Army skiers set to hit the

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 686, 13 May 1997, Page 5 (Supplement)

Army skiers set to hit the

The first activity of the Waiouru Ski Club for the 1997 ski season started with a work party up the mountain and the annual general meeting (AGM). Club president Rick Moore said that "in spite of it starting in the absence of snow, the club was gearing up for a successful season." He said the Waiouru Ski Club's aim to "promote, organise and foster the sport of skiing within the Waiouru community and the New Zealand Defence Force in general" is well on the way to being achieved, aS membership is currently at around 200 people with the ski season still some time away from opening. All Defence Force personnel and civilians living in the Waiouru area are eligible to join the club which aims to attract a further 100 members this year. "We hope to achieve this by actively targeting the younger soldiers and the local non-Army community," said Mr Moore. "Also, because skiing was cut short last year by the eruptions, all last year' s members are automatically considered to be members this year as one way the club can compensate for the lack of skiing last year." One of the first initiatives in this membership drive was the .decision to reduce the rental rates on the club's snowboards. More boards will also be purchased for hire

if the demand warrants it. The club runs its own ski hire shop. Being a non-profit organisation, it is able to set very affordable prices. Most of the equipment is less than two years old and it didn' t get much use last season. Apart from cheap hire, the club has a number of Turoa corporate passes for members' use, a well-appointed ski maintenance facility and has negotiated discounts with some local businesses. Equipment maintenance workshops are held throughout the winter. A mechanic from one of the local ski shops teaches club members how to best maintain their skis and also how to operate the club's equipment. The social functions of the club are an important feature of the ski season. "Dollar days" allow club members to get together on the mountain for some serious skiing while the local bars and restaurants look after them once the skiing day is over. Mr Moore recommends the club' s "awesome" Gluh wei n recipe to warm the members after a hard day. For members who would like to try South Island ski fields, the club is establishing a closer relationship with Burnham Ski Club, outside Christchurch, so that members can enjoy the advantages of a reciprocal membership deal.