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Posted on Wednesday September 16th at 9:52 a.m.
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After a week of very changeable weather, a high parked itself over the country and the sun fiercely came out and the wind finally dropped. Last Monday and Tuesday I headed out west at Whakapapa and rode my butt off, eeking out every possible minute of the day. There were minimal or no queues - this is what week day riding is all about! The snow was firm in the morning, but at about 10.30 or 11am it was as if someone flicked a switch and it softened... everywhere - this is what spring riding is all about!
no clouds, no wind
no crowds (Far West T)
Far West T, to myself
West Ridge Quad, to myself
scoping things out at Black Magic
On the Wednesday and Thursday Ruapehu hosted the Export Extreme in the Pinnicles at Whakapapa. The top guys and girls were in town and heaps of locals had entered. Both days were held on Policemans, making the Schuss House at Hut Flat the place to be to take in all the action. As spectators, there was really no escaping the sun down here. And there was the constant reminder to slip slop slap from the MC's on the mic. It was down to T shirts as the pastey guns came out, mismatched from the grubby goggle tans we now all had. It really was the perfect spot to hang out and catch all the action in the afternoon between runs. I did have a case of telephoto envy tho, zooming in as far as I could I got a few shots of the day. (Results can be found on the RAL site, and footage of the highlights found at SnowTV)
view down the Pinnicles from Top of Valley T
bootpacking
bootpacking and roped climb to the course
Jordan Decker, Patroller from Tukino, taking a drop on the course
zoomed in on the start
I reckon the best sunsets are the ones you see while driving in your car when it is impossible to take a picture! For 3 days while driving back to 'Kune Taranaki was hugely magnified on the horizon under burning red skies. On Thursday night Taranaki left us and there was a hint in the sky of the cloud, drizzle and wind that was promised to arrive the next day. Sunday afternoon it cleared and early this week looks like ditto conditions on the hill. I only wish I was there and not at work, gazing across the harbour at boats and the Sky Tower.... I think a "working lunch" at the beach might be in order today!
(Winter 2009)