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Published: July 27th 2009
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This happened quite randomly...the best way for things to happen!
After knowing Mel all of about 12 hours, she had the courage to invite me along to a snow/drinking weekend which was being held at Ohau Lodge at the Ohau ski fields. Thanks Mel!
We drove south to Christchurch from Havelock and then from there on to Ohau the next day.
They lodge had no budget accomodaiton left for me...so I had to settle for a big double room all to myself - what a pity!!
After a fantastic drive up through the mountains from Christchurch through some awesome snow covered mountains and amazingly blue lakes we were ready to hit the slopes. Well Mel and Liam were, but I was rather nervous and very scared!!
It's been years since I've even seen the white stuff and anything that I learned on that fateful week in Andorra must have dissapeared!
I got boarded and booted up and sorted myself out with a pass for the lift (little did I know I'd hardly need it!). It was really strange sitting on the ground strapping my feet into the bindings, preparing for pain! I took the short
slope down to the lift and suprisingly it didn't feel so bad...
With the encouragement of the seasoned snow sporters I was glently introduced to the chair lift. Amazingly i managed to get on and off in one piece...usually me, chair lift and snow board is a definite recipe for disaster!
The scenery was amazing. From the chair lift and the top of the slope we could appreciate the colours. Perfect brilliant white of the snow and the sharp contrasting blues of both the sky and the kettle lakes in the glaciated valley below. The sun was beating down on us, perfect conditions!
My first run down the slope was a rude awakening! I was rubbish! I slowly snaked my way down...on one side of the board, afraid to even attempt to switch over and do one of those turn things! Very kindly Mel and Liam offered me some advice and waited for me at several of the intersections to make sure I didn't end up god knows where!
The slope from the top lead on to the nursery (I didn't realise this was where we were!) and suddenly I felt lots more comfortable. I had
found my home for the next two days - with the 4 year olds! I was less of a danger to myself and could actually relax a little and try out the advice and tips I was getting.
Very quickly I was tired and in bad need of a coffee break (they do GOOD coffee over here!!). Chilled in the sun with a coffee, surrounded by snow and a fantastic view. Even without the board on my feet I was just happy to be here in the sun and surrounded by this alien white powdery stuff! We were surrounded by evidence of the distructive power of the snow. A shed below the car park had been badly damaged by an avalance only a few days earlier. Beautiful but dangerous! I was happy on the nursery slope!
We had our fill of the snow and headed for the lodge where the party would be held. I took advantage of my bath and big room and faffed about getting ready. All things green were dug out including face paints and green curly bows! The drinking started early, it would be a mammoth session! We were part of a larger group
of friends, who were all creatively dressed with potaote braclets and necklaces! There was even a priest and a group of nuns in the crowd! We were seated for a three course meal which included stew and a shamrock shaped yorkshire pudding, inventive! This is where things got dangerous. Alcohol and facepaints (with a spud thrown in) is a lethal combination. We took it in turns to paint each others faces, or just generally attack each other with our national colours!
At dinner I decided I needed to make a shamrock shaped potaote print which would allow mass production of green face paint shamrocks. I got to work carving the shamrock with a borrowed multi-tool. A handle was fashioned out of a fork and I was ready to go! Most of my night was spent approaching people and branding them with my green spud! I was set challenges - who could I get, what lengths could we go to with the branding. It started with faces and arms, then progressed to bald heads, nippels, belly buttons and finally bum cheeks...i think i even managed to brand my wine glass at some stage. I'm still finding blobs of green paint
two days later! It's even in my pockets!
The alcohol flowed and the music played. The band were excellent and had a good mix of diddle-eye and more recognisable stuff. Impromptu irish dancing lessons were even going on out on the decking under the stars where there was a little more room. Everyone was in great form and the dancing continued as long as the music and alcohol was served! When the bar did finally close, a few brave soles ventured to the outdoor spa. That was an interesting exposure!
The next morning at breakfast there were many sore heads and the remnants of green paint that was hard to wash off on many faces! I was seriously struggling and felt like I'd be at a proper Irish wedding with a marathon drinking session. To add to it my body was aching from the multiple run in's I'd had with the highly compacted snow on the nursery slope. It was going to be a long day!
The brave (not me!) ventured on to the snow as soon as they arrived at the slopes...I decided to take some me time and chill out with a coffee and my
travel guide. I was in no fit shape to even consider attempting to co-ordinate standing, bending my knees and controlling my weight AND look out for 4 year olds at the same time. That would be later! Eventually I did overcome the dreaded hangover and collected my gear and tryed to progress from my slow start the day before. I was making progress but it was slow. Every now and then some kind indivuduals would drop by the nursery and give me some advice. Or just sit and chill on the snow with me - that's about all I was fit for!
All boarded out, with about 8 linked turns under my belt (without any falls!) I decided I'd enough. I'd a bit of a hick up earlier on when someone picked up my rental board instead of their own...but I talked nicely to the rental guy and he let me have another board! Retired to the cafe, said our good byes and hit the road for Queenstown.
Irish weekend in Ohau was an experience. The snowboarding aspect was quite different to the package deals which I had experinced in Andorra but in reality it was nicer, more
felxible. You drive up with your chians to the field, and it's quieter. Everyone is very friendly, and there's no huge cues for the lifts. I'm happy with my snow experience. Although I only spent two half days on the slopes my whole body is aching, i'm taking at least another two days to recover and do very little here in Q'town. Again - thanks Mel and all for the experience!
My next adventure begins tomorrow. I'm heading south again to Invercargill and then on to Stewart island via the ferry. I'm hoping to see some more native birds out there and wander out into the wilderness and stay in the huts for a few nights tramping. I'll keep you posted 😊
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