Turoa skifield geared up for 1984 ski season

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 49, 29 May 1984, Page 4

Turoa skifield geared up for 1984 ski season

With the ski season on the way, Robin Foubister, mountain manager for Turoa Skifields and his staff, are working on necessary preparations to get the skifield ready for Queen's Birthday weekend. "We hope to have snow for Queen's kirthday weekend," Robin Foubister said. "Last year, Queen's Birthday weekend provided three of the best days of the season." "One of the things which help lengthen the season are the snow fences which trap the early snow that forms in the gullies and builds up along the ridges. The fences will hopefully trap the snow and help keep it on the ridges for a longer period throughout the season." The chairlifts are also being tested and inspected for the new season. The chairs are removed during the off-season and receive their own maintenance. The lifts must all have a Ministry of Transport Division inspection and the safety features must be working before the inspector arrives. |Vew snow-making equipment as well as a mountain information board have been added this year. The new equipment is a nearly airless system. Robin Foubister said the old equipment worked well but used a lot of compressed air which is very expensive. The new machine uses a smaller amount of compressed air and takes frozen particles l'ike ice and throws it into the path of a fandriven mist of water and air. All of this freezes and falls to the ground as snow. However, the new machine uses a lot more water. He said water is essential to make snow and, since the mountain has no natural springs, they must rely on the snowfield, glaciers and of course, rain to get their water supply.

So the trials for the new equipment have been staged on the beginner's slopes which are at a lower altitude and where water is more readily available. Robin Foubister says that it's not only easier to get water in the lower areas, but that they are also closer to the carparks. The two new snow guns are placed at the road's end.

Aside from the new snowmaking equipment, a 'Mountain Information' board has been placed at the end of the Mountain Road. It will feature a skifield map, lift prices, ski-school information and prices, existing conditions, the forecast and urgent messages. The new information board will even give status reports for Whakapapa.

Mark

Russell