TEMPLE BASIN IMPROVES ITS FACILITIES

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 14

TEMPLE BASIN IMPROVES ITS FACILITIES

The Christchurch Ski Club has implemented an ambitious plan of development at Temple Basin this autumn and the fixtures which will be available on the field this winter will be a credit to the organising committees and members of the club.

Two new huts are nearing completion and will be available for use after this coming weekend.

A ticket and canteen hut has been built on the left side of the tow in the bottom basin opposite the old University Club hut This will be manned each week-end ,by committee members and will provide some base for daytrippers. It is something which Temple Basin, along with most other Canterbury fields, has long needed to prevent skiers using the facilities without paying for them.

The telephone booth at the top of the goods lift has been replaced by a concrete block hut which will also be used for shelter. It is Bft x 10ft, and is situated right next to the loading bay. After two seasons in which the rope was completely snowed under, the Downhill Basin is ready for use again. The rope has been hooked on to the pinus radiata poles well above the snow-level and should be available for continuous use throughout the

winter. The pressure of snow and scree on the poles has convinced the club that steel poles are useless in this basin.

One new departure the club has taken is to appoint a resident custodian on the field for a period of 12 weeks from July 1 to September 19. He is Mr C. Benfield, who will live on the field. It will be his responsibility to maintain the tows, keep the club hut open, and supply weekly weather reports to Christchurch.

| Another new departure Is I the appointment of a resident ski instructor on the field. Mr B. Zeller, a Bavarian from Threadbow, will stay on the field from July 4 to September 12 and will be chief instructor.

A special all-comers ski school will be organised by the club from August 6 to 12. This will be available to any skier, irrespective of whether he is a club member or affiliated to any club anywhere.

Temple Basin, whose development has been held back • by problems of access, is J making a great effort to com-

pete with other fields in the standard and range of facilities offered and the work done is a credit to the club.