Ski safe

Ruapehu Bulletin, 13 August 1991, Page 17

Ski safe

By

Skifield

Florence

Spirits are high among staff on Ruapehu, despite the recent bad weather which has closed the field far too frequently. We have received an incredible amount of snow and when the weather finally clears the skiing is going to be "excellent!" For those of you sitting at home chomping at the bit, dying to get back on your boards, here are some pointers from the professionals which might make your next day of extreme skiing more enjoyable. • The mountain is closed, but what a great opportunity to give your bindings a quick check. If you're not too sure what setting you should be skiing on or how to adjust them there are plenty of experienced ski mechanics in town. It might save you that

embarrassing and painful ride down in the red sled. • Check before you leave home: have you got sunscreen; sun glasses; gloves; wet weather gear; hat? You never know what the weather is going to do and having the right gear on the mountain is an important safety precaution. • Remember, you're on holiday so relax and have fun. But remember also you are not the only one on the hill. "Be Aware and Ski With Care!" • The crowds are huge and you decide to go off trail. Great idea, but check with Ski Patrol before you head out - they'll let you know where the really good skiing is, where likely hazards are going to be, and it helps us to keep tabs on where people are, in case of an emergency.