Forum
Ruapehu 2011
I'll be there next week.. 3 more days of servitude!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
The crashed 4x4 is in a bad state but I bet he was one of those absolute "4x4 hero" drivers as thats the 3rd twisted wreck of one of those old 4x4's iv'e seen on an access road in two seasons.
After a admitingly scary morning sliding around on marbles on Hellbents I was the one laughing in the arvo when it all softened (bar black magic, stayed concrete and hard in most places). Backstage was sublime and I think Elan SLX's will struggle to keep edgehi upright when he sends the wee drop below to the sticky flats . 
Mark von Roy is demoing skis at the mo and is a real interestingcharacter to have a yarn to. If you see someone pulling sick licks around the place on armada you will of spotted him.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Those were my first tracks down backstage slowboy. The SLX were deluxe today. Maybe S7's tomorrow
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One good turn deserves another...
Actually today turned out a classic. As the report said this morning 'very icy, stick to the trails'
Well I did only one on trail run today! Everything else was off trail and managed to find some delightfully soft stuff. Who'd 've thunk!
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One good turn deserves another...
I was surprised how early Turoa started to soften this morning, marbles were a bit hard on the legs but got some awesome runs in before heading to Whakas to spend the afternoon teaching my boyfriend on Rockgarden which was pretty much like spring slushies. Awesome day though, hoping for another like it tomorrow. 
hi guys, how good is snow there right now?
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Looking nice today but forecast to pack in later. Shame I have to come in and do lunch for my school group. Not feeling that well predisposed towards the little darlings this morning....had to roar at them to be quiet at midnight...then again 1/2 hour later to ask them what part of 'shut-up do you not understand'. 
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reine de l'hiver
You should've introduced them to how the drop of skippers looks 
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
thanks for the updates everyone, I am missing old Rua. Been back in the office for 3 days and will be back in QT tomorrow for a 2nd and 3rd weekend down there (plus midweek days... Holidays woop woop) Then the last weekend of August I have another work thing on, so missing all of August, boooo. See y'all in September!
That is one really bright jacket CCS!
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Wait For The Ricochet
Is anyone game to predict the weather for this weekend?
Looking at Met Service it seems Saturday might be worth a gamble and Sunday will be cold and snowy. I suspect this means low visibility on Sunday too 
Originally posted by: oldscool
That is one really bright jacket CCS!
yeah
YELLOW
Way to get noticed eh! At least on holiday I won't be so conspicuous on the lifts lines, and won't have people at the bar saying "oh you're the people in yellow"
Originally posted by: graemeh
Is anyone game to predict the weather for this weekend?
Looking at Met Service it seems Saturday might be worth a gamble and Sunday will be cold and snowy. I suspect this means low visibility on Sunday too
There's a lot of squeezing and pushing going on at the moment with some pretty strong low system to the south, as well as a wet & warm one to a NW with a high tucked in to the SW trying to come through.
I've watched the forecasts quite closely since the weekend just been and every day they swing dramatically.. so translation, it's going to be anyone's guess! Watch out for the met service forecasters' report in a day or two, as they are often quite informative.
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Originally posted by: gurutasker
There's a lot of squeezing and pushing going on at the moment with some pretty strong low system to the south, as well as a wet & warm one to a NW with a high tucked in to the SW trying to come through.
I've watched the forecasts quite closely since the weekend just been and every day they swing dramatically.. so translation, it's going to be anyone's guess! Watch out for the met service forecasters' report in a day or two, as they are often quite informative.
Said like a true politician
Thanks for the info though, I'm tending towards making a decision late Friday and then looking at the webcams 4am Saturday, if I can't see the mountain I go back to sleep!
Looks like definitely a lottery.
Hey everyone. New to the forum. Hamilton-based snowboarder.
Loving Whakapapa so far this season. Had four days there now and all bar one of those days has been spring-like snow conditions and blue skies. Had some fun runs down Waterfall T, underneath Express and Colouirs. Plenty of lumps n bumps to jib around on and some decent side hits scattered about for a little more boost.
To all you who've been at Whakas this season, where are the hits, drops etc you've been enjoying? (that's if you're prepared to reveal
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piste, powder, park
Welcome RoughRider, the conditions have certainly been kind to the weekend warriors so far this season, although I'm holding up for another decent dump or two to really get things looking nice.
As for me, favorite places this season so far have been;
- back stage/grand gully into broken leg gully.
- Lower west along the boundary line when it releases
- Traverse of hospitalization (skiers left of Valley T, bottom of the valley below the 'valley traverse'
- Cornices along Dreamer and Goomie Bowl
I've also heard the amphitheater is riding really well, but haven't managed to get into there myself this season yet.
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Cheers gurutasker.
Have yet to go out west this season. How've the snow conditions been out there? Many hitable features?
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piste, powder, park
Originally posted by: RoughRider
Cheers gurutasker.
Have yet to go out west this season. How've the snow conditions been out there? Many hitable features?
Snow conditions have been stunning out west, especially when it softens. Really good coverage on the returns to the quad, but watch the shady slopes on non-fresh days.. they can be lethal with ice!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Another pearler of a day. Groomers absolutely canking with epic sprig snow softening up primo.
All you have to do is look up RoughRider and you will see mine and other fellow droppers stomps all over the place. Front stage is a bit of a miss as it isn't realeasing that well and forget Far West for features as it is staying pretty locked up out there.
Everwhere else is banging however as just look at that wee drop pic I posted yesterday located at the bottom of Mackenzies. Launching off the lip of colouirs over all the drops are sweet, Broken leg has some hits, the drops off the cliffs between the Knoll and Valley are pretty primo. Ampitheatre is absolutely banging with features and untracked corn at present (but the massive cliffs are a bit isolated for me to be hitting while skiing solo so can't comment) while Mackenzies and chute/Chimney are good for some strait line popping action (soft and like a groomed blue trail at present but watch the icy drops skiers left as one nearly sent me home in a banana boat today).
Take a ride on the waterfall T and scope the lines through the cliffs out to your right (takes like 2 minutes to hike up the otehr side). The cirque today was primo with we pops all over. If your felling a bit legend-ish pop off the 30 odd foot cornice from the top over the cliffs (looking over the edge today left me with hospital visions so pulled out like a sok today, mayby next time).
Out milk run way you can just pop 20 odd ft of unscoped cornices as the landings are just primo and a blind man could find hits galore on the west ridge chair there are so many but then you have the pain of the slowest chairlift you've ever ridden.
Overall broaden you horizons and pound every square inch of the hill. Today was a blinder for spending the arvo going flat tackers popping hits...if only I didn't have to leave at 1.30pm...arghhh
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
@ Guru - Is it Ever! The groomers have been widened and flattened leading to some knees on ground, uphill skis spray hitting your down hill leg kind of action! 
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
You make it all sound so easy Jed!
My rib is still a bit sore from body-slamming my skis on my last attempt at hitting something.. that's what you get when you expect to land on the slope and get the flat instead 
2 more work days.. counting down!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Originally posted by: jedski
@ Guru - Is it Ever! The groomers have been widened and flattened leading to some knees on ground, uphill skis spray hitting your down hill leg kind of action!
Soon my pretties.. soon..
*Cough* err... I think I lost my marbles a wee way back there, I'll pick them up on the way down.
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Thanks for the spot details jedski. Some of that stuff sounds well out of my league but you've definitely given me some ideas.
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piste, powder, park
^^Features I am talking about may be but the general area's of the features I speak will lead you to some small features aswell I bet!
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Primo day. Got over my grumpiness when I got outside
managed to get off piste out west. Still pretty hard in places with sastrugi and riming.
Clouded in here now, if forecast right might be incarcerated with 20 teenagers for next few days. Maybeout getting out in my dressing gown and curlers with my falseteeth out might frighten them into submission
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reine de l'hiver
There are heaps of awesome features that are not very big off the west ridge chair. A couple of half pipes, some small cliffs and some bigger stuff as well. Just go exploring and you will find heaps of awesome stuff. I could ride the west chair all day without getting bored, so much stuff out there.
There is also an awesome park at Turoa if that is your thing.
Originally posted by: Jude
Primo day. Got over my grumpiness when I got outside
I was supposed to get back to work today. I looked at the forecast and thought it would be a good one. The day trip was really worth it, best day I've had this season at Whakas. It was a great day for high speeds and now my legs are gone
Naki-Ruey shuttle day today, EPIC!!! Today makes 100% blue sky hit rate so far this season.
WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?
If it stays this quiet it might be self service at the lift lines and an honesty box @ TOB.
I know we like it to ourselves, but today was ridiculous.
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Go Outside and Play
Originally posted by: Naki-Dad
Naki-Ruey shuttle day today, EPIC!!! Today makes 100% blue sky hit rate so far this season.
WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?
If it stays this quiet it might be self service at the lift lines and an honesty box @ TOB.
I know we like it to ourselves, but today was ridiculous.
It's been a while since I had my pass checked. I'm not sure why they are relaxing so much this year. I bet some people are using the lifts for free and once you get to the T's there's no chance they will check it anyway...
@ atros- think the lack of lower mtn pass has tidied the fraud numbers this season. Had a shuttle client use his discovery package pass to sight see to knoll ridge and they made him leave his skis behind, so I guess they trying.
Random roving scanners wouldnt hurt. Bummer of a job that would be.
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Go Outside and Play
very quiet all around ,perhaps pple are focused on the world cup rugby,,today was uncrowded to say the least, half the top carpark maybe and excellent skiing top to bottom as they say..never mind ..more space and relaxed vibes...getting excited about snow forecast on sunday to 400m, looks like a very quick flick of snow and some fine weather to follow..
Hope that forecast is right....and not too much rain either. Ruapehu must be the only skifield to advertise 'raingrooming'
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reine de l'hiver
Do they not check mid week or something? They have been very onto it at Turoa the last few weekends. They were even checking on the magic carpet last weekend, you hardly ever see that.
The lower mountain pass was great for beginners but you can't really blame them turning it into a learner lift when that all everywhere else in nz offers.
Looks clear up there on the Cams. You might have to head out in the rain for a few laps 2mo Jude to escape those 20 muppets!
Very ood point Ben. Anyone know who offers a decent begginer lift pass for a good cheaper rate for lifts that arn't on flat ground?
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Looks like another PEARLER of a midweek next week headed our way. But as nice as it is it would be nice to see some sunny weekends with 7000 people on each side so some $$ could be made...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Wet and misty. Will go out till I'm saturated.
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reine de l'hiver
WX: Are you sure.. heading up for Tues-Fri next week, I can see a big cold front heading over hopefully the High will force it away - I want snow but I still want to play - freshies and gales don't mix well. Fingers are crossed.
Sunday map forecasted:
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Winter is always coming!
^^^ Looks great for Australia but ... um ... isn't Ruapehu a NZ ski field?
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*** Blinding Night ***
Blunt, get with the game. It was sold to Rupert Murdoch...and your phone's just been hacked.
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One good turn deserves another...
umm... all our weather comes from that way, haven't you noticed?
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Winter is always coming!
Looks like a pretty cold southerly flow coming! Late Sunday / Early next week may be a bit of a write off, but hopefully some mid-week freshies are on the cards!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Week trip 20-27 hope this next front dumps a fat load for us.
Might even make up for my loss of last season due to an out of control muppet!
*edited 11 Aug 2011 16:06
Turned out Ok. Missed the 11am clearance but got the 2pm one
And it will be epic early next week as I am going home for a few days.
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reine de l'hiver
*edited 11 Aug 2011 19:51
sounds good jude...today at turoa it cleared about 10am, no one there except for about 10 rows of cars, nice 5-10cm in the gullys and east facing slopes, about 12 it got very warm and everything below the giant released off trail..still no one up there, 1.30 and most of the mtn was in the sun...dam sticky snow down low and lots of slab releases on east facing slopes so a tricky snowpack ..should freeze up nicely tonight..
While Jude sat inside the sun knew I had arrived so out it came. Just as I hit the top of the Valley it was bright and sunny. Plenty of lines with no one else wanting them in 5-10cm of heavy snow which the Hellbents plowed with ease. Shame the Pinnes were closed and the knoll didn't open but more than enough tracks were made. WWeekend is not looking too bad aswell now for you weekenders.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: voltaren
sounds good jude...today at turoa it cleared about 10pm, no one there
Did not know there was night sking
They should do night skiing on sat nights, it's great fun.
No thanks on a clear crisp ruapehu night in the bullet.
On a side note: If anyone wants a ski for ruapehu rocks and ice, get some Hellbents. After a day of hitting hidden rocks on takeoffs and clambering through sharks to get into lines some how they magically are still primo. Never seen a base as tough before!
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Hi Guys I hear you all using the term ``releasing``I presume you are not talkimg about the snowpack releasing as in an avalanche.I`ve just not heard it before but I am a dumb Aussie.Just want to know what it means before I come over so I chttp://snow.co.nz/forum/ski-snowboard/1855/p29/#an [snow.co.nz] use it too!
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Is there anybody out there?
@gavspad have fixed the typo..looks like snow tomorrow and a variable weather weekend
Originally posted by: kretinburger
Hi
Not quite. You could say snow was "releasing" today as the heavy slab on top of an ice layer was slipping all over the place but the main context as used by Voltaren today is that it was icey and hard off trail in the morning yet soft and skiable in the afternoon.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: jedski
While Jude sat inside the sun knew I had arrived so out it came.
I had no choice - had to rustle up tucker for the schoolies.
Nightskiing at Rua - no thanks. They had it on the RG a few years ago. Cold and poorly lit. And after the tobbogan incident the other night I don't think RAL want people all over the RG at night.
Still here tonight, no snowguns so not cold. Not raining which is a bonus.
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reine de l'hiver
snapped from the traverse from Waterfall T to top of west quad yesterday..
I think night skiing would work better on happy valley, if they had a small park setup like snowplanet, or a jib line that was roped off from the learners..
and on the subject of jibs - why arent they able to throw a few random features around, it doesnt take a lot to maintain boxes and rails..
^ That's an awesome photo t93thc, I miss Turoa and I'm a bit gutted I didn't explore Whakapapa a bit more!
Keep the photos coming please
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Europe 2011 - living the dream
My little quip about night sking was aimed at Voltarens error of PM and AM.
Believe it or not but Night Sking is totally uneconomical for RAL because of the amount of extra lighting and staff required compared to the revenue gained. Sad to state that the $$$ get in the way of such enjoyment.
That plus the Demand Charge on their Lines Compnay Bill would go through the roof and probably blackout Ohakune and National Park in the process
Well looks like we're in for some fresh!
Might get some riding in Saturday, and maybe Sunday before the weather packs in. I have a feeling a lot of this mid-week trip is going to be spent indoors
Take care up there today everyone! Sounds like there's quite a wet snow-pack about with wet slides a plenty.
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
@ guru with forecast freezing levels at 500 meters for mon and tue you might be glad to be inside..
Nah.. -22 wind chill, just a breeze right?
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
*edited 12 Aug 2011 09:39
bring it on !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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*** Blinding Night ***