The Downhill Ski Club has a great Lodge in National Park. We welcome new members! https://thedownhillski.club
Operating as usual
THE COVID CLOUD
It is nothing short of a miracle for the club to emerge from this roller coaster of a season, in a financially sound position. It is very pleasing that we made a trading profit of over $8,000, in a winter destroyed by Covid.
With Resurgence payments and two permanent guests for the season, we were able to pay the bills and keep National Park Lodge functioning. No mean feat with only 15 member nights booked all season.
Special thanks to Christine Fitzmaurice for her tireless work as Booking Officer.
Meanwhile, Mike was steering the club through an unsettling, and ultimately sad period, in the club's history.
He led the charge with securing a "liquidator" ; liaising with company personnel and kept D.O.C. informed of all the changes, in a timely manner. They have not been the easiest to deal with throughout this protracted relinquishment process.
The liquidators officially took up the reins on the 29th of November and from that date they control everything.
END OF AN ERA
As the sun sets on the grand old girl that was the Downhill Ski Club, founded in 1965, there are members who we should acknowledge for having made a significant contribution over the years. Many people have put in countless volunteer hours, materials, expertise and dedication and we remember them fondly.
Harold Thomas who was a stalwart of the club for many years.
The Fitzmaurice Family who keep coming back on the committee.
Steve Chaney, the eternal treasurer.
Jane Gilmour, with 10 + years as Secretary under her belt.
Jim Crooks for his cooking skills and unforgettable personality.
Neil Green, of poo burner fame.
Paul Brown, the refurbishment mogul.
Mandy Rothe for all the superb newsletter photos.
Ross Sutherland, property developer.
Chris Fotherby, for his unsung work in the generator room.
Dave Simpson and many other hard workers......the Douches,Meeks and Frosts.
Long serving Booking Officers " extraordinaire ".....Margaret Willoughby, Marie and Bernie Prendergast and Dion Cruse.
And to all those past Presidents who stepped up to the plate when your club needed you....... a very big thank you.
This is not a complete list by any means, but any tributes (gossip ?) you would like to make, can be posted on the new group page. This will keep members in touch and can be accessed at https://fb.me/g/PckapNUo/ejkEOBKI
If people are not happy using Facebook, Christine has set up a private e.mail list of past DSC members. Join the list by e.mailing Christine at [email protected] and you will be manually added to the group.
LIFE PASS ALERT !
The Board of Directors of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, the company that runs the Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields, is proposing to sell a 50% share of the company to private equity investors for $30 million. Under the proposed new company structure, the public entity of the company will be forfeited !
A key risk to Life Pass holders is that the NEWCO corporate structure may leave pass holders vulnerable to a loss of their Life Pass benefits.
A private Facebook group "Mt Ruapehu Shareholders" has been set up and anyone with a Life Pass or Shares can join the group. Protect your pass.
SKI CLUB OFFERS
Our homeless status as former ski club members has made us very attractive to other struggling, mountain ski clubs.
The committee has been approached by a number of clubs and Whanganui and Takapuna have agreed to waive their entrance fees for DSC members.
HOUSEKEEPING
If there are members still keen to retrieve their belongings from the mountain lodge, this is still possible for a limited time. Contact the ski club committee for directions on where to find the lodge keys.
Do NOT use the toilets !
And finally, if anyone knows where the club's Presidents board is, we would like it back to add a few names to it. Contact Mike Fitzmaurice.
Happy skiing for the future, wherever it may be.
Reminder to all Members! A Special General Meeting is to be held on Tuesday, 28th September commencing at 7:30 pm.
The purpose of the Meeting is to confirm the decision made at the last Special General Meeting, held on the 29th of May, to wind up the Downhill Ski Club Inc and to nominate a date of winding up.
The Meeting will also be asked to confirm the appointment of Liquidators of the Downhill Ski Club, Meltzer Mason, and to pay their Fees.
We need a quorum of 15 in order to hold a Special General Meeting.
The Meeting will be held virtually using the “Meet” App.
https://meet.google.com/bec-ygur-gvq
Click the link to open it in your Browser.
We hope to see as many Members as possible, past and present, at this meeting.
Kindly respond to [email protected] with your intention to attend the meeting.
We are open!! Our Lodge in National Park is ideally situated - choose to ski at either Whakapapa or Turoa. Weekend bookings are filling up. Get a group together and make a booking now! We’d love to see you! ❤️❄️⛄️⛷
LAST CHANCE!! Email [email protected] by 12 noon Wednesday 26th to secure your place. Saturday 29th May - Ryder’s Cinema, 177 Riversdale Road, Avondale. Start time 5:30 pm. $40 per person. BYO. Come and join the fun! 🙂🥂🍱🎬👍🍻
Just a reminder about our Dinner/Movie night on the 29th of May. We’d love to have your company - please come along and support your Club.
What a glorious Autumn weekend spent at National Park! Four Committee members spent the weekend at our Lodge at a “Work Party”. A lot was achieved and the lodge is looking great! Don’t forget to pay your Subs if you haven’t already! It’s looking like it’ll be a great Season! Kick off the Season with a great social event - come along to our Dinner/Movie Night! 🎉 ⛷😄
CodePen - April eDM - Winter 2021 Update Tūroa and Whakapapa have been a hive of activity this summer, with the team working hard to complete large maintenance projects.
2021 Membership Fees are now due. Earlybird Membership is available until April 30th 2021. Become a member and benefit from member rates, booking priority and more! To join or to renew your Membership please go to our new website -
https://thedownhillski.club/join/
Book in to stay at our Lodge and enjoy the fabulous day trip below. Book via our website - www.thedownhillski.club
Take the train from Ohakune/National Park/Taumarunui to the Great New Zealand Muster at Te Kuiti on Saturday the 10th of April!
BOOK NOW: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/the-sheep-muster-express
Mighty viaducts, tunnels, rivers and the famed Raurimu Spiral await you on this exclusive heritage train day trip opportunity.
Timetable:
Ohakune Dep 9.00am
National Park Dep 9.30am
Taumarunui Dep 10.30am
Te Kuiti Arr 12.45pm
Te Kuiti Dep 3.30pm
Taumarunui Arr 5.20pm
National Park Arr 6.25pm
Ohakune Arr 7.00pm
Return Fares (ex Ohakune/National Park):
Adult $69
Child (2-14) $49
Return Fares (ex Taumarunui):
Adult $59
Child (2-14) $45
Online booking is essential.
For more info and to book: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/the-sheep-muster-express
Work Party 20/21 February - https://mailchi.mp/7185a2c3f6a4/work-party-2021-february
Work Party 20/21 February A gentle reminder about the work party on the 20/21st of February. The weather is looking good for the weekend and remember we will be taking a trip to the mountain lodge to empty lockers, and remove duvets etc. to use at National Park. Accommodation credits apply. Please email [email protected]...
Welcome to 2021 - https://mailchi.mp/4714b0b742cf/welcome-to-2021
Welcome to 2021 Lots to talk about at the beginning of the year. We have a new committee, new website and a new booking system. Our first event of the year is the work party and to be part of all this excitement it's now time to renew your membership.
AGM 29 November - https://mailchi.mp/a846e1632c10/agm-29-november-4844270
mailchi.mp Hi everyone, our website and webmail have been down, which means we possibly did not receive some of the RSVPs for the AGM. Could you please confirm again by tomorrow and we will send you the necessary documents beforehand. The meeting will be held on Sunday 29th November at 4.30-5.30 pm at 15 Bel...
AGM 29 November - https://mailchi.mp/897cb5b27550/agm-29-november
mailchi.mp The Downhill Ski Club Committee would like to welcome all members to our Annual General Meeting to be held on Sunday 29th November at 4.30-5.30 pm at 15 Bell Road, Remuera. The meeting will be followed by a BBQ and social event. Meat will be supplied but BYO drinks and a plate of nibbles, salad...
Calling all Members ...
The 2020 AGM is nearly upon us and we’re looking for enthusiastic people to join the Committee! If you enjoy your time at the Club and would like to give a little time back into making it run smoothly, please get in touch! For those living out of Auckland - we’d really value your input - Zoom meetings make it easy for people to join in from any location. Please contact the current Committee with any queries - [email protected]
Hawaiian Luau at the Lodge on Saturday night. Thanks to the Members and friends who came and made it such a great evening. 🌺
Spring skiing, party time and AGM notice ⛄ - https://mailchi.mp/fc3067975dc9/spring-skiing-party-time-and-agm-notice
mailchi.mp With 5 weeks left of the 2020 season, there is still plenty of time to enjoy some spring skiing. The conditions have been fantastic for the last two weekends and RAL have announced parking won't need to be pre-booked anymore from the 28 September, which should make things a lot easier. After all pre...
Covid-19 statement from RAL:15 August 2020
Jono Dean, CEO RAL:
Whanganui DHB advised RAL yesterday that a confirmed Covid-19 case from the Auckland cluster visited Tūroa ski field on Sunday 9 August.
Following this advice two RAL staff self-isolated and were tested for COVID-19. They have received their results and are NEGATIVE for COVID-19.
Public Health officials have advised that the interactions any of our staff have had with this person are NOT considered to meet the definition of “close contact”.
The person above also visited Whakapapa Ski Area on Saturday the 8 August but was considered pre-symptomatic and so unlikely to be infectious at this time, because of this the DHB have advised that there is no cause for concern or action beyond our current Level 2 protocols, which we are of course following and asking visitors to the mountain to follow as well.
Deep cleaning and thorough cleaning routines are also being done and both Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields remain open.
We have had direct instructions from the Ministry of Health and Wanganui DHB that if our crew are not symptomatic then they are safe to be at work, therefore we remain confident that we are following best practice.
We will be encouraging all staff to wear masks towards the same goal of preventing any possible spread.
While we are in Level 2 we remain open and we advise visitors to check the Mt Ruapehu website for the latest updates before heading up the mountain and if people are unwell to stay home.
We are open! 🎿 - https://mailchi.mp/8416311274dc/we-are-open
mailchi.mp We will be open under alert level 2 for members and guests who may travel. That is those not within an alert level 3 area. Hygiene is most important so pack an extra towel for your frequent hand washing. If you can book a car park you will get lots of skiing in!
Time to get back on the slopes 🎿 - https://mailchi.mp/ee9a41cc606d/time-to-get-back-on-the-slopes
scoop.co.nz Queuing for a carpark is set to become a thing of the past at Mt Ruapehu’s Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields. A new parking booking system is being introduced this season to help ease traffic congestion at the mountain during peak times and ensure a sustainable ...
Department of Conservation
Ruapehu is an incredible winter playground, and as mountain goers prepare for the 2020 season, a refreshed set of hazard posters will let them know how to keep safe on the volcano.
The message is simple: Ruapehu is an active volcano, if you see an eruption, or hear the siren warning system, move out of valleys immediately to higher ground.
Check out the posters before you head up on the mountain this winter ➡️ bit.ly/2MTXqu8
The posters show actions to be taken on different parts of the mountain if there is an eruption. Eruptions can be sudden, without warning, and a lahar can travel through the ski area within minutes.
For more information visit ➡️ bit.ly/3cXQeYC
Thanks to the partners involved GNS Science and Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa & Tūroa Ski Areas.
The Friends of 42 Traverse Inc. are holding their annual cut-back this weekend, 13th June, with the support of DOC. If you have nothing on come join them! There are already 12 people booked in for Saturday night at the lodge!
DOC have said they would appreciate the Club’s assistance for track clearing after the closure of the track.
This is outside the usual seasonal access for 4WD's so this will allow clearing work to be done without having other 4WD vehicles on the route.
The plan is to work the Saturday and if conditions allow, the Sunday morning before heading home.
We meet for a briefing at 9.30am on Saturday morning at Owhango Adventures in their carpark. (The old 'pub' at the south end of Owhango).
Fuel in Te Kuiti so you have heaps! 🙂⛽️
Just a quick hello from our bubbles to yours ⛄🏂🎿 - https://mailchi.mp/6baebed05b63/just-a-quick-hello-from-our-bubbles-to-yours
mailchi.mp backyard ski lift ski touring in your living room Take care and stay safe. Your committee: Steve, Edith, Christine, Jane, Ross and Carlos.
📅 Working Bee dates changed to 22/23 Feb - https://mailchi.mp/57c3aff8c0da/working-bee-dates-changed-to-2223-feb
mailchi.mp Apologies, but we have to move the working bee dates by a week. If you are available to help, please contact Ross at 027 472 8332. Maybe bring your bikes, we could cycle the Fisher's Track; we will have a truck to transport the bikes.
💪 One working bee done...one more to come - https://mailchi.mp/012c3daeb5a2/one-working-bee-doneone-more-to-come
mailchi.mp The DSC 2020 summer working bee was a great success, with the hardworking 8 attendees achieving some great results. The weather was fine and warm, which made travel and jobs easier to complete. At National Park the gardening team produced 2 truckloads of trimmings and we now have a front garden...
Merry Christmas 🎅🎄🎁 - https://mailchi.mp/6804cfd3432b/merry-christmas
mailchi.mp We wish you happy holidays and a great start into the new year! We know how busy everyone is, so we thought we quickly let you know the date for our National Park working party next year: Please put the 1st & 2nd of February into your diaries and let us know if you can help out. We would like to g...
Membership is Open! Come and join us for easy access to Whakapapa. www.Arlberg.co.nz for details
Real Ruapehu is all about Fun Positive Snow Stoke! Up to date info on Mt Ruapehu snow / wether conditions / events etc. Share your epic snow adventures. Page Rules 1) Have fun, share your stoke. 2) Don’t be a Dick! 3) Trolls will be Terminated!