When it snows, is storms

Australia's Anna Segal waits for her score after falling during the second fun in the Ladies' Ski Slopestyle Final of the XXII Olympic Winter Games at Extreme Park in Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING

Your weekly ski and snowboard roundup.

FIRST TRACKS

Sun and softer conditions make riding in September an underrated pastime in Australia. The snow pack has largely held up in NSW and Victoria and if the next week isn’t too cruel we should see it through to the end of the month without too much trouble at all. It’s not quite t-shirt tan time just yet, but it ain’t too far away.

There’s still plenty doing event-wise too. Top of our list is the Chicks with Stix event this weekend at Thredbo. The initiative is a great one – it provides women who are comfortable on blue runs with the opportunity to ski or snowboard with some of the best riders in the business including Olympian Anna Segal. Best of all – it is free! Register at: www.chickswithstix.com

Over at Mt Buller the ABOM Mogul Challenge happens on Saturday, the event now in its 27th year. It pits the best bump skiers from around the world against each other on the classic Chamois run in the dual format.

Olympic silver medallist Mikael Kingsbury from Canada is the leading light in the men’s while our own World Cup medallist Britt Cox will try and keep the women’s title in Australia. It makes for a great spectator event.

And not to be done at Falls Creek, they are offering free day passes for dads on Sunday for Fathers Day (with a paying child).

Fallsspring

TOP GEAR

Wax on, wax off: Is a failure to wax letting you down? Brazilian jokes aside this is actually a serious issue amongst skiers who often can’t get the most out of their equipment because they haven’t used a wax. It is no more evident than at this time of year when saturated or corn snow (unbroken snow that has been through a thaw/re-freeze) often prevails.

That stuck-in-the-mud feeling can be alleviated somewhat with a good wax. There are multi-purpose waxes that cover most conditions but a specific warm temperature wax is probably the way to go as the days get longer and warmer. Warm temperature waxes are designed to work with the water layer that has formed on top of the snow as opposed to against it.

It can help speed you up as those around you look like they are riding through glue. Expect to pay around $20 for a hot wax done in store.

SKI MECHANICS

No, not the ones that fix your skis but the ones that can fix your skiing. Telluride in Colorado, which already has plenty going for it, is offering a special `biomechanics’ camp this upcoming season. It’s all about skiing more efficiently so you can do it for longer – a vastly underrated component in enjoying the sport as you get older.

The camp has been designed by an orthopaedic surgeon and director of sports medicine along with a lead ski school instructor and will be held from January 15-18. See: www.tellurideskiresort.com for more details.

img_4754__4_DEALING WITH IT

When it comes to spring and the snow in Australia, retail really is for chumps. It seems regardless of the conditions people start to switch off – which makes it both a great time to go riding – and make some purchases.

There are plenty of bargains out there and gear wise it is hard to go past Melbourne’s Auski at the moment with up to 70 per cent off online and in store. From snowboard boots to outerwear there are some substantial discounts here. Web: www.auski.com.au

CONDITIONS APPLY – WITH WEATHER GURU PETE `THE FROG’ TAYLOR

The next week looks to be a classic mix of the upredictability that is the hallmark of this time of the year. The Frog reckons the snow line is a bit high through to the end of the week and we’ll see rain in the resorts, perhaps with a bit of snow over 1700 metres – but a net loss of cover overall. Situation pretty normal.

The weekend should be mostly fine with another, colder front settling in later on Monday. This has the potential for a 10cm+ top up which will be useful ahead of increasing temperatures.

New Zealand mostly avoided rain during the week and with a good base in the Southern Lakes and at Mt Ruapehu on the North Island, it will continue to prosper well into September. “I see some more snow coming, there’s eight or nine days of top-ups with cold temperatures,” says The Frog. “Christchurch might even get some snow on Sunday. It’s looking like a good, late season there.”

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LAST RESORT – A LOOK AT AUSTRALASIA’S FORGOTTEN ALPINE AREAS

Mt Mangaweka, New Zealand. What? Where? Is this the least known but perhaps most intriguing place where you can ski or snowboard in the Shaky Isles? You may well be familiar with Mt Ruapehu or perhaps at a stretch Mt Taranaki but did you know it was possible to ride further south on the North Island in the Ruahine Ranges?

Neither did I. About 90km from Palmerston North, there is a small heli-riding operation that functions on demand and when conditions allow. According to their website Mt Mangaweka gets between 10-15 days riding a season and can run between July and September.

With the accessible range peaking out at 1,740 metres there are clearly some limitations in terms of conditions and the vertical drop is just 350 metres. It also costs around $NZ1450 per person. But in a typical day the operators promise ten runs and looking at their youtube video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZNJaWC4L8Q) it sure seems like a great experience.

Web: www.mtmangawekahelipark.co.nz

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