Mount Ruapehu's new ski people

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 485, 11 May 1993, Page 10 (Supplement)

Mount Ruapehu's new ski people

Pip York has mastered the art of remaining cool and efficient under pressure. She's had to, working in the highprofile, demanding position of marketing assistant to RAL marketing manager, Scott Lee. The petite 26-year old Aucklander looking for a change of scenery arrived in the Ruapehu region in 1990. She worked for a short time as a postie in Taumarunui before joining the RAL team as a hostess for the 1991 season. A background in public relations and a diploma in marketing from ATI, plus time working for Dow Publishing - the company that produces Skier

Magazine, Mt Cook Public and work for the New Zealand Tourism Board - put her in good stead for the job. "It was a great season (in 1990)," said Pip. "I knew nothing about the

ski field at first, but when you're answering public queries about where something is on the mountain, a hundred times a day, you start picking up information." Her natural rapport with the public resulted in a progression to customer services and administration in 1992, with some "temp" work in administration and secretary to the marketing manager thrown in during the summer months. Pip took up the position of marketing assistant in March this year. As well as being an integral part of the RAL "machine", her job description is demanding and includes performing

a number of the duties of marketing manager in Scott' s absence. These include responsibilities for the early-morning ski season radio reports to around 20 stations every day, on-mountain liaison and hosting visiting VIP's and media personnel. Duties as personal assistant to the marketing manager and events coordinator include organising on-mountain events, assisting with sponsorship and administration work. A major area of responsibility this year has been the administration of 'Ski, Ruapehu', a joint Whakapapa/Turoa venture to promote the Ruapehu region as an

all-year-round holiday venue. Barely returned from one New Zealand snow show, only to be winging away to another in Australia and overwhelmed by stock-pil-ing office correspondence, Pip's enthusiasm for her job still manages to shine through. "It's very exciting to be working in New Zealand 's leading ski area," she said. "I feel privileged to be part of the team." Chariges at Turoa Ski School

By

SarahKing

Changes at Turoa's Ski School this season will see some new ideas and

some seasoned people. Long-time Turoa ski school instructor Hamish McPherson is the new Ski School Director. Hamish joined Turoa in 1981 as a part-time instructor until becoming full-time in 1984. He was a supervi-

sor in 1989, then became assistant director and technical director in 1990. Hamish has also spent seven seasons at Vail, Colorado, holding such positions as ski school trainer and private lesson instructor. He is a Stage 1 and 2 examiner with the New Zealand Ski Instructors' Association (NZSIA) and a member of the NZSIA Demo Team. Hamish says he sees his role as ski school director as one that will promote ski lessons as being the best way to enjoy a ski holiday by improving your skiing. "Lessons should be fun and improvement should gained in a Tearn by doing' manner."

Hamish 's assistant director is another Turoa regular, Tim Wolfgram, who has spent several years as a supervisor at both Turoa and Deer Valley, Utah. Race coach Another important change this season is the introduction of a coaching coordinator for Turoa's race programme. Ohakune 's Warren Scott will take up this position, assisted by Grant Jamieson as head coach.

Warren has spent five years with the Turoa Race Turn to page 13

Snow people

From page 10 Team and has worked internationally. He is a NZSIA Stage 2 instructor, an NZSIA Level 1 coach and a member of the NZSIA Demo Team. Warren will supervise the level of coaching and programmes on the mountain, as well as being available for parent consultations, and will coach one of the junior teams. Grant is now in his seventh season at Turoa and has trained and coached in Canada. He is also a NZSIA Stage 2 instructor and holds a NZSIA Elementary Coaching Certificate as well as being assistant coach with the Banff Mountain Academy for the past two years. Grant' s latest achievement is to have a senior athlete from the Turoa Race Team, Geoffrey Small, make the criteria to become a New Zealand B Ski Team member. Both Warren and Grant will work for returning race programme supervisor, Steve Davis.