CHAT. August Snow Reports. CSA Snowphone (03)

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1 August 2013 CHAT AND 2011 FROM THE PRESIDENT Hello all Time has been flying by and while it only seems like yesterday I wrote about the goings on at the mountain, it is time for another update. We have been fortunate that with the early snowfalls we had, we have managed to get through our prime busy weeks during the school holidays and keep the mountain open for all to enjoy. I can personally recommend the skiing and judging from the comments I have heard from people riding the T bar we actually have better snow conditions than other ski areas, and while this cover has been dwindling since our last snowfall the temperatures have been generally cold enough to keep us going, The skiing is springlike in consistency and there is still a good cover particularly on the upper mountain. It has also been great to go up to the mountain and enjoy the sun and environment when the weather in town has been dull and overcast. The Ski weekers and public that have been up the mountain have by all accounts had an enjoyable time. As already mentioned we are working on getting the upper mountain webcam in operation so that we can show how good the snow actually is above tower 5. At present we are working towards having this in place by the 10 th August. Operationally the mountain has been working well, a big thanks to Owen ( for stepping in while Cam was AWOL in Rarotonga ), Mariska and all staff for their efforts to ensure all comers have an enjoyable time. IN THIS ISSUE From the President Cam s Column Mid Season meeting From the Club Captain Ski Weeks Photos Any Old Junk? Important Dates & Events More 2013 Staff Profiles Snow Ball Club Contacts 2013 p1 p2 p2 p3 p4 p4 p6 p7 p8 p9 Don t forget to look at your calendars for all the events that are happening on the mountain, and we always welcome helpers and participants to these, as a lot of organization goes on behind the scenes, and on the day by members/volunteers and staff to make these happen! Your support is always welcome. That s about it for now, so stay safe and well and we look forward to seeing you up the hill! Paul Lamont Snow Reports CSA Snowphone (03) Press 2 for Cheeseman conditions Or: Or: Cheeseman/6day/mid At present as I write this (Fine wine aka AA or adults week) is under way and they have have been enjoying themselves and have had a wee fall of freshies, with hopefully more on the way! This being followed by Wellington week.

2 CAM S COLUMN I ve just arrived back from a great family holiday in Rarotonga and getting re-acclimatised to the winter again! My thanks to Owen who stood in for me while I was away enjoying the warmer climate of the Cook Islands and my apologies for the vague report but I m still trying to get out of Island Time and back into Mountain Time! The new Explosives Magazine is now in place and fully certified and again we must pass on our thanks to the Air Rescue Trust for the funding they provided towards this project. July seems to have flown by and we now head into August which will hopefully welcome with it some more snow which would certainly be greatly accepted. The July school holidays are now almost a distant memory but those who visited us certainly had a ball and both Holiday Ski Weeks were full at Snowline Lodge with reasonable numbers also staying at Forest Lodge. There have been some fantastic days over the last month with stunning sunrises and crisp clear bluebird days so let s hope they continue through August and into September! New snow has been a little lean over recent weeks but the skiing has remained very good and there have been favourable comments from visitors that our snow is better than others. We are hopeful that there will be some snow on its way this week for guests on Fine Wine to enjoy. Next week is Wellington week which is full and then Open Week which commences on the 18 August has a few beds still available. The second webcam, which has been positioned at lunch rock, is about a week away from being commissioned and we are looking forward to seeing it in action as it will give a much better perspective of the upper mountain conditions thanks to Paul L for driving this project forward. We ve got a few events under our belts now and August is still packed with more coming up this weekend is Club Champs so be sure to check out the details for this and other events elsewhere in Chat or on the website events Calendar. The Mid-Season meeting is scheduled in for 7:30pm Monday 19 August at the Woolston Club and we d love to see you there to hear the mountain news and updates hot off the press with updates from President Paul, Treasurer Dave Gibbons and myself. Hopefully most of you have had a chance to meet some of the new staff members they are all now well ensconced into the operation and doing a great job. More staff profiles appear on p.7 of this Chat. A small number of them will be departing in early September but the core staff will remain on until the end of the season in late September / Early October. My thanks to the staff for their work so far running our multi-faceted mountain operation. Until next month take care. Cam Cheers Mid Season General Meeting Woolston Club Hargood Street Monday August 7.30pm 2 Come along and hear what s been happening and have your say.

3 FROM THE CLUB CAPTAIN COMING EVENTS There are more Events happening. In fact most weekends we have something on... Club Champs - Sat-Sun Aug This is a fun two days of races just for you club members. There are races for all ages - no worry if you have never raced before - just have a go! Register on the morning of each day in the Day Lodge. - no charge. Book into Snowline or Forest lodge and stay Saturday night. Programme Sat 10 Aug 10:00am Dog Tucker - for over 50yr's only 1:00pm Downhill Sun 11 Aug 10:00am Slalom 1:00pm Giant Slalom Club Cups - If you won a cup last year and still have it we should have been in contact with you by now to make sure it will be here in time for this year s racing. If you haven t heard from us please call the mountain and let Ali Kircher know the arrangements for its (their) return. Race Practice Days School kids - there is one further Practice Day for you to get that race technique sorted. On Sunday August 18 th Corporate Events Following on from the successful staging of the Accountants v. Lawyers corporate day, they are returnling this year on Wed 14 August and then on Wed 21 August for the first time we are hosting an Architects v. Engineers event. If any of you are members of any of those professions you are welcome to take part. For the first event contact s David.Gibbons@crombielockwood.co.nz and for the second event, the contact is William Fulton - wfulton@frta.co.nz CHEESEMAN SUNDAY JUNIOR TRAINING NOW UNDER WAY Cheeseman Ski Area runs a training programme for member s children AND their friends on Sunday afternoons. The programme offers 2 options 1 ski technique and race training 2 freestyle both ski and board riders Time 1.15pm 3.15pm The programme will consist of: a developmental programme aimed at improving skill and confidence building a fun team atmosphere of member s children and friends assessing all participants against the FUNdamentals levels run by Snowsports NZ The FUNdamentals programme awards participants with tags for each level they achieve when assessed by their instructor. Timetable - Initially the programme will run for 6 weeks If there is a closed day then the programme will run for an extra week to ensure a full 6 Sundays of training are offered The programme caters for Members children and friends. Non-members costs do not include a subsidy. Extra participants can join the group on the day if there is space and at the cost of an extra session and by 11am Cost 6 week programme Members - $120 6 week programme Non-members - $180 extra session Member - $30 Extra session Non-member - $40 To enrol for the 6 week programme - Enrol at the Cheeseman mountain office (vouchers can be used) ars Kuenzel And Undie 500 is on Saturday September 7th Start planning your outfit - bring your friends\ or just come and watch, enjoy and have a laugh. 3

4 WORK PARTIES DURING THE SEASON VOLUNTEERS We urgently need volunteers to assist in running events and Cafe over the winter season. Most of you have already completed your 2 work party days so when you assist for extra days you earn a work party voucher. Voucher values are: Adult member full day voucher $40 Adult member half day voucher $20 Student member full day voucher $30 Student member half day voucher $15 Please consider assisting on one or more of these events or Cafe as we need your time and energy to help us run the mountain over the season: SKI WEEKS & WEEKEND BOOKINGS Ski weeks and dates on the club website. It s time to make your booking while beds remain available - go to the website and book online! ve/ Note: This year our Dinner Bed and Breakfast Package also includes lunches - excellent value! SKI WEEKS - PHOTOS Holiday 1 Cafe volunteers are still needed for a number of days/weekends. If you work a weekend on the cafe your accommodation on the Saturday night is at no cost. Please contact Kat or Hannah at the Mountain office.. Primary Schools Practice Day Half Day Sunday 18 th August :To assist with registration plus start & finish of race. Primary & Intermediate Schools Ski Race Full day on Sunday 25 th August: P & I s are our most successful club member run event of the season, and we still need three or four or more people to help. This is a special Cheeseman event which brings a lot of new families to the field. It is a fun day where many of the club members get together to help create a successful event, and foster an awareness of club skiing amongst the families that come up with their young skiers. Please contact Denise on members@mtcheeseman.co.nz or phone during week day evenings Cheers, Denise The crew in the half-finshed igloo are: Isaac, Pieter, Craig, Nigel, Harry All schools practice day 28 July 4

5 The finished product! Graham - ffortified wine expert Toby - waiter extraordinaire Lessons with instructor Jack FINE WINE WEEK Twins night - Judith and Natalie Rolyentertains Patron Rob and Paula 5

6 A request from Michael Willis of Willowbank Wildlife Reserve ANY OLD JUNK? Personal connections have long linked Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch with the Craigieburn Valley, and in particular with the Mount Cheeseman Ski Club. A major attraction at Willowbank is what is known as the Alpine Aviary, which is home to a breeding group of Kea and other residents. The entrance to the exhibit is currently being redeveloped, the theme being an old ski hut. The concept is modelled from a photo taken from the Cheeseman book Cockayne of the original Bottom Hut, but the reality will be more like the first top hut known as the Robbins Nest. It is only a small hut, approx. 6m X 6m. It will be rustic in design, and set to illustrate that early pioneering period. To bring life to the exhibit means having items of that period. Such items could be Outside : Tow equipment; Blood bath body sledge; Nichols/Campbell Austin 7 on tracks; old series one landrover etc Verandah : Old skis, ski poles, flags, avalanche poles, ski boots, crampons, seal skins, bindings etc. Inside : Photos, packs, clothing, utensils, badges, lamps, tools, signs, tins etc. If anyone has any items that they think may be of interest, then it would be appreciated if they could contact either Dale@willowbank.co.nz Or Ali from Cheeseman : kircher@inet.net.nz IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS Sat-Sun Aug - Club Champs. Tues 13 Aug - Secondary School Races Wed 14 Aug - Accountants vs Lawyers Corporate Day Sat-Sun Aug - Avalanche training Sun 18 Aug Mon 19 Aug - Schools practice day Mid Season meeting Wed 21 Aug - Architects vs Engineers Corporate Day Sun 25 Aug - Primary & Intermediate School Races Sat 7 Sept - Undie 500 Sat 14 Sept - Sat 12 Oct Pirate Day Snow Ball 6

7 MORE 2013 STAFF PROFILES Hello! My name is Iris and I m from Holland. This is my first season at Mt Cheeseman. I came here to visit my sister Mariska. She has been living in NZ for 5 years. I visited her a few years ago so this is my second time here and I really enjoy it. Before I came to Cheeseman, I finished my study as a secretary. I am a volunteer the whole season. Sometimes I work as a nanny but most of the time I help in the cafe. I m looking forward to meeting you at Cheeseman and having a great time on the mountain with a lot of snow fun. Travis is from Puiallup, Washington and is this year s Forest Lodge caretaker. This is his first time in NZ. Prior to Cheeseman, Travis was traveling NZ on a motorcycle and lived and worked in Wellington. Travis has enjoyed trapping possums since he arrived in NZ and has spent living in the bush in the Tararua Ranges. Back home, Travis worked as a security guard while studying Art & Architecture at University of Washington. After graduating, Travis embarked upon a road trip around America and then to Australia, where he then came to New Zealand. Travis welcomes you to come skate at Forest Lodge and stay for a while. Hi, my name is Hannah and I m from Bath, England. This is my first season at Cheeseman, and I ve been in New Zealand since February where I worked at Sky City in Auckland for 3 months. I traveled both North and South islands before coming to Cheeseman, and plan to continue sightseeing on my days off. Before NZ, I travelled in Australia for 2 months. I am a qualified nursery nurse, book keeper, have worked in investment for 8 years, and will be returning to my job after Cheeseman. However, I keep extending my stay in New Zealand longer and longer because I love it here. I had never seen significant mountains or snow prior to coming to Cheeseman, and I am loving to learn to snowboard. Erin is this year s chef and she is from Texas! This is her first visit to New Zealand. Prior to Cheeseman, Erin lived and worked in Fox Glacier. Erin is learning to shred the gnar on her snowboard and is having a great season thus far. Erin studied Costume Technology at the University of Texas. She looks forward to using her skills to build an abominable snowman to prowl the slopes at Cheeseman. In her own words she says, Hope ya ll come round! Tobias (Toby) (not pictured) is originally from Basel, Switzerland, but came to N.Z. 6 1/2 years ago. He works as a ski and snowboard instructor at Cheeseman Sundays through Tuesdays. Toby is a qualified pastry chef and particularly likes baking European pastries. Before Toby came to NZ, he lived and worked at various ski resorts in Switzerland. Toby most enjoys teaching kids to ski or snowboard and admiring the beautiful mountain scenery in New Zealand. mo 7

8 Snow Ball tickets are now on sale!!! As mentioned in the last Chat, 70 have been allocated to Cheeseman and they will be sought after. You need to be quick! Any of our tickets unsold by August 31st will be put back into the pool for the other Clubs to grab! Tickets can be purchased online at Eventfinder - the link is: You will need to enter our own promo code which is Cockayne Ticket purchases are limited to 4 per person. If you prefer to buy a hard copy ticket, or if you have any questions, contact Ali on or kircher@inet.net.nz If tickets are still available,we will have some for sale at the mid season meeting. Monday 19th August. Details again in next Chat. Keep the date. 8

9 CLUB CONTACTS 2013 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Management Committee, Development Council, Office and Web. Patron Rob Gibson Ph President (Acting) Paul Lamont Ph. (H) Vice President Alison Kircher Ph. (H) Club Captain Ros Service Ph. (H) Committee Sue Alexander Ph.: (H) Dave Hinman Ph. (H) Denise Tinga Tel: (H) Mountain Manager Cameron Lill Ph Treasurer David Gibbons Ph Immediate Past President Paul Rogers Ph Ana Haase Ph (H) Dean Johnston Tel: (H) Minutes Secretary Gini McIntosh Ph: (H) DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: William Fulton Ph Sean Moran Ph Graham Stephenson Ph President, one Vice- President, Treasurer and Immediate Past President Mt Cheeseman Ski Club Inc P O Box Christchurch, Office Phone (03) Office Fax (03) office@mtcheeseman.co.nz Mountain ph (03) (Snowline) Webpage: Mt Cheeseman Ski Club Inc P O Box Christchurch