Smorgasboarder_16_March-2013

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LEFT: Mt Potts backcountry heli-drop Next day we enjoy a daybreak start, greeted by friendly Keas (the world’s only alpine parrot) on the snow-covered steps up to the lifts. We enjoy the mornings riding before heading back to Helipark as a fresh storm and snow is rolling in and our names are on the top of the list for the following day’s heli time. We wake from our cabins at the Helipark base camp - Mount Potts Lodge - just before daybreak to a crisp and clear still morning. Coffees, breakfast and laughs are enjoyed while we gear up and the sun warms the valley. We don our transceivers, the blades start to spin and we load the helicopter ten metres from our doorstep ready for the day ahead. Warrick is no stranger to choppers, and is the man behind HeliSurf NZ. www.helisurf.co.nz “WE’VE TIMED OUR VISIT WELL, WITH FRESH POWDER FALLING OVERNIGHT.” 114 SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR <strong>2013</strong>
JUST UP THE ROAD TRAVEL: SNOW Jase Johns of Queenstown’s NZ Shred takes us alon on a little trip of discovery WORDS & PICS: JASE JOHNS It’s early on a Tuesday morning in July and my fingers are cold, as I try to push the last roof clamp down on the snowboards. I pour more hot water into my cup of tea, as the rest of the crew are just starting to filter through the shower. We’re about to set off on another mini-Roadie. I’ve got some folks over from the Sunshine Coast who have flown in for a weeks’ snowboarding. They’re after a mix of ‘big and commercial’ as well as some sort of quintessential ‘Kiwines’s in the mix. Having spent the last seventeen years in the region and in the snow industry, I’m hard pressed thinking of a more appropriate adventure. I turn the key, and the engine of the NZSHRED Landcruiser rattles into action – that diesel hum, I liken to a ranchers most faithful horse, with the confident look of “Where would you like to go, Boss?”. Driving away from Queenstown feels wrong, but greener (or in this case, whiter) pastures lie but a short two and a half hours drive away. Everyone’s asleep, so I’m in charge of the tunes, as we roll in to Omarama. Here’s a chance to fill the truck with juice, as well as get some fresh caffeine into our veins before the last push. The weather report looked great for today and tomorrow and that fresh snow on the road over the Lindis Pass, which had kept me concentrating while everyone else slept, reminded me that there should be some great riding ahead. Just as the road started to get straight and boring, the sound of the indicator as we turned left at the big timber “Welcome to Ohau” sign, resuscitated those in the back seats... We were getting close. You could see Ohau Ski Fields wedged in one of the numerous basin valleys that dropped from the Southern Alps, and poke their tentacles towards the picturesque Lake of the same name. Weaving through a stand of old man pine, we round the corner and our first signs of accommodation… Ohau Lodge. We pass the bunk rooms and campervan parks before hitting the office and main building. I confidently tell the crew to hang tight and I’ll check what the score is. As I walk into the Lodge, and up the stairs, you can’t help but be taken by the eclectic mix of architecture, that screams of the untold number of winter travellers who’s weary legs have also clambered up these secret steps. As I chat to the young girl behind the counter, Louise the owner, springs up from behind the computer at the back of the room. “Well, you’ve picked another great few days to come up!”, she says with that combination of warmth and welcome annoyance that you get from someone working when they wish they could play. It’s great and it’s real. Our rooms aren’t ready... Why should they be, it’s only just 11am. So I quickly check the weather report on the counter before heading back to the truck, where I find everyone has got restless and I am now the only person not already in snowboarding gear. I’ll do it up the hill – “Right, you guys ready to head up?”, I say more out of courtesy, as we have already turned up the Access Road. A little smile crosses my face, as we pass the old shack just before the first water crossing … it’s covered with stickers, all snow-related. And I spy the NZSHRED one right in the middle and reminisce on its attachment, many years earlier, on a ‘stir-crazy’ mission, when a blizzard not only shut the ski fi eld, but also left us well entrenched at the Lodges bar, due to all roads north and south being cut by snow. With the eagerness of seagulls to as stray chip, we head straight for the ticket office. The afternoon is settled and the snow is chalky. The views are breath-taking, back down the valley to Lake Ohau and across the MacKenzie Country plains. It’s getting to midafternoon, so I ask if anyone feels like a hike. The track has been cut half way to the ridgeline, so it is slightly more than a plod, for those extra joyous lines. Another few runs and we are all starting to think of refreshments. It’s an easy roll back down to the Lodge. After settling in and showering, we all meet for a pre-dinner drink at the bar. The delightful homestyle meal fills everyone up and the bar again calls, as much to have a drink, as it does to see if you know anyone else or to swap stories of runs now long gone. Everyone settles in, in their own way. Some play pool, others board games on the couches, a few brave souls take to the outside verandah seats. You can’t see much, however the reflection of the moon in the flat Lake water, suggests a chilly night ahead. My day is done. The next day we awaken to a day much like a repeat of the day before, a great little example of what can be achieved without the big budgets and marketing matrices. OHAU SKI FIELDS: A great South Island snow option. Jase runs NZSHRED in Queenstown, stocking a range of snow, surf, skate and SUP gear. www.nzshred.co.nz MAR/APR <strong>2013</strong> | SMORGASBOARDER 115
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LOVING SURFING AMAZING PEOPLE CRAFT
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Byron Sunset Happy Hour! Monday to
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INTO THE SPIRIT OF THINGS The sixth
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Riley Balsawood Surfboards are made
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TWO COOL IDEAS TO MAKE TRANSPORTING
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FREE FEST FOOTWEAR BY IRON FIST! Th
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DAY 5 WHAT A DAY! If the searing he
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Is surfing Raglan's world famous le
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“I have been playing with the rat
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The Heated Undersuit turns every we
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LATEST: INTERVIEW ERSED THE WORLD &
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Early Days Born in Tennyson, a beac
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latest: INTERVIEW “My first day,
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Latest: INTERVIEW Tim then went bac
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latest: INTERVIEW “these guys are
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Page 63: Gift Vouchers available - perfect f
Page 67 and 68: TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP E MAR/APR 2013 |
Page 69 and 70: LEFT: Travelling light for a fantas
Page 71 and 72: TRAVEL: PLANE TRIP Despite their ag
Page 73 and 74: WHAT YOU WANT. CUSTOM HAND SHAPES B
Page 75 and 76: LATEST: LOCAL Eddie, Indo. Photo: P
Page 77 and 78: LATEST: LOCAL Eddie, an alaia and m
Page 79 and 80: LATEST: LOCAL EDDIE’S DAY JOB “
Page 81 and 82: TRAVEL Between Eddie’s pro career
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Page 85 and 86: “Surfing lead me to exploring the
Page 87 and 88: DESIGNING DREAM BEACH PADS Peter co
Page 89 and 90: Photo: Dave Swan ABOVE: Peter at ho
Page 91 and 92: KELLY NORRIS Photo by Smico HIGH-PE
Page 93 and 94: Like many a board fanatic, Cole Tho
Page 95 and 96: leading surf and street wear, surfb
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Page 99 and 100: “Red Island Really Is paRadIse, b
Page 101 and 102: Photo: Mick Curley WORLD: COMMUNITY
Page 103 and 104: purposes. The proposed mine site is
Page 105 and 106: Occy’s Left TALES: BACK IN THE DA
Page 107 and 108: AFTER many trips to various parts o
Page 109 and 110: At what passed for the petrol stati
Page 111 and 112: Great surfing spots Melanesian hosp
Page 113: With a short break from work, we ju
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Page 119 and 120: DANIEL JOYCE is a multi-talented ar
Page 121 and 122: snow gave me a deeper love for the
Page 123 and 124: You might not instantly recognise t
Page 125 and 126: fashion design t-shirts towards the
Page 127 and 128: Cape Woolamai Beach, on Phillip Isl
Page 129 and 130: TEAM RIDER // JOSH SLEEP ED SINNOTT
Page 131 and 132: SHAPER’S PROMOTION GEAR: BOARDS 5
Page 133 and 134: GEAR: BOARDS SHAPER’S PROMOTION 9
Page 135 and 136: SHAPER’S PROMOTION GEAR: BOARDS A
Page 137 and 138: shaping bay. One thing lead to anot
Page 139 and 140: WHAT TAPE? Let the beauty of the ba
Page 141 and 142: SHAPER’S PROMOTION GEAR: BOARDS 7
Page 143 and 144: Photo: Mark Chapman GEAR: TESTS Car
Page 145 and 146: Damo Davis digging it. Photo: Dave
Page 147 and 148: MASTERSTROKESTROKE Yet another pass
Page 149 and 150: ASKING THE QUESTION ”...IF OUR SU
Page 151 and 152: GB store assistant Shelby The legen
Page 153 and 154: DING REPAIRS BUSTED YOUR BOARD? GET
Page 155 and 156: BUSINESS PROMOTION SURFING COOLUM S
Page 157 and 158: Photos supplied by Grant Newby THE
Page 159 and 160: Daly Heads Surfi ng Reserve Plaque
Page 161 and 162: Photos by Brendan Dowd IMPROVED QUA
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