Taupo Ski Club Newsletter

After a great school holidays the rain arrived. Thank goodness for snow making and the great team of groomers that have kept most lifts open!

MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS

Due to unforeseen circumstances our custodian, Julie Forsyth, has had to leave the club for an unspecified period.

The lodge has been closed down and we have reverted to the "pre-custodian" regime of opening and closing the hut. (Your information booklet has the details for this.)

For those members who have not experienced life at the club without a custodian:

To protect our water and electrical systems, we are not to leave the water/electrics operational while the lodge is vacant overnight.

To day trippers:

Be aware that toilet/shower facilities are not operational without fully opening and closing the system properly.

If you have any queries regarding opening/closing please contact Ian Chamberlain on 021 351 858 or 07 378 3222

For other enquiries, please contact Vicki Moss on 027 316 5004

The Secretary

MINI X GAMES

Congratulations to the following junior members for participating in the Mini X Games held over the school holidays:

Michell & Fraser McClellan
Olivia and Carrick Corson

Mitchell & Fraser competed in the 10-12 year age group and placed second and third respectively

Also competing were our custodian, Julie Forsyth's grandchildren, Dylan , 7 and Lexa, who at 4, was the youngest competitor.

Matarangi bunker built on Mt Ruapehu

A new bunker has been built recently to house volcano monitoring equipment at Glacier Knob, high on Mt Ruapehu above Whakapapa Ski Area. It is called Matarangi (Guardian of the Heights) and has been built with support from Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), Earthquake Commission, the Ruapehu mountain community and Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Rangi. At 2500 m it will replace the Dome Equipment Shed at 2670 m and will then share the honour with Empress Hut at Mt Cook of being New Zealand’s highest building, and the highest with reticulated electric power. Removal of Dome after new equipment at Matarangi has been calibrated will represent the final stage of removal of human infrastructure in the summit zone of the mountain. DOC is grateful to TPP and RAL contractors for doing such a good construction job, including high altitude concreting, during a long period of difficult weather.

Matarangi will improve volcano risk management on Ruapehu as an important part of the Eruption Detection System. It will also make a significant contribution to GeoNet, New Zealand’s geological hazard monitoring system. It is important to locate volcano monitoring equipment close to the active vent but equipment at Dome has proven vulnerable during eruptions. Like Dome Matarangi is inside the Summit Hazard Zone on Ruapehu but it has been better designed to withstand eruptions. A 50 metre deep borehole beneath Matarangi will house equipment for use by both EDS and GeoNet and other research equipment to be operated by GNS Science. New technology will be placed down the hole to provide new data that may help make future eruptions more predictable.

Further Information contact
Harry Keys, Department of Conservation

July 2012

REMINDERS:

Mens and Ladies Weeks
Bookings are open for Mens Madness (19-21 August) and Ladies Escape (5-7 August). Please book now to avoid disappointment. The Ladies Escape also coincides with the Whakapapa Ladies Ski Weeks on August 6th to 10th. These are a great way to improve your skiing and to make some great new friends. Click here to find out more.

Gates Day
Don't forget Gates Day has been booked for 28th July so lets get up there and have a go.

Junior Awards
See your informatio booklet for how to complete on the Junior Awards. These can be completed at any time and are a great inside day time filler and are a fun way for the kids to learn more about Whakapapa Ski Area. There are spare copies of the information booklet on the shelf by the printer at the club.

Interclub Racers
We still require racers to compete in the interclub races. Please contact Harry Keys here if you are interested. There are categories for men, women, juniors, masters and snowboarders.

HOUSEKEEPING

We have replaced the mattress protectors and bottom sheets on all the mattresses and added pillow protectors also. Remember that you must take bedding with you when you stay. There are some spare pillow cases available if you have left yours at home. See Julie or contact Vicki Moss on 027 316 5004 if these are required.

Please leave on all dehumidifiers when the lodge is occupied and try and open some windows during the day as this helps to dry the club out and gets some fresh air circulating. Also remember please to turn off bunkroom heaters during the day when out skiing.

SUMMER PAINTING PROJECT

The club requires an outside paint job this summer. We are canvassing members to find out whether there are volunteers available to help with this project or whether we will have to pay contractors. We will require a pool of at least 20 volunteers who would be available at a weeks notice to give up a weekend in late January or February to paint the club. Please contact Ian Chamberlain here if you can volunteer or have any suggestions in regards to this project.

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