The new wave of skiing

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 3, 5 August 1988, Page 16

The new

wave of skiing

A relatively new sport that resembles surfing and skate boarding but takes place on neither water nor asphalt is sweeping New Zealand. The sport is snowboarding. While new to New Zealand, it has taken the United States and Europe by storm and is widely regarded more popular than skiing. A company that is involved in promoting the sport in New Zealand and around the world is 'Crazy Banana'. The founders of the company - production manager Paul Gruber (Switzerland), and saies manager Harry Gunz (Austria) while vacationing in New Zealand, are in Ohakune to promote saies. Both men skiied extensively for years but have given it up for snowboarding. Paul: "It is a completely new sport totally removed from skiing. The feeling of absolute freedom that you get on a snowboard is hard to compare. It is difficult to explain." Harry: "I skiied for years. The first time I tried snowboarding I quit skiing. My saying is: Tf you are bored, snowboard'."

Both men are world ranked snowboard champions, having competed in both Europe and the United States. Snowboards are constructed similarly to skis and from the same materials. Paul and Harry consider soft bindings will be popular with New Zealanders who favour surfing and skateboarding. Harry: "Surfing is considered more difficult than snow boarding. With snowboarding the same stunts can be done. It can be mastered in 2-3 days with a little help." In keeping with individual preferences, bindings for left and right-footed stances are available, or in snowboarding terminology, 'natural' and 'goofy' stances. The side-long stance of snowboarding resembling that used in skateboarding, offers superior stability and control, according to both men. With movement centred at the hips, fewer leg injuries result in comparison with skiing. Bindings are constructed in such a way as to remain firmly in place and reduce the risk of serious injury

should only one binding release. In Europe the sport has grown to such an extent that there are very few resorts that do not cater for snow b o a r d s. In some instances resorts are divided with equal facilities for skiing and snowboarding. Snow boarding has opened up a new market in Europe. People in the 15-35 age group who previously did not ski are firtding new challenges in snow boarding. In some parts of Europe, ski schools also have instruction in snowboarding. The company is keen to introduce the sport to ski schools in New Zealand. One such school opened at the Remarkables last season and another begins operation at Ohau this season. The advantage o f snowboarding over skiing is that it can be done in virtually any snow conditions, according to Paul. "The snowboard glides over the surface of the snow. Skis sink in. The beauty of it is that it can be extremely icy and still conducive to snowboarding." The board, similar in design to a skateboard

varies in width and length depending on the model. Longer slimmer boards are available for competition and downhill speed boarding, while beginner's boards are shorter and wider. They are a 1 s o comparable in price with skis. Beginner's boards are on a par with a new pair of intermediate skis while a top board is valued at around the same price as a pair of racing skis. The type of binding depends on individual preference. Soft bindings resemble cut-down ski boots that may be used with various brand mountain boots includ-

ing Sorels, while plate bindings can be used in conjunction with regular ski boots. Soft bindings offer more flexibility o f movement and are used chiefly in free-style boarding. The rigidity of plate bindings are recommended for beginners and used in racing. Soft bindings are used by 99% of all snowboarders in the United States where the free-form style of surfing and skateboarding is popular, while plate bindings are favoured by 80% of snowboarders in Europe where conventional skiing is dominant.

Having been most aspects of dreas Hefti is n on a new way snow. Andreas is setti Zealand distributio "Crazy Banana," the of snow boards. He says snowboa take off in New Zeal "It's something sp Zealanders, who lo\ windsurfing and sp says Andreas. snowboarding and w surfing is the same, body freedom." He decided to star distributing the boa to his homelanJ oi where the Crazy Baii based. He was there sl months and was suq many snowboards on said there were no years ago. Crazy Banana wa; few years ago by a year olds, all skiers qualified people. The company use; ski construction t make the boards possible. Gone are I snowboards were cur no edges. So far New Zealai fields with snowbo* tors, The Remai Whakapapa. Craig Speis at th School Whakapapa take on an instructo

involved in >f skiing Annow working r to slide on ting up a New [on network of e Europe an brand •arding is set to iland. pecially for New ove surfing and iports like that," "The feel of windsurfing and ie, they all have art importing and oards after a trip of Switzerland, anana company is skiing for four urprised to see so on the slopes. He none just a few vas started just a a group of 25-30 rs and all highly ses contemporary technology to s as strong as e the days when urved planks with iland has two ski joarding instructiarkables and the Chateau Ski >a has agreed to ;tor for the 1988

ski season to teach budding snowboarders. Andreas said he has approached Turoa, who are interested but that they have made no commitment as yet. He says the sport will grow, just how quickly is difficult to know however. Crazy B anana sold 800 boards in Europe in the 1987-88 season and have already received orders for 15,000 for the 1988-89 season. The boards range in price up to $890 for a top racing board with bindings. A mid range board will cost around $700. Andreas' snow career to date has been with two skis, having been in the business 30 years. He began as a member of the Swiss National Ski Team, spent four years as coach of the junior Swiss Olympic team and eight years coaching the Swiss National Olympic team. He has been an FIS technical delegate, spanning a 15 year period working on World Cup races. On the business side of things, he was the director of a ski school with over 100 instructors at his home town of Leysin, near Lake Geneva, plus he had two ski shops in the village. Andreas came to New Zealand before the Turoa ski field was built and became Turoa's first mountain manager, also becoming involved with the ski school and the ski patrol. He was head coach for the New Zealand Ski Association as well as Alpine Director until 1984. Another of Andreas' interests, which also involves sliding downhill, is a plastic ski slope in Auckland.