Three times a winner!

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 456, 6 October 1992, Page 1

Three times a winner!

By

Marnie

woodd

This is the third time in four years that Joan Steel has won the event which attracted about eighty people this year. She said the competition is getting tougher because it's becoming more popular. She won the women's competition and the overall competition on handicap with a time of 74.61 seconds. The closest time to hers was 75.67 by men's winner Jim Davis who is in charge of ski racing at Whakapapa. Joan's husband Merv also compcted in the event and came third equal with a time of 77.30 seconds. Next to Merv and her family skiing is the love of Joan's life. Illness prevented hcr from competing last year and trying for a hat trick,but all going well she '11 be back next year, she said. The Steel's got involved with skiing years ago when vacancies came up at a friend's lodge at Whakapapa and they decided to have a go. They haven't looked back since. They became members of the Arlberg Ski Club in 1977, then in 1983 built a chalet at Turoa's Alpine Village where they currently spend their winters. Both are now retired from their LMVD car sale business in Auckland but their lives are far from empty or boring. Joan said she and Merv decided when their two sons and daughter

were getting old enough to leave home, that they needed to do more things together. So they set themselves a new thing to learn each year. "First was skiing then golf then diving, but we gave up on learning German because there was too much homework." Joan skis in all weathers because she just loves being up the mountain. "I only ski socially, for enjoyment, but feel as though I could give it more." "I do it to prove to myself that at my age I can still do it, that I've still got something left in me." From mid July through to October the Steel's commute back and forward between their home in Half Moon Bay in Auckland, and Ohakune. Four years ago Turoa ran a skiers masters group the highlight of which was to race in the Masters at Whakapapa. Turn to paqe 2

Masters From page 1 That group ran for two years then stopped. "I feel sad that they aren't running that group any more, because it was lots of fun and we made lots of friends." The secret to Merv and Joan's endless enthusiasm and zest for life may be in the drink they swear by at the end a good day's skiing; a rum and hot chocolate. Results from the Masters Ski Races held September 27: Men's; Jim Davis 1st, Gus Pretscherer 2nd, Maurice Dykes, Merv Steel 3rd equal. Women's; Joan Steel lst, Sarah Caldwell 2nd, Margaret Bates 3rd.

garage premises from Kah spoke in opposition to the proposal as he is hoping to negotiate with Kah to keep the garage going. Miss Hawke said there was some discussion about the ice rink but said the Board could not make Kah Corp. run a garage in their building if they didn't want to. Kah didn't put in proposals for the tennis court or swimming pool developments. They are expected to do so at the Board's next meeting in December. Snowmaking Ruapehu Alpine Lifts were expected to submit a proposal to construct a water reservoir to feed snow making machines. But they are still preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment required by the Board before they can make a decision on the proposal. RAL are expected to have the EIA ready for the Board's December meeting. They did get approval however for a licence to guide walkers and trampers over the mountain. The guided walks are expected to

start mid to late December in conjunction with D.o.C.'s nature programme. Restaurant A proposal for a 50 seat day-time restaurant to be built on land be-

tween the tennis courts and the garage was declined at the meeting. The bistro-type restaurant idea was put forward by a Whakapapa local and was quite favourably received,

Miss Hawke said. The Board recommended D.o.C. decline the application as Kah Corp is already offering or going to be offering an adequate service.