Catch 22- It’s not the easiest but it what makes us the best.

I’ve recently followed a ski trip by Rachel Oaks-ash, aka, Miss-snow-it-all a reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald, where she indulged in some of the testingly rural, (for Sydney) and yet comfortingly exclusive destinations of your New Zealand ski scene. I also followed another trip by Molly Barker, a fellow kiwi, it was interesting to hear another point of view of our mountains and iconic scenery, described with such enthusiasm. An important point made in both articles however was that skiing in NZ is by far not an easy task, noted as “a different animal”. Our mountain access is not what you would call ski-in ski-out, our weather is not as predictable as some might like to think, our snow-conditions haven’t reached the Utah standard, nor the size of the resort reached the Europe standard, yet we’re still battling on. We’ve produced some of the best free-skiers in the world, the ski racing teams are catching up to the Euro’s and the mountain resorts keep expanding… us kiwi’s still love to ski.

Nothing brings out the best in New Zealand skiing than spring. I recently made a trip back to my home mountain, (TC) after a lengthy recovery from a shoulder injury and pretty well got the best of the best. The day before we were heli skiing in some not so far off ranges, skiing amongst the tallest peaks of the area, we laid some fresh tracks in some steep and rolling terrain akin to the produce of the Swiss Alps, (lucky as some trips might not be so good). Heading up the winding road in the morning we were amped to ski some similar terrain, later to find TC didn’t disappoint. Being spring the snow was soft down low but up high the quality was still good. We made the hike to the summit rocks and skied the back ridge before hopping back over the front side to and ripping some more turns. The back drop was stunning, after skiing around the world and experiencing some awesome places nothing bets a snow capped scenery matched with the freshness of spring from the colours at the valley floor. Lunch time, and after a quick break for a pie, the sun began to unleash its spring strength. The Matukituki ridge softened to a smooth spring corn and was riding good all day. 4pm and we were happy to call it a day with sore legs and the beckoning of a good local brew down in town. 

 For most mountain resorts the ‘après ski’ might signify the end of the day and for some the start to a big night but in NZ, jack of all trades, it carries on. We made our way to happy hour at the bar and watched the start of the wakeboard boats cruise around then lake then moved on to play some Frisbee golf, something new to me, at Lismore Park until the last of the light disappeared over Black Peak. The next day we skied a half day at TC then rock climbed in the valley below, it was refreshing to get so much in one day, (and the week for that matter). The long days and warm weather offered so much and the mountains, the access, and the size make it all possible to fit everything in… it’s just right. Closing day, not far off now, might signify the end to another short season but for a little island in the middle of the pacific we don’t do too bad.      

We might not be the biggest, the best, or the easiest but it’s the way it should be. Ski-in/ski-out resorts and the bling of Whistler or Saint Moritz can stay where they are; in NZ we do things a little bit different around here.    

Words by Fraser McDougall
Fantastic images by Neil Kerr of NZskier.com