On the field

Warm sunny days but still good snow as we head into club champs week. Sophie spotted eyeing up the GS course while Kevin and the boys dug the jump (and some folk already practising big air!). Thanks to Owen Braddock for stepping up to fill Erin’s shoes as volunteer for a couple of weeks. The Chill K2 big mountain event began on a warm sunny Wednesday – with over 50 competitors getting some great lines thru the chutes (including our Tom). Watch TV1 and TV3 news on Monday 30th for likely screening of event.

In Koroheke

Food planning for Club Champs and more yummy meals from Lucie. A good buzz in the lodge this week. New paper towel dispensers in the toilets – “just as we had all learned how to load the towel rolls properly”

On the field

Variable conditions this week with no two days the same. At the beginning of the week knee deep snow for the Powder Hounds, then some closures due to rain, then warm spring-like conditions. Plenty of turns still to be had as we move into the coming week.

In Koroheke

We said goodbye to Erin in style as he heads back to Canada. Old and new friends met for ski weeks (welcome back Al, Dinah and the boys) – the buzz is how great it is to catch up each year with like minded folk. Some sneaky bottom bunk grabbing behaviour from some (nothing like an advance attack the day before your party is due to arrive to ensure your possy!). Last minute frenzied costume planning for club champs in evidence.

On the field

Am writing this for Sophie – she will update next week.
The week began with good tracks off Ham Peak and Middle Basin after the snow last week then more snow on Monday night which improved our base cover. The Junior Freeride programme is well underway – we anticipate a comment in the blog from a participant next week.

In Koroheke

Welcome back to Juerg and Marcita for 2 months.
Lucie has stepped up with some amazing meals after we lost our chef – thanks for the Czech touch and the baking……….long may it last.
Remember this weekends entertainment in the bar after dinner on Saturday night (31 Jul) with ‘Acoustic Solution’ (from the snowball) who will play a range of great covers including NZ classics from Dave Dobbyn, Exponents etc – there will be a small cover charge in the bar to recoup some of the cost of the band. There is still room to stay, eat and groove (OFF PEAK RATES) so get in quick. Next band is ‘Shiver’ at club champs on 28th August for party dancing.

Yeah sure it’s early season conditions but hey we had some damn fine skiing on Hamilton Face and the Middle Basin Chutes today. The fine nights have really improved the conditions on the hill. There are plenty of good turns to be had. Check out the new photos from Hamilton Face this afternoon!

Accommodation for the School holidays and peak season in August is just about full. If you are planning a trip to Craigieburn this season now is the time to secure and pay for your booking before space runs out. This season we have special off-peak rates available from $50 per night for a non-member Adult. This includes three-course meal and breakfast in our slopeside accommodation. Ski holidays just dont come any cheaper!

Get in quick before we are all booked up! www.craigieburn.co.nz/accommodation/book

Masquerade Snowball Fundraiser!

Saturday 12 June 2010 – 7.30pm till 1am
Mt Pleasant Yacht Club, Mt Pleasant

Come and support the club in your best Snowball Glad Rags!

Masks essential (no paper bags), Spot Prizes, Raffle, and Auction – include ski field vouchers, clothes, ski equipment and we crown best Snow Themed Masquerade outfit (Snow King and Snow Queen)

Throw some wild moves to the Live Band

First Drink Free then Discounted Cash Bar – nibbles provided

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on door.

To purchase tickets in advance please pay via internet banking to CVSC 01-0825-0099826-00 with your NAME and SNOWBALL as a reference. Your name will be on a list at the door.

Joining a ski club does not mean you have to have any particular experience, skills or ability,  just an enthusiasm for the sport and a willingness to make a contribution. You will gain an appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes, an affiliation with like minded enthusiasts and take a far smaller hit in the pocket than you get from the big commercial fields. At Craigieburn you can take advantage of the Club Snow Safety Weekends at the beginning of every season, a chance to learn and develop your avalanche awareness  and safety skills. As a family your kids will get to participate in Grom’s weeks during the school holidays and make lifelong friends in safe and friendly surroundings.

By joining Craigieburn you becoming part-owner of  a legendary ski field, and have access to hugly discounted ski and accommodation rates. A season pass for instance is only $275! Slopeside accommodation (including dinner and breakfast) can be had for as little as $30 a night! Becoming a member also gets you discounted skiing and accommodation at other club fields.

If you would like to know more, see the information on joining the club, or member prices.

Cheers, and see you this season!

Check out the pages on accommodation and package prices for more information.

We will start taking bookings in the next few weeks and expect lodge space to be in hot demand over this period. Please keep this in mind when booking your holiday and get in early to avoid disappointment.

Additional offers for multiday ski passes will become available over the next month or two, so keep checking back.

See you on the hill in 2010!

March 6-7
March 13-14
April 2,3,4,5 Easter
April 10-11

Book in by email staff@craigieburn.co.nz by Wednesday evening prior to work party. Numbers are limited to 20 people per day max.

• On your email please include name, contact phone numbers, home and cell if possible
• 9am start in carpark
• Bring food for the day.
• Dress for outside work, garden gloves useful. If you have a shovel, loppers, pruning saw etc, bring them with you.
• Other specialised equipment will be asked for as required.
• First timers, bring food for dinner and breakfast (BBQ available) sleeping bag, towel etc for overnight.
• Workparties are weather dependent – please stay in contact if the weather is looking dicey.

Other days may be available by contacting Nick directly, although not in large numbers. Please make yourself available for one of these dates to avoid disappointment.

Worldwide Honour Names Craigieburn Alongside Jamaica, Finland Among Favourite “Clean Breaks”

Everyone who lives in the South Island knows it’s the best place in the world to unwind. But it’s always nice when the world takes notice.

The UK’s TIMES ONLINE has listed Canterbury’s Craigieburn ski field among its favourite “10 trips to break clean from daily life.”

The Times team spent 10 years researching the “clean break” they were seeking, from the Pyrenees to the Kalahari. They call it a “journey into the heart of a destination and its culture, when you do something different, stay in family‐run hotels, visit local festivals and hire local guides.”

“To think that one of the world’s top green, clean and favourite destinations is a simple hour’s drive from Christchurch . . . we know we are lucky, but do we realise our backyard is among the absolute best in the world?” asks Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism CEO Christine Prince.

Alongside swimming Finland’s lakes and bog‐walking Estonia, “Ski the resort‐free Craigieburn” brings New Zealand to the top of the Times’ list.

“And they say that your skiing will improve immeasurably – on this kind of testing off‐piste terrain it has to,” writes the Times.

Craigieburn is a 988‐acre ski area featuring a spectacular collection of generous powder bowls, steep, skinny chutes and a popular vertical plunge of 1,968 feet. It is part of a network of 13 ski fields located in a single region – Canterbury – known for dramatic vistas of the Southern Alps, lush green plains and cheeky alpine parrots.

The Canterbury region encompasses the heart of the South Island, with Craigieburn itself only one hour’s drive from Christchurch International Airport.

Craigieburn is one of 16 ski areas in the Canterbury region; “A world‐class prescription for clean, green and good‐for‐you couldn’t be closer to home!”

To read the Times Online article, click here.

With opening day experiencing powder galore and the forecast for more snow we couldn’t ask for a better start to Grom’s Week.  A total of 20 kids of varying abilities made the pilgrimage to CV with the hope of improving their skiing through our Canadian international ski instructor Sophie guidance, making friends and having fun in the snow.

Enjoy the pics everyone and see you on the 12th-13th September for the Junior Big Mt Comp. 
Next Grom’s week is 27th September

Speakers:
Al Uren – Winter Mountaineering
Jeff Small – NZ Free Skier
Alpine Search Dogs
MSC alpine and avalanche safety information

Same deal as usual:
• 9am start in carpark
• Please leave a message for Nick by the Wednesday before the weekend. Phone
the field on (03) 318-8711 or email staff@craigieburn.co.nz

Please Bring:
• A packed lunch
• Something for dinner, breakfast & lunch next day.
• Sleeping bag.
• Work gloves &/or garden gloves

There is a great BBQ set up at Ngahere that is good for dinner items.

SPECIAL NOTE: Safety Equipment
Please come well prepared with appropriate personal safety equipment when you come up for a work party. You may be required to work around chainsaws, heavy equipment or other loud equipment.

We suggest you bring:
• Earmuffs
• Gloves
• Safety Glasses (sunglasses or approved safety glasses)
• Sun Protection

It is also a great idea to put a pair of loppers in the back of the car since pruning is a good fill in job.

Meet 10am sharp in Koroheke
Cost: $40 Privileged Members / $60 Ordinary Members
Includes dinner, bed and breakfast.
BYO lunches and snacks
Please confirm your attendance by Weds 2nd July by emailing cvstaff@xtra.co.nz .
Come meet the staff, learn how to use your avalanche transceiver plus other useful and life saving information, and generally have a great weekend with other clubbies. Details for the weekend are below, care of Shannon Werner, our Snow Safety officer for this season.

Provisional Programme

Saturday 5th July
10am: The Avalanche Rescue Plan and avalanche rescue techniques.
12 noon: Lunch.
12:30pm: Up the hill for transceiver and probe searching practice.
2:30pm: Avalanche rescue scenario.
5pm: Debrief & MSC Avalanche Safety Video.

Sunday 6th July
• More transceiver searching practice.
• Back up day for avalanche rescue scenario if weather no good on sat 7th.
• If time allows I will run a basic session on travel in avalanche terrain and general avalanche safety.

We all have a responsibility to ensure our avalanche rescue capability is as effective and capable as possible so please do your best to
attend this weekend. It’s going to be loads of fun. Remember if you are unfortunate enough to be caught in an avalanche you will be relying on your fellow skiers and riders to rescue you. So it is in your interests to encourage as many other members as you can, to attend.