills were upgraded with some private and group lessons thanks to the
tireless and thoroughly professional members – particularly Claire and Jim
(Marty I’m not sure that I’d ever reach your standard !):
Dinner time, no worries about starving or weight gain after the days of
workouts.
All fun on the last night with party time.
Broken River – I’ll be back for sure.
This club, this ski field, the telefest event, the rustic charm of the antiquated facilities: – I love it all . The members they are friendly, outgoing and the people that I feel that I am and best associate with.
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