Back on the slopes after lockdown

• Published date: 16 September 2021
• Publication title: Central Otago News

After getting the word we had to head for home and lockdown for a few weeks, we spent our time watching skiing videos on YouTube, making a promo video with some awesome people to help raise some funds for the Cancer Society, since the Daffodil Day street appeal was cancelled, and lots of physical exercise to keep ski-ready.

Lochie and I found this lockdown very hard, as we were in full steam, pumping on adrenaline skiing New Zealand, then just like that we were back at home, not knowing if we would ski again this year. It sure was tough.

For a long time now, Lochie and I have dreamed about heading overseas to ski, but over lockdown I did have to wonder when that day might be possible.

It is unknown times, but one thing is for sure, we are very lucky to have so many awesome ski fields across New Zealand we can visit.

Those ski fields sure are thankful for your support.

Fast forward to this past weekend, it’s Friday afternoon the ute is packed and I’m sitting outside Lochie’s school, Cromwell Primary, waiting for Lochie to finish.

Rebecca has arrived to see us off, the clock hits 3pm and here arrives, this young man, 7 years old but thinking like an adult, what he has to get done over the next coming days.

We are heading for the Craigieburn Range and Arthurs Pass to ski Mt Cheeseman and Temple Basin.

We arrived at Castle Hill late that night ready to ski.

Mt Cheeseman gave us a bluebird Saturday, and what a day it was.

It was a good feeling being back there, as this was the place we had to leave the night of the news of a lockdown, and it was awesome to see long lift lines of people who turned out to support the club.

The day went way too fast and we soon had to pack up and head for Temple Basin, on the west side of Arthurs Pass.

This ski field will blow your mind. We arrived to the goods lift just on 5.30pm, and the weather was changing. There we meet some real friendly faces of other skiers who have been following Lochie online.

We loaded our gear on to the goods lift and parked the ute, then just when most of New Zealand would be getting ready to put their feet up after the day, ours was still going. We had a 500 vertical-metre hike, around 1.5 hours of steep walking without stopping to get to the lodge on the mountain.

This is no easy walk. We had Eli, one of the staff members, to show us the way and just as well, as the last 40 minutes was in the dark — we arrived at the lodge just in time for tea.

As we walked into the dining room we could hear...