22nd – 23rd August, Temple Basin
What:
Gnomes Freeride Weekend. It’s organized by University of Canterbury Snowsports Club (CUSSC) and involves a uni-games style weekend of freeride/big mountain competition and partying along with Canterbury University Boardriders Association (CUBA), Otago University Alpine Sports Club (OUASC), possibly Lincoln Uni Snow Club and anyone else who would like to come and have a sweet weekend at Temple Basin.
What is a big mountain/freeride competition?
These used to be called ‘extreme skiing/snowboarding competitions’, basically a venue is chosen which has fun terrain like chutes, drops and other ‘terrain nuggets’ and then competitors take turns to ski/ride down it one by one. Judges judge how difficult the path or line chosen by the rider is, as well as how well they rode it to score each competitor. This competition is for all skill levels and the venue will have mellow options as well as gnarly ones, so the idea is for everyone to get involved and have a good time.
When:
22-23rd August (the first weekend of the holidays for Canterbury, the weekend just after NZ Open finishes). The competition will be run on Saturday, party on Saturday night, with DJ’s, fire dancing and night skiing. Note that Temple Basin is a 2 hour drive plus a 40 minute walk from Christchurch so please get on your way nice and early on Saturday, or come up Friday night. If the weather is too bad on Saturday the competition will be run on Sunday.
How the competition will work:
A likely venue will be the skiers left side of downhill basin but this will be finalized a day or two before the event based on snow conditions, weather and advice from ski patrol. The bottom of downhill tow would be a good place to observe that venue, hopefully we’ll have someone on a microphone announcing who is skiing/boarding next etc. The competition will be run between UCSSC, CUBA and OUASC so each club should wear the t-shirt of the club. If you’re not in one of these clubs just ski for the club you know people in (that’s UCSSC for people that know me) and bring a tee of that colour (wear over your jacket for your run).
UCSSC- Blue t-shirt, preferably the one with the club logo
CUBA- Black club t-shirt, or extra points for the black tall tee ‘cuba snow crew 08’
OUASC- Whatever colour your club tee is, Sam H you update this I made you admin for a reason.
Individuals will be scored separately and there will be prizes from our generous sponsor Gnomes Snowsports, including spot prizes, so everyone get involved, competition entry is free! There will be two categories: Mens (ski and snowboard combined) and Womens (also combined). We’ll sort out some sort of system to determine which club wins, probably the top 5 or 10 of each category will win points for their club.
How to get there:
Drive towards Arthur’s Pass on SH-73 (aprox 2 hours from Christchurch). 5 mins after passing through Arthur’s Pass township you will get to ‘Temple Basin Carpark’, DON’T park there at first; keep going another 500m to the ‘goods lift’. Drop all your stuff off there where it will be lifted to the ski area in a wire-basket thing. Then drive back to the car park and start walking, the track is well marked and will take about 40 mins to reach the field, so leave Chch early! Your stuff will be waiting for you at the top of the goods lift, you have to carry it from there to closest lodge (not the red shelter on your right, the green UCSSC lodge on your left, that’s right we have our own lodge up there, booyah!). Then go to the top lodge to check in and be assigned a bunkroom (which will hopefully be in our lodge, that’s where the party will be).
What you need to bring:
Ski gear, shoes suitable for walking the 40 minute track up to the field, maybe some normal clothes for kicking it in the lodge, your own alcohol and a readiness to ski and party. You DON’T need to bring your own food, all meals will be provided, but you can bring your own snacky treats if you like. Alcohol is also sold up there but it’s cheaper to bring your own. Bring leather gloves/a glove saver/a nutcracker & harness for riding the nutcracker rope tows up there if you have these things, otherwise they are all available for hire/purchase on the field.
How much it costs:
These costs include everything; food, accommodation, lift pass, competition entry, DJ’s, fire dancing and night skiing. The only other expenses you will have are petrol and alcohol. To fill seats/find a ride post stuff on the facebook page, if you’re not on the facebook page search it ‘Gnomes Freeride Weekend’. Some of the organizers will be going up a day or two early so if you want to get amongst that and help out then hit me up on 0273502901 (Neil) and you’ll get the days you help for free. Please don’t try to bargain a lower price if you don’t utilize all the things I listed above, I busted my ass to get this mint package price so lets make everyone’s life easier by not arguing about it, I can guarantee you it will be worth it.
If you need lift passes and arrive on Friday night: $176
If you need lift passes and arrive on Saturday: $141
If you don’t need a lift pass (using a Chill Pass, TB Season Pass or work tickets) and arrive on Friday Night: $106
If you don’t need a ski pass (using a Chill Pass, TB Season Pass or work tickets) and arrive on Saturday: $71
Email neilwilliman@hotmail.com or snowsportsclubuc@gmail.com or hit me up on 0273502901 if you have any questions, otherwise see you there, peace. Neil
P.S. This is NOT the big mountain comp that Chill is running at Temple Basin on the 5-6th of September, but everyone should check that out too.
