Uh-oh

So, where do we start. Like the title says it has been an eventful start to the break.
It started at the airport. Typical. Rolled up to check in to be greeted by a row of machines. Insert passport here, scan card there, etc, etc. Got that done & went to drop off our bags. Do you think the damned computerised system would work. In the end we just booted our bags onto the conveyor and hoped for the best.

Headed up to the lounge only to be kicked out. Sorry, we don’t code share with Virgin anymore. Ended up in some other lounge which really wasn’t a patch on what we were used to. Big fail Mr Virgin.

OK. Had a good flight over but coming in it started to rain which was FANTASTIC news because that meant snow on the mountain. Picked up the car and headed to our home for the next couple of weeks. Settled in, all nice & cosy, did a pub dinner and crashed.

Got up this morning to what was obviously a very good start to the day. Still raining which meant snow. No traffic so we got to the start of the mountain road in record time only to be greeted by the dreaded “chains on 2WD” sign. Bugger.

Out we got, finally put the chains on (mental note, not a great look to have to put chains on the very first time up the mountain) Driving up Roger said geez, that feels different. Yeah, whatever. Should have known better. D’oh.

They mountain had 16cm of snow overnight which was tremendous news, because it really needed some TLC. Visibility was a bit suss but it was a great start to our season. Headed back down to the car and BUGGER! Not only did we have a flat tire but we’d lost a chain as well. Just great!

Rang the car hire company only to be told, sorry, we don’t have a roadside assist crew in the area bat the moment. meanwhile, tire jack sank into the ground and car bottomed out on the disc. Great. What a balls up. Anyhows, we used our local contacts to get the mountain road staff to come & assist, by which time Roger had already dug the car out and we got ourselves off the mountain. Had to go & get tyre replaced and pick up a new set of chains. Ouch.

Needless to say we were mightily glad to get back home & now have several glasses of medicinal scotch under our belt.

Welcome to NZ 2019. Many thanks to NZSki admin & road staff, hi Rosie 🙂 , for the help.

Oh, BTW, did I mention the outside BBQ was inadvertantly destroyed by the previous guests. Something about a fire. *giggle*

OK, so now you’re all up to date. All being well during the evening I will post some more pikkies of the day.

On a different note, it was just so nice to catch up with everyone we know. The ranks of the One Ski In The Grave Club have thinned by 1. Maurice passed away a few weeks ago & he will be missed. Our friend and local ski instructor legend Tony Russell is not able to be with us this season and we send a fond hello to him at Methven. Enjoy the season at Mt Hutt mate. You are missed 🙁 A few other faces were notable absences but it is only ealy days so we look forward to catching up hopefully.

So, that completes our roundup for the time being. Hope everyone is well and until tomorrow…

It’s good night from me & good night from Roger

Cheers & bye for now

C & R

Morning all!

Well, finally some snow. Not much and only at the top but let’s hope there’s plenty more to come before opening day!

Hi all

This is a pikkie lifted from Coronet, taken at the end of April showing the top station sitting in the sun. Double click on the image for a larger view. Enjoy 🙂

Hi everyone.

It has taken a little while to get around to this but I have posted a couple of quick pikkies from mid March when we were at Coronet for the clubs Summer picnic. Most of the shots are of the construction of the new Coronet Express. I have a couple more to post shortly. Click on the 2019 pikkies to view 🙂

Well, biggest news is that Coronet Peak is to get a new 6 seater/gondola combined lift to replace the old Coronet Express.

We are going over in mid March for the end of summer get together so with a bit of luck we’ll be able to get some advance pikkies.

C

Stuck, in Brisbane,and watching this unfold. NOT HAPPY JAN!!!

To all of our Coronet friends, I so envy you this morning, mind you, the power outages would not have been fun but the skiing this morning, especially first tracks, would have been epic. I have been watching the cameras all day and just drooling. Thinking of you all, deeply envious, but wishing you all epic runs!

Clayton

Hi everyone.

It’s 8pm over here and I have again spent all day on the field. I am so tired and it is now below 0 outside so I am going to bunk down for the night & I will do an update in the morning along with some photos!

Clayton

Evil!

So, after getting away a little late I turned off onto the Coronet Peak access road to be greeted by the ominous “chains required” display. As it was raining at home it was no surprise at all. Did I say how much I loved snow, skiing, driving…but I despise chains. They are pure evil. Never let them know you are trying to get somewhere, they will just tangle up & sulk. After some cursing & swearing they were on and off I went. Ended up in the Greengates carpark as I was a bit late plus there was racing on which filled our usual carpark, but that was OK.

Went straight down to the locker, got my gear & I was on the slopes by 9:10am. It was a cloudy day, flat light & then it started to snow! Yaay. Kept up for quite a while and even when it died down we still had flurries on & off during the day. It was awesome skiing. I made up my mind I was going to do an all day and into night ski session. Pleased to report that I left the field just before 6pm & clocked up an incedible 50 runs for the day. Yaaay. All that training has paid off. That is the longest I have ever skied and the most runs ever clocked up. In other news, I am off to spend 2 hours with my fave instructor on Monday & he is going to take me all over the mountain!

I have a number of pikkies I have taken today but I will upload those tomorrow coz it is time for beddy-byes, I am totally wasted!

Byeeee

Clay

Hi Everyone.

It’s just on 7:30 & it’s been raining since early this morning. Coronet is showing snow so I’m about to make a slightly later move than usual. It’s just on 2°C and you can hardly see the Crown range in the pikkie but it”s worth a go out!

Check ya later alligator!