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Ruapehu 2010
Originally posted by: Jude
^^ Who want's to be on a field grovelling its way through spring when you can stil enjoy top to bottom (errr mostly) at Rua
because said grovel at hutt is still top to bottom skiing, similar to opening day. No 1month waits after the learner area opens here.
PS- common to get plenty of NW pow at BR through oct/nov. I'll take spring pow over your arvo slush
i know i should stop checking these maps but this looks like the perfect storm to me...seriously good for aussie...esp like the way the cold air is forming a wave about to smash on nz....
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you gotta get up ...to get down..
Originally posted by: brighton_pumpsOriginally posted by: Jude
^^ Who want's to be on a field grovelling its way through spring when you can stil enjoy top to bottom (errr mostly
because said grovel at hutt is still top to bottom skiing, similar to opening day. No 1month waits after the learner area opens here.
PS- common to get plenty of NW pow at BR through oct/nov. I'll take spring pow over your arvo slush
You'll be enjoying some of our spring slush at Labour weekend
Agree that you get the better deal early in the season but you wouldn't want us North Islanders coming down to crowd out your slopes. You've got the Aussies for that
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reine de l'hiver
*edited 23 Jun 2010 21:36
*edited 23 Jun 2010 21:34
Most years Turoa usually fully opens in time for school holidays 2 or 3 weeks after opening date . Just waxed my board will head up tues/weds give them Monday to dig out the lifts and get them ready for me... edit: OK maybe weds/thurs oh and I will head to QT for 2 weeks too mid-late July.
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Winter is always coming!
Originally posted by: brighton_pumpsOriginally posted by: Jude
^^ Who want's to be on a field grovelling its way through spring when you can stil enjoy top to bottom (errr mostly
because said grovel at hutt is still top to bottom skiing, similar to opening day. No 1month waits after the learner area opens here.
PS- common to get plenty of NW pow at BR through oct/nov. I'll take spring pow over your arvo slush
if you keep advertising how much better the si you might end up with half of Auckland going down every weekend, you don't want that do you?
The si is better early season, but ruapehu is awesome in spring, did you forget the early oct storm last year?
By the time most si fields open ruapheu has plenty of runs open.
Early July for the last two years Ruapehu has had some awesome powder days. July 2008 1m dump and the whole mountain was powder.
i'd be happy for the whole NI to come down and boost aour skier numbers to somethinga bit more respectable. then the hills will start turning a profit, i get my new chairs and everyones happy
do you guys really think our snow dissapears overnight in sept?
I remember around the 9th of July last season there was heavy snow overnight then bluebird the next day, easily knee deep powder and was one of the first when high noon opened after avalanche control, gonna be hard to beat that day! Anybody else remember this?
Originally posted by: footlong_hotdogg
I remember around the 9th of July last season there was heavy snow overnight then bluebird the next day, easily knee deep powder and was one of the first when high noon opened after avalanche control, gonna be hard to beat that day! Anybody else remember this?
Yup I do about that time but try low shin deep id say. was a mean freeriding day and the ques wernt huge. EPIC
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: brighton_pumps
i'd be happy for the whole NI to come down and boost aour skier numbers to somethinga bit more respectable. then the hills will start turning a profit, i get my new chairs and everyones happy
do you guys really think our snow dissapears overnight in sept?
Did last season according to CCS
Originally posted by: footlong_hotdogg
I remember around the 9th of July last season there was heavy snow overnight then bluebird the next day, easily knee deep powder and was one of the first when high noon opened after avalanche control, gonna be hard to beat that day! Anybody else remember this?
Yep, who says the school holidays suck? I was at Whakapapa. They'd groomed the left side of K road, and left the right untouched. First experience of powder! Was back there 3 days later and climbed up above the Valley Tbar and rode back down, still lots of areas with untouched snow in the middle of the school holidays! Bring it on again! :-)
The new tower is on its way back! :-) First time RAL have ever had a too conservative estimate I think! Hoping to get it going again sometime in the first week of the hols. Now, snow dances to replenish the washed out snow, or fine weather dances so they can put the tower back up?!?
Originally posted by: rob_ripsOriginally posted by: brighton_pumps
i'd be happy for the whole NI to come down and boost aour skier numbers to somethinga bit more respectable. then the hills will start turning a profit, i get my new chairs and everyones happy
do you guys really think our snow dissapears overnight in sept?
Did last season according to CCS
might want to check your dates there rob
Originally posted by: Dive 'n' Ride
The new tower is on its way back! :-) First time RAL have ever had a too conservative estimate I think! Hoping to get it going again sometime in the first week of the hols. Now, snow dances to replenish the washed out snow, or fine weather dances so they can put the tower back up?!?
Who cares for the lift if there are rocks everywhere? snow is the most important thing atm.
Originally posted by: jedskiOriginally posted by: footlong_hotdogg
I remember around the 9th of July last season there was heavy snow overnight then bluebird the next day, easily knee deep powder and was one of the first when high noon opened after avalanche control, gonna be hard to beat that day! Anybody else remember this?
Yup I do about that time but try low shin deep id say. was a mean freeriding day and the ques wernt huge. EPIC
you saying there were ques at turoa? seriously about 30 people on west ridge at whaka then, straight onto the chair every time. Gota love those ts that keep the learners stuck at the top of the express.
Well I'm starting to gear up for next weekend, unfortunately being the first weekend of the school holidays it will probably be packed! But that is life and we ski what we can get 
Almost sorted some new boots (Nordica Hot Rod 95's) that will be wicked awesome to ride on, and got my ski's with their summer wax taken off and edged up ready to go.
Now for more snow!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Originally posted by: jedskiOriginally posted by: footlong_hotdogg
I remember around the 9th of July last season there was heavy snow overnight then bluebird the next day, easily knee deep powder and was one of the first when high noon opened after avalanche control, gonna be hard to beat that day! Anybody else remember this?
Yup I do about that time but try low shin deep id say. was a mean freeriding day and the ques wernt huge. EPIC
Most Epic day would've had to have been the first day open from when the central north island got completely shut down from that wicked storm. That was well more than shin deep!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
*edited 23 Jun 2010 23:33
*edited 23 Jun 2010 23:31
Originally posted by: impreza50Originally posted by: jedskiOriginally posted by: footlong_hotdogg
I remember around the 9th of July last season there was heavy snow overnight then bluebird the next day, easily knee deep powder and was one of the first when high noon opened after avalanche control, gonna be hard to beat that day! Anybody else remember this?
Yup I do about that time but try low shin deep id say. was a mean freeriding day and the ques wernt huge. EPIC
you saying there were ques at turoa? seriously about 30 people on west ridge at whaka then, straight onto the chair every time. Gota love those ts that keep the learners stuck at the top of the express.
na there was no ques thats what I ment. I go home if there is ques. Props of professional ski bum...just come back the next day..or the next..or the next and before you know it you are getting up to 6-7 days a week if need be
I dream for pow/spring days with 50-100 people on the entire mt with every lift open... O wait that already happened to me many times last year...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
yeah those are the awesome days, weekends are just so crap once you've had the whole mt to yourself.
Originally posted by: voltaren
i know i should stop checking these maps but this looks like the perfect storm to me...seriously good for aussie...esp like the way the cold air is forming a wave about to smash on nz....
I hear you mate, I'm lookin at those same charts daily! That system is swirling around at the moment..if it stays it will be a good'un'.....7 days out tho
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"If you see a Scotsman with a cricket bat....he's not off to play cricket...."
Relaxed. Early days yet. We were super spoilt last year with the early opening (+ quite a few pow days!!).
Busy chilling out and getting the gear ready. No panic
And yeah the late spring skiing was f*cking amazing too last year. I have some pics from November and the amount of snow still about was epic. I think I enjoy slinging slush/corn about more than pow sometimes.
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Gaper.
*edited 24 Jun 2010 10:50
Good call Merry. The spring was awesome. The top runs at Turoa were epic. Patience is hard though when your hanging out.
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If you don't like my fire don't come around.
Originally posted by: JudeOriginally posted by: gary
I am fairly sure there is no ADSL broadband on the hill, (The phones all get trunked down to the chateau over a microwave link, so there is not alot of capacity, even dial up would be scratchy over such a link)
But you will get reasonable 3G mobile broadband coverage for both XT and Vodafone.
I'm hoping dial up will 'work'. On my reduced circumstances don't want to fork out on mobile broadband. Maybe I'll find an unsecure network
or do a Mata Hari on an RAL IT worker
Got broadband in our club
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Wait For The Ricochet
No excuse anymore. Go Satelite if need be. I had to since I moved rural.
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If you don't like my fire don't come around.
The majority of building/lodges within Iwikau Village are within 5 kms of the exchange in Whakapapa Village. That means Broadband available.
Dont take my word for it ask a Chorus Engineer.
So, anyone else with hopes up for the weekend? I'm leaving tomorrow morning to Ohakune. If weather permits hike up a bit...
My hopes are snow snow snow and more snow. Those rocks need to be well covered.
Sunday avo is about the only possibility of ok weather but this weekend is looking like a write off.
Originally posted by: brighton_pumps
i'd be happy for the whole NI to come down and boost aour skier numbers to somethinga bit more respectable. then the hills will start turning a profit, i get my new chairs and everyones happy
do you guys really think our snow dissapears overnight in sept?
I'd love to see the chaos if all 16000+ people that go to ruapehu on a busy weekend turned up at hutt and porters. There would be some pissed off people around when you wait 1.5 hours to get up.
*edited 24 Jun 2010 20:31
Originally posted by: impreza50
My hopes are snow snow snow and more snow. Those rocks need to be well covered.
Sunday avo is about the only possibility of ok weather but this weekend is looking like a write off.
I dunno... looks doable to me.
We'll be up there, again
Shovels and all.
EDIT: Saturday looks pretty decent in some ways - moderate winds but hopefully there will be some decent windblown pockets of fresh snow for me to hunt out ;O
Originally posted by: impreza50Originally posted by: brighton_pumps
i'd be happy for the whole NI to come down and boost aour skier numbers to somethinga bit more respectable. then the hills will start turning a profit, i get my new chairs and everyones happy
do you guys really think our snow dissapears overnight in sept?
I'd love to see the chaos if all 16000+ people that go to ruapehu on a busy weekend turned up at hutt and porters. There would be some pissed off people around when you wait 1.5 hours to get up.
but think of the income bro.
2 months of that and we'd have new high speeds popping up everywhere
year like well over 1 mill a day if they all buy day passes, just need to convince everyone you know to get into snow sports. Since all the aussies go skiing here they should donate us there lifts. There 8 seater express would have more use over here.
Originally posted by: Blunt
No excuse anymore. Go Satelite if need be. I had to since I moved rural.
This is coming to you hot off my brother-in-law's satellite connection - they are deep rual with no broadband or cell coverage. Unfortunately DoC *won't* allow satellite dishes all over the huts - must be in roof cavity which is a bit more complicated to set up. My club was looking at freeview (too poor for Sky) but was going to be an expensive hassle. Who needs TV and internet - we are there to ski
Currently steeling myself to get dressed and out the door to Whaka/my new job. Seems like the road is open with no restrictions? Have got 5 hikes up and down the Rockie to do this arvo
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reine de l'hiver
eek, that will get the legs going.
bags of spuds, tins, etc eh?
Get your touring gear out and borrow a goat boat - artic expidition style - that'll get it done faster
This is coming to you hot off my brother-in-law's satellite connection - they are deep rual with no broadband or cell coverage. Unfortunately DoC *won't* allow satellite dishes all over the huts - must be in roof cavity which is a bit more complicated to set up
That's us too, no cellphone coverage and the smell of sheep poo when it rains. I'm farkin loving it!!!
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If you don't like my fire don't come around.
Originally posted by: Blunt
That's us too, no cellphone coverage and the smell of sheep poo when it rains. I'm farkin loving it!!!
Except I was home alone yesterday arvo. Made mistake of letting dog off chain who chased chicken inside. Me and dog chasing chicken through kitchen. Chicken leterally cr*pped itself but survived assult from dog. Country life
^^ No sacks of spuds today
Just enough personal stuff for 4 months. All those nail polishes
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reine de l'hiver
did you end up taking all 10? I was gonna suggest when the cabin fever gets bad that you may want variety and or one colour each toenail
Originally posted by: CCS
did you end up taking all 10? I was gonna suggest when the cabin fever gets bad that you may want variety and or one colour each toenail
Probably - if you knock yourself out and break a leg you can't choose the colour of your cast, gotta have all the nailpolishes handy in order to colour-coordinate correctly!
Anyone else drooling over the metservice snow forecast over the next couple of days?
Metservice forecasting 20cms snow every 3 hours for saturday, and the winds are going to drop a little, went to alpine meadow today, was super gay! Only ood thing was landed a 3 off a tiny jump after not riding for the best part of a year Felt good to be on snow again! But only did 2 runs before going back down to kune
I am *almost* considering packing some work this weekend...
Metservice forecasting 20cms snow every 3 hours for saturday
What merservice forecast was that??? Sounds great but over optimistic don't you think?
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If you don't like my fire don't come around.
Originally posted by: BluntMetservice forecasting 20cms snow every 3 hours for saturday
What merservice forecast was that??? Sounds great but over optimistic don't you think?
Its the graph under the forecast for whakapapa/turoa on the mountain forecasts on metservices website.
Not quite forecast at 20cm every 3 hours, but plenty throughout the day. Southeasterlies though, so might not actually get much on the skifields.
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I am the freedom breeder!
^^ Maybe so, but at this stage anything helps. And it looks much more promising than the rain etc from the previous week or so.
Originally posted by: JudeOriginally posted by: Blunt
That's us too, no cellphone coverage and the smell of sheep poo when it rains. I'm farkin loving it!!!
Except I was home alone yesterday arvo. Made mistake of letting dog off chain who chased chicken inside. Me and dog chasing chicken through kitchen. Chicken leterally cr*pped itself but survived assult from dog. Country life
^^ No sacks of spuds today
what sorta dog you got jude?
Just got into 'Kune. 10 million police on the road, presumably due to Mardi Gras, take care if you're coming this way in the next few days. Radar detector was going pretty hard all the way from Taihape...
Let's hope the weather does its part now...
I cant believe it no snow last night..
What I can believe is that Whakapapas opening day and they only open Happy Valley with no explanation about anything else, I suspect they knew they would not be opening upper mt services but they dont want anyone to know so they can get up for Mardi Gra - w*nkers! Their reports are shiite. Weds day looks alright if Whakapapa opens more up will head to that side for the higher access.
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Winter is always coming!
Originally posted by: SD
I cant believe it no snow last night..
What I can believe is that Whakapapas opening day and they only open Happy Valley with no explanation about anything else, I suspect they knew they would not be opening upper mt services but they dont want anyone to know so they can get up for Mardi Gra - w*nkers! Their reports are shiite. Weds day looks alright if Whakapapa opens more up will head to that side for the higher access.
Whaka never said they would. they said that it would only be Happy Valley. There is still not enough snow for T bar lines as you can see in the webcams and the lower part of the express is still stingy...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
that is probably more info than i got on the report. yep I know they need more snow - just dissapointed with the lack of info.
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Winter is always coming!
Ruapehu latest news. Fuk yes. Props for RAL for fixing the tower and getting their ass into gear. hope this is a sign for what is to come for the season.
During the past few days we have completed further inspections of the lift line and NDT crack testing of the assemblies. All tests and inspections completed to date have confirmed that, other than the damage to tower 9 which is being replaced, no other damage was sustained by the lift.
We have equipment arriving today from Australia which will be used over the weekend to complete tests of the concrete foundation and anchor bolts – this will be the final inspection and test of all the lift components prior to assembly of the tower.
The new tower will have galvanizing and painting completed during this weekend and be ready, along with some assembly components which were repaired in Ohakune and also sent to Wanganui for galvanizing, to load on our truck at 8.00am on Monday for transport from Wanganui to Ohakune. We will then reassembly all the bits into correct size loads for the helicopter and it will all be ready to reinstall from Tuesday.
There is fine weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday next week and we now expect this will provide those fine days required to install the new tower on the foundations, rewire the safety circuits and lift the rope back onto the sheaves. The independent surveyor is booked to be on site at the end of the week when he will undertake the inspections necessary before a he can reissue a lift operating certificate.
We are all becoming more confident that the High Noon Express will be back in operation for next weekend and the school holidays.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Well, just got back from Turoa.
Managed to make some decent turns on some windblown snow just to the skiers right of the Flier (nobody else was riding it - powder 8's on the second run, hahaha)
However. However however. It was PISSING down with rain. Basically got nasty when my neck warmer got soaked and started wicking water down into my thermals. Around that point my friend also discovered that the split seam on his gloves meant his hand was now underwater and losing all sensation, so we packed it in. The ride down the Movenpick (bugger all snow cover below the top of the 'Pick) was, shall we say, unpleasant.
Originally posted by: rozboon
Well, just got back from Turoa.
Managed to make some decent turns on some windblown snow just to the skiers right of the Flier (nobody else was riding it - powder 8's on the second run, hahaha)
However. However however. It was PISSING down with rain. Basically got nasty when my neck warmer got soaked and started wicking water down into my thermals. Around that point my friend also discovered that the split seam on his gloves meant his hand was now underwater and losing all sensation, so we packed it in. The ride down the Movenpick (bugger all snow cover below the top of the 'Pick) was, shall we say, unpleasant.
Sounds good that atleast some snow fell from wednesday but piss off rain!!!we want to ski not waterski?
Downloading 'Pick' always sucks nuts even when it isnt miserable...just give us some snow to rip to the bottom already.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
wow, awesome news for the express. Thats pretty impressive RAL.
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Winter is always coming!
The Ohakune Mountain Road is now CLOSED to uphill traffic due to snow. yae.
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Winter is always coming!
Yeah when we arrived in the carpark this morning it was puking northern-hemisphere style but quickly turned to rain. Hoping to score some decent freshies tomorrow though.
Originally posted by: rozboon
Well, just got back from Turoa.
Managed to make some decent turns on some windblown snow just to the skiers right of the Flier (nobody else was riding it - powder 8's on the second run, hahaha)
However. However however. It was PISSING down with rain. Basically got nasty when my neck warmer got soaked and started wicking water down into my thermals. Around that point my friend also discovered that the split seam on his gloves meant his hand was now underwater and losing all sensation, so we packed it in. The ride down the Movenpick (bugger all snow cover below the top of the 'Pick) was, shall we say, unpleasant.
damn im jealous
Originally posted by: brighton_pumps
damn im jealous
Wanker
Hopefully tomorrow delivers freshies as long as the lifts open.
We been talking to lots of people and was pretty wet up there today. so at home watching toy story and hoping that the morning the be better with more snow and less rain. Oh and there are lots of drunk 18yos in town so they won't be going up there tomorrow
I was up there all day today, and while for a spell during the middle of the day it was raining pretty well at base level, the snowfall started to pick up nicely in the afternoon, leaving the plaza looking completely white. Forecast is for snow further down the hill tomorrow, and for several days to come. If temps stay low, this could set us up brilliantly for the season!
Originally posted by: rob_rips
We been talking to lots of people and was pretty wet up there today. so at home watching toy story and hoping that the morning the be better with more snow and less rain. Oh and there are lots of drunk 18yos in town so they won't be going up there tomorrow
its the Marti Gras, they care more about partying than skiing.
On a semi-unrelated note, anyone noticed this Philip Smithson character on the RAL facebook page? Was called Phil Smith, changed to Philip Smithson, predicting next week he'll be called Raceway McGavspad? No friends, just posts 'knowing' stuff on the RAL page...