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Written by Anthea Tomkins
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Saturday, 03 September 2011 00:00 |
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(Photos by David Tomkins)
Thursday 18th August 2011. Coronet Peak Hotel near Queenstown was well placed to head out to the Snow Farm. The road was very windy along part of the route and had a number of chain-fitting bays. We drove through Cardrona village, rather quaint and old world. The road up to Snow Farm was very hairy and windy, gravel and icy but the day was bright and sunny. A polar blast had dumped a lot of snow and the afternoon skiing was awesome.
 
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Dinner was from 6:30 till 8:30 pm. David and I sat near the west facing windows. View was awesome and sunset just fabulous, gorgeous, magnificent…It was like that for the next 3 nights. Mt Aspiring looked magnificent.
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Friends Roger and Debra asked to sit with us. We would be delighted to have some company, we said. Howard, another guy sitting on the table behind joined us as well…and so started some fabulous dinner conversations… Russians; food, sweets, Tiramisu, Lemon Cheesecake…a race to get some of each!!!
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Friday 19th August. We skied both in the morning and afternoon and it was bright and sunny again. Our room overlooked the ski trails so we sat on the bed and ate lunch watching the panorama. Mary’s trail, Highlander…My skis were very slow, very disappointing. David put grip wax on them when we skied at Lake Mountain for the first time. Tried cleaning them, still gripped!! Mary, conceived the idea of the Snow Farm, suggested I try NNN boots and bindings and Madshus skis and I would have more control.
We had a nice afternoon snooze and met Roger’s wife Kathy and daughter Katie and now we were 7. All three were skiing in the Merino Muster tomorrow. I talked David into racing as well.
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Howard was a delightful character. He told us about some of his adventures– Solo sailing the Atlantic and having to retreat back to Gibraltar. His trek to the North Pole sounded gruelling – reindeer fat, butter, chocolate and an incredible diet of other fats and huge bowls of pasta for dinner and rice for breakfast. His next trip is to go solo to the South Pole and Kite Ski back.
Saturday 20th August. The day arrived for the Merino Muster, a bright and sunny day as usual. The tracks had all been groomed. Briefing at 10:45, race start at 11:00 a.m. Mass start… 42 km, 21 km, 7 km. Two Canadians came first and second. The presentation of trophies in the dining room was very family friendly. Mary looked so proud giving out the trophies.
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David and I had another afternoon snooze and I wore my “Pockets full of Tricks” top to dinner and met Howards’s kite-skiing mates and, Vicky and Paul. Vicky loved my top and said, “We are soul mates!! We want to have dinner with you!” Howard joined us as well and we had a great meal and a great night as usual. Roger and the family had skied out to stay overnight in one of the huts.
Sunday 21st August. Another beautiful sunny day and more skiing. I took up Mary’s offer and tried the NNN ski boots and Madshus skis. I certainly went faster, but still had trouble with control. I need to build up the strength in my legs and lose weight. I don’t know what I would have done without David’s help. Snow slippery!! Was 6 degrees C yesterday and froze overnight! Lovely night again with Howard, Vicky and Paul.
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Monday 22nd August. Had to pack up this morning. Howard came down to say goodbye at breakfast and I gave him a big hug. Vicky and Paul joined us and Howard came back to say goodbye and Vicky gave him a hug too!! Wish I’d had a photo taken with him, such a sweetie!!
David tried out my new skis and boots for an hour’s last ski…”Not bad” was the verdict. Then we reluctantly headed down the mountain to tour the West Coast, Hanmer Springs, Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook and back to Queenstown.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 October 2011 22:12 )
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