 Poster: A snowHead
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Temple Basin, a ski area in New Zealand's south island, faces insolvency unless its supporters put up enough money to keep it afloat.
After a very poor winter for snow, the club which operates the ski field - typical of those which form a backbone of New Zealand skiing - is unable to meet its debts in early 2006. The club has now put out "an SOS" for help.
This report from TVNZ.co.nz
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| There is more to the field than just skiing and snowboarding. Temple Basin is also a vital winter survival training ground for the armed services, police, and even mountain rescue teams. |
Anyone know this place? Even better ... anyone skied it?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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David Goldsmith, NZ's club fields are a "backbone of New Zealand skiing"????? You sure??? I would've said the commercial resorts of Queenstown and Ruapehu fill that gap. Even NZers themselves often don't know where/how to contact a Club secretary!!!
Mind you it's true that when NZ has a bad winter it tends to be felt throughout the industry, at both the commercial and club fields. In the late 1990s (following a spectacularly bad run of bad snow falls coupled with the volcano deciding to wake up) the country expected Turoa to close forever until some interesting deals and accounting work occured to "rationalise" it with Whakapapa.
Mike Pow's link appropriately mentions: "All clubs are suffereing now. Fox Peak didn't manage a single day this season, Cragieburn only got 4 weeks this year and are in similar finacial hardship. Unless 2006 is a good year, a lot of club fields may have to close. Hanmer Springs has closed indefinitely already. People with the necessary skills and spare time just aren't joining the clubs and helping with summer maintainence any more."
But I shouldn't worry unduly - many of the "closed indefinately" club fields are privately owned (either by the club or a private individual who leases the land to the club) and are situated in places where there's little demand for the land - they'll just lie fallow until someone with energy and money gets involved and revives them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Manda, I used to ski with a lot of Kiwi skiers who always used to talk about the club fields. You're right - I did hesitate before using the word "backbone" and wondered "Is someone going to put me right on this?". Thanks!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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And imagine if I could spell proficiencywith proficiency!! 
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Here's how Temple Basin is appealing for financial support: a personal plea for subs and donations from their president, Martin Toon, via this page on the Snow.co.nz site.
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| As reported in the media during the past winter season, snow conditions for ski fields have been very unfavourable, and in fact our season has been the most difficult in living memory ... Without assistance from people who care about the tradition that this committee has been maintaining for 76 years, there seems to be no alternative other than to cease operations at Temple Basin, with great sadness. |
He goes on to give a positive statement of the state of the facilities and promises that every donation over $500 gets a complimentary season liftpass for 2006.
So, let's see if Temple Basin gets to roll its bullwheels for another winter.
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Manda, Are you an Aussie? 
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FAQ
which is still a big number by NZ standards.... 
