Broken Shoulder 1983

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Broken Shoulder 1983 Murray MacRae Friday before and still packing, slowly gave way to full-speed wondering if I have remembered moderate control. The sun was everything; it was probably too late shining. I thought "This holiday anyway. The taxi is here, off to might be O.K. after all." Run after the airport, and drinks for all and run we skied; jelly knee'ed we sundry in the flight lounge, then up, arrived back at the van for lunch. up and away to Christchurch. We all found cutting bread and cheese The flight was bumpy with more than with Ian's ski binding key a real one passenger observed clutching at challenge but as with all T&M the arms of a fellow passenger. The endeavours it proved more fun than landing and gear pick-up was smooth with a knife. and the hoard flowed out into the cool night air to find no vans. So, The skiing continued; some runs into taxis - 5 people, 5 packs and 5 looked good, some crashes looked good sets of skis - and off to the motor too as my derriere would attest. camp where fitful sleep ensued. The setting sun sees us back in Christchurch washed and refreshed and Saturday came and after a good cooked eager to eat. The search for the breakfast we climbed into our now lost restaurant; 20 people in three located vans and raced off across the vans playing dodgems in central plains and up the hills, a quick Christchurch. Nobody wanted us action stop to fit chains, then off well, not all of us; soon three to the top. Out of the van, sungroups went their separate block smearing and ticket buying over, Steak was the order of the ways. day for we headed up and onto the field (Mt us, afterwards Ian said to the Hutt). Off to my right the F.I.S. waitress.. race series was in progress. A recall of nerves and funny tummy as I Well anyway, we ate two mountainous looked way up to the top; it was a helpings of pancakes = a bit long way and steep, too. Ian is keen embarrassing really. so I follow. Sunday came and the group split; I Before long I was at the top and joined those off to Broken River. there is only one way down on a T-bar During the approach I could be seen field. Go for it! Cautious turns nose glued to the side window; the

Broken River basin looked steep - my Next day saw some new snow and the stomach was in a knot. lesson went well with all of us looking as if we had skied before. We arrived at the top car park John was now becoming more comfortwithout putting on our chains, loaded able in our presence, and if you all our gear on the gear lift and stood close his dry Canadian humour strolled on up the track to the huts: was a rest from the stress of looking our packs and skis arrived at the top good for his critical eye. an hour after us. The new gear lift was causing them problems. That night a beach party was to be held at Broken River Lodge, so off After finding a bunk suitable for a went the intrepid three, Chris in week long stay, much arm twisting was shorts (what else) and diving goggles, applied to yours truly to get me up Ian was a little more conservative in skiing. So off we went walking up rolled up trousers and a knotted red through the snow to the access tow. kerchief, yours truly was set up in There in the shed I searched for a jandals, blue zinc nose and dark good nut-cracker belt without really glasses. Bash and stumble; we knowing what one was. arrived to find that we were so ordinary looking it was embarrassing. I soon stood at the top of the Rugby Tow still with no idea of what I was Next morning I was wondering why we in for. After only two runs jellied do these things? I piked, and of knees set in, so a slow slide slip course it was all good powder snow - trip down the access tow put me at so they said. I enjoyed my stay in the bottom shed and my first day's bed after five days of skiing. skiing at Broken River was over. Friday came and I was up and at it. The day wasn't over, however - it This day John was asking for us to get took three trips to Whiskey Creek, plenty of air under our skis. Being one of those to carry the Assistant someone who tends to do things to Chief Guide's mountainous mule excess, I imitated first a helicopter complete with six litres of wine then a bulldozer. "Bent my poles," packed away inside, to finish the day I thought as I snow-plowed down to and me also. chew an asprin. That night Chris, Jenny, Ian, Joy and I set out for Monday brought on terror in big doses. Christchurch; Joy and I for hospital The basin was icy and the "ski off" care; the others to pick up the vans was at 8.30. My opportunity to show for Saturday. my prowess on skis arrived and two turns and four or five somersaults Saturday was another brilliant day later I was fitted into class "Red spent skiing Mount Hutt for all but Two". John, our instructor, us two who spent the day drinking tea introduced himself and sent us off to and "Panadol". Saturday night saw get ready for a lesson. Every run all of us celebrating in a Chinese saw my handling of the nut-cracker restaurant, wine served from B.Y.0. improve and my control over my skis riot packs. and the slope decrease. Last day and the silly ones still Too soon I was standing knock-knee'ed wanted to ski after eight days. Us in line with the rest of the class at sensible types, Glynis, Peter, Ian the top of the field. John was and the one armed Bandit, set off telling us all to "bend the knees, walking in the Port Hills followed etc etc, = and the lesson was on, by Devonshire Tea at "The Sign of the boots undone, the ducks followed on Takahe.' The theme continued with behind John bending our knees, boating on the Avon; lunch at the weighting the outside ski and unold university and watching the water weighting going into turns. However at Brighton Beach. Sunday night and we all failed to achieve all of these a not so refined birthday meal at a things in any one turn. Pizza Hut, brought us back to the airport. The group lay in various That night saw an embarrassed birthstates of repose in the main foyer; day boy hiding under the table while the casualties of nine perfect days flaming candles entered the darkened of South Island skiing. room atop a splendid cake. In the aeroplane the silence was marked only by smiles across the Tuesday saw us all up and at it in plane. I supposed that everyone much improved snow. That day the felt like me; enjoying the bliss of lessons continued, a boot and ski was total exhaustion, and dreaming observed out skiing on its own Broken River 1984. somebody had a cold foot. Tuesday night brought with it another splendid meal.