Smorgasboarder_16_March-2013

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 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 115