 Poster: A snowHead
|
Kicking it off with the latest charts.
Nothing on the ground but looking like a season starter next week with a 50 cm ish storm.
Lifts are scheduled to start spinning in 5 weeks time but if this comes off some of the clubbies will hopefully open up earlier
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
A bit northwards, looks like Ruapehu will still be operating this year despite the RAL administration situation being unresolved (sod all on their website of course)?
Not yet even selling their season passes which is pretty late on now (not that I’ll be buying one this year).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
@ster, I’ll be (happily) surprised if they get open. Sounds like govt agencies are being very slow to approve funding guarantees for receivers, so recruitment of staff and season pass sales will be left too late to make happen.
Does however mean that it will be great for touring. I’ve never been there but may pay a visit in spring
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@hang11, a disaster for the local economy in the offing then?
If they do open I would think season passes could still sell as the market for those must be local/Auckland and thats not going away (Even if Aucklanders then plan instead the odd trip to SI fields to make up)
But recruitment might be a problem as they might not be able to offer lessons and the income that brings or to open all areas which would really impact it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Receivers are focussed on the best outcome for creditors, as they should be, and having had some professional involvement with them before, I know they are very good at what they do - ie get value for creditors - the concerns of the local community are irrelevant to them. So unless government step up with an offer to improve the outcome for creditors I don’t think they will get open. They have said there are 4 offers on the table, but no more detail given.
There’s a whole bunch of BS with iwi involved and government looking like they will lose the election so kicking the can down the road. Any operator would need a bunch of guarantees around contingent liabilities for remediation of the mountain and treaty stuff as well. It’s super complicated given all the different parties interested and with an agenda.
It’s not like the South Island which is pretty much run by the pale male and stale old boy farmer network.
* all just my personal opinion as an ex finance person turned dropkick snowboarder 
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Fri 5-05-23 11:00; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Slight correction
| hang11 wrote: |
| Receivers are focussed on the best outcome for receivers |
Yes creditors might get something back but the receivers own pockets get filled early rather than on any success base for the creditors.
At the risk of derailing your thread early, I wonder who’s in the running? Would groups like Vail be interested or is it too small/risky. I imagine a local (non-profit) group might be good. What happened to the fund raising of life pass holders? And the SI field owners?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ster wrote: |
Slight correction
| hang11 wrote: |
| Receivers are focussed on the best outcome for receivers |
|
Solid correction !
I think someone like vail would be scared off by the iwi involvement. Treaty stuff is a whole legal system they have no experience of. And it’s probably small beans for them. They have gone into oz resorts but I guess the attraction is the Ozzies using their passes for overseas holidays. Nz is way smaller.
The two South Island operators would be better placed to get in there, but i can’t see them wanting to take on the remediation issues with the mountain being sacred or whatever the fk it is (pakeha male mainlander ignorance coming through here)
So unless it’s a bargain they would surely be better placed to bring tourists to their much better connected and structured South Island mountains in Queenstown and wanaka - I don’t go to those places - they are fkn horrible !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Never been to those SI fields but I imagine pricy as well as all of Queenstown seems priced for overseas tourists.
No doubt the iwi and the National Park involvement is difficult to cater to for any owner but they seemed to get than gondola built so I guess some inducements can work.
Maybe best if local businesses take it over as I doubt the administrators will want to open Ruapehu under their ownership. But whatever happens I do hope someone picks it up and keeps both sides open as nice to have them so close to Auckland if we go back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Any recommendations for ski hire in or around Christchurch? We are going to be touring around the stations for a couple of weeks in a motorhome. Last time (14 years ago) we took our own skis, which was a big hassle, so this time only taking our boots. We thought it would be easier to hire for the whole trip rather than every other day. Not arriving until the end of August - hopefully the conditions will be good by then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Ski lots, there will be somewhere but I don’t know of them. Is Christchurch you’re only option (your entry and exit point I assume ) and are you hiring for the all the weeks you are there rather than when you need them at each resort? There will be pros and cons of each approach of course.
Should read posts better! I’d prefer to rent as I went in case of equipment failure or the ski didnt suit and as you’re renting skis not boots the time in the shop each time will be minimal. And you should get a nice sharp and waxed pair each time.
There are usually places at the bigger resorts, such as for Mt Hutt there are a few places in Methven. So you should find rentals nearby unless you’re going to those tiny stations.
And there are loads in Queenstown.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@ster, thanks, but the decision has been made. I was really looking for a local view on which of the companies in Christchurch might offer the best service. We are anticipating moving on most evenings and accept that we might not be able to ski every day due to weather (we live in Scotland). I’ll ski on any old rubbish skis, whereas Mrs SL has an engineering background as well as masses of ski experience and ensures we don’t get fobbed of with sub-standard stuff. If they break we’ll have to deal with it when it happens, but that’s part of the point of getting a good recommendation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
@Ski lots, Gnomes in Darfield, or Snowride in Christchurch are probably the best options.
If you are touring round different areas - I assume that's the clubbies in Canterbury? If so , I would say Gnomes, just because it's the nearest to the hills on the powder highway
Other hire places:
Big Al's Methven
Alpine Sports Methven
McEwings Christchurch
Snowmania Christchurch
The big hills like Hutt, Coronet, Cardies, TC, Remarkables will have hire gear, but you could be lining up for ages to get it, and they have run out a few times on busy days.
Can't help with recommendations in Queenstown because the only times I've been there in the last 15 years I've driven straight through town to go somewhere that isn't a sh1thole 
A decent bit of snow due this week, and it's starting to get there, should be all good by end of August.
If for some reason (I don't recommend the place) you want to go to Cardrona, they are limiting day pass sales this year, and sell out a lot, so you need to pre book your days. Personally I cant understand why anyone would want to ski with that many people, especially if transport isn't an issue.
If you are touring around - my quick guide on cool places to go:
Canterbury:
If there's no new snow: Hutt/Porters or Cheeseman - they will have groomers. Hutt has chairlifts, Porters has a chair and a couple of T Bars to get up the top, Cheeseman is all T Bars
Club fields these are all nutcracker tows - Broken River is epic on a good day. Needs a bit of a walk to get in there. Olympus - don't try to drive a camper up there. Craigieburn - also epic. Temple Basin - the jewell in the crown of South Island skiing on the right day. Basically the sort of terrain you normally need a heli to get to. About an hour walk up from the road, but they have a goods lift for your gear. Hanmer Springs is great fun, road can be a bit sporty.
Mackenzie:
A couple of hours south of Christchurch - Roundhill, T bars for most of it, and mellow wide open terrain. If the heritage rope tow is open, then it's a whole lot more fun in terms of steep terrain. Dobson - low key, easy road in, a chair and a t-bar. Fun terrain. Good option on a powder day. Fox Peak - never been there, looks fun. Ohau - if there's good snow it's unmissable IMO. Epic on the right day.
If you are keen to get on a heli trip, definitely do that with Methven or Mt Cook Heli. They are the same company and really good.
And have a watch of this:
https://www.redbull.com/nz-en/films/highway-seventy-three
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Ski lots, if you happen to want a lesson at Mt Hutt I can recommend a good friend who's over there this season. She's Scottish too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
@hang11, thanks for that comprehensive response - just what I was looking for and I will follow up. We went to Ohau last time and hope to go back. Similarly did a wonderful heli day at Mt Cook last time and will probably try again if the weather plays ball.
@swskier, thanks, but not thinking of taking a lesson at Mt Hutt. I do have a former colleague working at Treble Cone, who I do want to try and link up with though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@Ski lots, Methven heli is worth a look if you have already flown Mt Cook. They have a lot of terrain they can fly into, which is epic. I won't willy wave photos on this thread, but it's by a small margin my pick of the two options. They are fairly convenient from Christchurch, and the drive up to where they fly from is a stunner, and well off the usual tourist trail. You would see a very special bit of NZ that a lot of people don't.
I'm on a touring epic around Mt Cook area end of August and beginning of September. Got 8 straight days camping/hut tour booked in. you will probably smell me when you land in Christchurch
I've had a nice bottle of Glendronach dropped off at this place, which I will be visiting on my way through.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/canterbury/300565443/the-bad-decision-hut-the-new-zealand-whisky-hut-thats-the-highest-in-the-world
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| hang11 wrote: |
Big Al's Methven
|
Good to hear they are still there, I think that’s who we used, many years ago though.
I had bought boots off Browns of Queenstown when they briefly had an Auckland shop but again, quite a while ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@hang11, thanks for the Methven tip - I’ll investigate.
I can see how the South Island terrain gives itself to touring. We do some day touring in the Alps, but this will very much be a tourist trip.
One of the things we were struck by when we last visited NZ was, despite the excellent wines, the lack of locally produced brandy or other spirits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@hang11, Aha - must check it out - thanks for the pointer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Got too much snow today.
A 1 to 2 metre storm hitting the Canterbury hills at the moment. Just had to go to work to deal with flooding and had to use my 4wd with a snorkel to get there 
Should be real good later in the week when it clears.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Ski lots, looking good now around the local areas after a few recent storms.
Everywhere has got good coverage. There’s a pwl problem in a lot of the back country areas, so if you are touring think about that and you might find some conservative terrain choices if you go up on a heli.
I think the bigger areas have been really busy on the bluebird days this year. Roundhill have got the heritage tow open which is always worth a go if there’s new snow, and broken river have got their tram thing going so no need to walk in there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@hang11, thanks for that and for earlier advice. I’ve been keeping an eye on webcams and reports and have been generally enthused. We have booked skis (on your recommendation) with Gnomes, who were very helpful and efficient. I’ve also been in contact with a couple of the heliski operations with flexible options. We intend to try and ski Mount Hutt on our first day and we have a provisional date booked to ski with a (younger) old colleague, who is working in TC this season. Other than that we are trying to be flexible and work with the weather. We won’t be ski touring though, just touring around in the camper.
Really looking forward to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@hang11, just had a superb day with Methven Heli-Skiing on your recommendation. Tempted to go back for another day before we leave NZ - although it was not in the budget!
Also used Gnomes for ski hire, who were very good and had a couple of great days at Mt Hutt.
Probably going to try Ohau next, which we enjoyed last time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Looks nice.
Weather seems to be closed in today. But, we are travelling South anyway. Hope to ski Ohau tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Looking good!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| phil_w wrote: |
| Looking good! |
Heli/hike/heli trip.
Scored it good but brutal weather and a long hike in
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Good shred.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Ohau was great.
Went to Queenstown, but it was mobbed and full of designer shops - don’t think we will bother next time.
Finally got a day on the Tasman Glacier. Skiing was easy (there was someone snowploughing down) however, it was also beautifully smooth, not sure I can remember doing so many linked turns on spring. The scenery is something else - if you get the chance do it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
The pics I posted are 2 valleys over from the Tasman. It’s stunning country all round there. Remote AF.
Queenstown is highly avoidable. Well done on seeing some proper NZ. It’s a stunning country and it’s such a shame when people visit and just go to Queenstown. It’s nothing like the rest of the country.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
El Niño delivering some late season goodness
Snake ridge to mt beuzenberg today
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@hang11, that looks pretty decent for end of season! Where were those pics taken?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@denfinella, mt hutt - the one with the sea in the background is taken from virgin mile.
Snow got a bit like blue tack by lunchtime. Good fun and no crowd for a change. Got home and went for a surf so life is good
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Good endseason pix.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
