an even slower start

Thought autumn and winter was slow to start last year?

looking at the temporary Knoll cafe from the new one

Aside from a holiday to Melbourne at the beginning of May (when it was freeeeeeezing) it just hasn't felt cold. Keep telling myself that autumn is a tease anyway, but things not feeling "right" were confirmed when it was reported to be the warmest May in NZ since records began.... wetter and 2.5'C warmer than normal. Now it's looking like the warmest June on record.

Other indicators of the warmness are:

• constantly overdressing for work since my return from my Australia holiday
• no frost on my car (while it is rare, there might have been at least one occurance by now)
• not even looked at my board, nor got it out for the pre season wax
• only one pre season jaunt to the National Park after an earlier snowfall 

The recent cold fronts just didn't happen last weekend, there is another predicted for this weekend, please please please snow.

... the start of something??again?

I know we moan about it every year, and generally the snow/trails are pretty crap (except for the good days)... but to be starting from scratch is pretty worrying. Turoa was supposed to open this weekend but has now moved to July 2nd, same day at Whakapapa.  South Island ski fields have all postponed their openings til further notice.

shoulda been here yesterday

These words of all words can make a weekend warrior cringe. Friday the 24th July was a bit of a magic day on Rua we heard. Nice freshies and people hooting all over the hill. "Shoulda been here yesterday" they said.

The weather forecast for the Saturday 25th looked bad, but we risked it at Turoa. The snow that was supposed to fall overnight never came, and the winds and showers for that day didn't come either. We watched a bit of the Jib Nats in the terrain park and in the afternoon found sunny releasing faces. All the while staring wider out at the frozen s shaped tracks taunting us from the day before.

Home Run leftovers, looks nice but frozen solid

Sunday, the suppose'd pick of the weekend, snow guns were all go. It was calm and clear and scope for going wide narrowed even more as it froze over, trail riding only. Oh, and to all the people who called Sunday. "Shoulda been here yesterday!" we said. haha.

Sunday - snow guns on the Bone Yard

Then, Wed/Thurs/Fri were freshies days on the hill. Once again, watching it, hearing it from work, and hoping there would be something left for us on the weekend. The weather outlook for the weekend was iffy again, but this time it seemed if it was gonna happen it would be Saturday or not at all.

We got up nice and early Sat 31st to beat predicted winds. At this time of year Turoa is still the dark side first thing in the morning. I love the shadow cast out to Ohakune.

A few quick laps off the Express and the Jumbo T, heading out wider each time as the sun rose higher. My last couple of runs out Slider I was on my own, as my boyfriend had headed for the crater mission. The breeze was starting to come through from the west and I wanted to scope out the Organ Pipes for my next run before I ventured in there. I had my next run all sorted in my head and was sitting on the Movenpick when I looked east and remembered a spot that not many people head to. And this was where I ended up staying for rest of the afternoon. Lap after lap, heading wider along this creamy face each time, I couldn't believe it wasn't completely chicken scratched by now, being the 4th day. A sheltered sunny spot, shared with few, short run, quick traverse over to the lower Amphitheatre onto Clarry's and back onto the 'Pick. It looked crowded at the bottom, but the queue was basically non existant. It was a great day, all lifts open and softness all over for people to spread wide. Plenty of smiles on weekend faces, happy to be here once again.

can't believe this is barely touched on the 4th day

Fun Times at Turoa

Less novel more pics... Here's a quick look at the weekend just gone at Turoa.

Saturday dawned and we're now at the 1m mark at Turoa! After 2 years on the Meadow, the Fischer Retro GS moved back to the Yahoo trail. BUT, like the 2 years before, it was a grey wet one. The standards are getting higher every year. With extra points awarded for the age of the gear, there are some fine specimens of old boards, skis and clothing coming out of the woodwork. Extra points went to the guy who had a Coronet Peak lift pass from the 80's - still attached to his jacket!! It was a perfect day for testing the limits of the 20 year old Gortex, or Grandad's wooly jumper and flared ski suit. Despite the leaks there were smiles all round especially when showers gave way to big clumpy snow. Freshies tomorrow?!

Sunday... well to all of you who called it and went home, sorry! Sunday was beautiful. A dusting of fresh all over and sunny blue skies. Cloud tried to sneak in late morning, I got some wicked pics, couple of pea soup moments up top, but then it disappeared altogether. A great day for the last day of the school holidays with not a lot of people about.

Girdlestone

western view over the Organ Pipes