1930's instructor remembers

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 21, 20 October 1987, Page 15

1930's instructor remembers

Sitting comfortably in his warm room at Avonlea Rest Home, Shorty Clearkin's eyes mist over as he recounts his life story. Still very 'young' at 81 years, Shorty has crammed more into his life than two average people. Shorty is perhaps best remembered in these parts as the 'beginner's' ski instructor on Mount Ruapehu from 1934 to 1941. In the years before he learnt to ski he worked in a mill in Pokeko, was a qualified boot-maker, gardener, cow-milker and stablehand. As Shorty himself said: "I can put my hand to a ny damn thing." The mill where Shorty worked prepared to cut out just before Christmas, 1932. Shorty was at a loss until a friend rang. He asked him to go to the Chateau to work as a greenkeeper on the golf course. "The pay's not great, but at least you get linen sheets". Shorty explained that in those days they slept only on rough blankets. So he accepted. Before he became a ski instructor, Shorty and his friends turned their hands to packing gear, required for development further up the mountain, and teaching mountain safety. In 1938 the Austrian, Ernst Skardarasy, arrived at Ruapehu. During that winter he taught Shorty and his friends to ski, using the Alberg technique, the first systematic approach to ski instruction. Shorty has fond memories of Ernst, and can recount many stories about him and his family. Shorty and his mates set up their own little ski business, with makeshift signs as advertisements. The fees would make today's ski instructors freeze; half a crown for half an hour! Beginners could hire heavy army-issue jodphurs, a far cry from today's sleek ski pants, but the virtues of sunglasses were yet to be discovered! Shorty was one of the founders of the Ruapehu Ski Club. They tried to get a club going in 1932, but it didn't really get off the ground until 1935. Membership cost half a crown, and the first members were 25 employees of the Chateau, after some prodding! One interesting rule was that no city people were allowed! This rule remained until the war, but when Shorty and co. retumed they found that their beloved club had been taken over. In April of 1941, Shorty married. In May of that same year he joined the army and was sent away on

service. "We didn't even have time for a honeymoon," he said sadly. During the war Shorty served in Fiji, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. Tragically, while he was away all the pho-

tographs and diaries he had kept during the thirties were destroyed. Thankfully, though, Shorty has a phenomenal memory. He can remember watching the All Blacks play South Africa at Eden Park in 1921!