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Published: July 29th 2004
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The Remarkables
Popular ski area near Queenstown It was an 8am start on the ski shuttle to the 'Remarkables' ski area - apparently in the summer months they filmed some scenes for LOTR here. This mountain range is one of the few that runs North-South.
It was a little cloudy but the journey up the hill gave me a perfect view of Queenstown and the surrounding area. The Remarkables ski area is the highest in altitude in the region and after 13,5km of winding twisting steep and at times very scary paths in the big bus I was glad to get my feet on steady ground / snow. But almost immediately I was carried in wave of people onto a less stable surface!
As a novice skier and a snow virgin I am not accustomed too the ski/board jargon - what the heck is a magic carpet? In my disney world a magic carpet takes me on a spectacular journey to a whole new world (with a lovely man by my side). In snow terms a magic carpet is like an escalator but not stairs, like one of those moving walkways you find in
Typical group lesson
We were like dominos on the ski slope when anyone mentioned the f**l word I seemed to be on my bum. an airport, except it goes up a gentle slope to the snow base.
After renting boots /skis/ poles myself and the other girls strapped them to our feet and headed down th nursery slopes - I was screaming my head off but quickly remembered the 'snow-plough' from my ski lessons on a dry slope when in primary 7.
Having successfully negotiated the nursery slopes and the magic carpet while wearing the boots and skis this meant I could go into group 2A just above complete beginners. After a few more turns on the baby slopes under the guidance of the instructor our group was ready for the chairlift up to the green runs. I was more scared of te chairlift than anything else - but it turned out to be quite easy, although not for everyone as the lift had to be stopped or slowed down a few times for the people who had fallen trying to get off the damn thing.
Our group took a long time to snow-plough or wedge our way down the hill, I seemed to be doing ok and was managing to avoid the other skiers and boarders on some busy narrow parts of the run. Well I was doing ok until one of the other beginners from my group wiped out. Not satisfied with only herself faling she managed to trip me up with her ski poles! - Well I was down, sprawled out on the snow on typically a narrow stretch of the run! To my left was a steep hill no-one was allowed to come down and on my rights was a sheer verticle cliff drop. To make matters worse I couldn't get up for love nor money.
Eventually after many attempts and the help of a few passers-by I was on my feet again or should I say skis - well anyway whatever it wasn't for long. My first fall seemed to start off a chain reaction of falls - most of which I cannot explain just seemed to be in control then lost my balance this often occurred at a slow pace or even while I was standing still! At least now that falling isn't too bad it doesn't even hurt that much its just the getting back up that's difficullt.
The afternoon lesson involved going straight up on the chairlift (I had been promoted to group 2B) and practising parallel turns. I was thoroughly enjoying my time on the slopes and it ws getting even more exciting now I was picking up speed. At one point I gained a bit too much speed and I tried to remember and follow my instructor's instructions but I seemed to be going faster and faster - towards the SLOW sign - not good. I decided that the easiest way to slow down was probably to let myself fall - an interesting and funny sight from a safe distance, I'm sure. Well ski poles and skis along with lots of snow scattered in all directions - I even managed to get snow up my back between my many clothing layers and my skin. All I could do was laugh - nothing hurt - thankfully I landed on good snow. Luckily that turned out to be the last fall of the day (for me), I had a few more rides on the chairlift and runs down the slope - even managing to sneak in a quick run in pooor visibility just before the slopes closed for the day. It was time to hand back my gear and get back on the bus for the hairy ride back down the mountain.
Despite being exhausted I was hyped about my day on the snow. I really enjoyed the lessons and despite having a few falls I had a great time and better still I wasn't hurting.....yet.
T.B.C. ......
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