Turoa skifield hosts ski instructors course

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 23, 8 November 1983, Page 5

Turoa skifield hosts ski instructors course

The recent New Zealand Ski Instructors' Alliance certification course held at Turoa Skifields was very successful. Examiners voted it as one of the best they had ever worked on. It was off to a somewhat shaky start with the mountain being closed due to high winds on the first day, so examiners and candidates held an introductory and technical meeting at Venturelodge in Ohakune. The following 5 days on the mountain were all devoted to improving skiing, demonstrations and teaching methodology. The final 2 days were for examinations — one an indoor session and the final, held on the mountain, was a test of candidates'skiing and their ability to teach a class. The course was limited to ^Hie High Noon T-bar and ^nile this was excellent for ^flie skiing exam, some difficulties arose for the^ teaching section as the terrain there is not ideal for low level students. One of the most important factors in ski teaching is choosing the correct terrain. Candidates made the most of the situation, choosing the easiest slope and saying "let us assume this is completely flat." There was a 50% pass rate in both Stage I and 1 1 exams at all 3 courses this year — Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and Turoa. People often ask what percentage the Alliance will pass but it works on a very high standard and ^^atever. percentage meets ^■t standard passes. The Alliance would like to thank the following for their help and support during the course:Turoa Skifield 's management and staff for the use of the field, lifts and facilities; Warren Newland (an Alli-

ance member since 1973) and Wayne Lim Yock for specialised slope grooming and extra help on the exam day; John Ball and Turoa Ski School for the use of ski school changing rooms and equipment storage; Franz Brandl for endless supplies of food despite his Giant Cafe being 'closed'; Track Video (Bill Adams) of Ohakune and Sydney, for recording Stage II skiing for their viewing; Venturelodge for the introductory meeting; Ohakune Hotel for hosting all the course functions including the end of course presentations and party, which was combined with the Skifield end of season staff party; The White House (Junction) and hosts Judy and Warren McNeil for accommodation and superb cuisine for the southern examiners; the Waimarino Bulletin for notices and coverage of events. Of note on the course were 3 Japanese candidates who came to New Zealand especially for the course. On Stage II was Kazutami Sakaguchi, a Ski School directorand on Stage I, two of his staff, Hitomi Nodake and Momoko Oshita, two ladies who delighted everybody with their smiles and fast skiing. Momoko is the current Japanese Universities Ski Champion. Also on Stage I was Robert Sully of the N.Z.B. race team, a strong and technically sound skier with experience in Europe and the U.S.A., and Stephen Pearson formerly on the North Island Regional Race Team. John Hotter of Turoa Ski Patrol was injured on the 6th day of the course and could not complete the exam so the Alliance has offered him the final four days on one of next year's courses, free of charge.

Examiners were: Scott Galloway (Chief Examiner); Tony Graham; Noel Dufty; Ingegerd Franberg and Glen Daws (all Mt Hutt), Craig Spiess (Chateau); Warwick Busfield (Coronet Peak), Heather Montgomery and Ali Shannon (Turoa). Stage II passes: Nigel Brown (Queenstown) and Kazutami Sakaguchi (Japan). Stage I passes: Nigel Emmet, Chris Scott and Vantyn Haresnape (all Chateau Ski School); Jackie Falconer, Sylvia Lee, Stephen Pearson, Grahame Saunders and Malcolm Thomas (all Turoa Ski School); Robert Sully (Wellington); Hitomi Nodake and Momoko Oshita (Japan). Grahame Saunders had the highest marks. Next year's North Island course will be at Whakapapa as they alternate between the two areas.