Skiing 101

BY KIM TRIEGAARDT

Some men are special and you never forget them. Like Bob - my first. More than six foot (1.8 metres) tall and solid, he is commanding yet tender. "It'll be fine," he says, opening his arms. "Just give me a big hug."

So it's comforting to know, as I career down the beginners' slope at Porters Ski Area, that someone will catch me at the bottom, because there is no way I can stop myself.

Bob Miller is one of the ski instructors at Porters and is used to dealing with beginners. His confidence is contagious, and after a few basic tips on how to move around on and use skis, he encourages us on our first runs down the training slope.

OK, so it's not far and it's not steep, but it is downhill and it is for the first time in my life.

I never thought skiing was something I could do, especially since I had been warned off the slopes ever since I arrived in New Zealand 10 years ago.

As a generous-sized, out-of- shape 40-something with wonky knees, I was told by everyone it was dangerous to go skiing - the inference being I would fall over, break every bone in my body and probably die.

A totally unrealistic fear, says Porters marketing manager Guy Nurse.

"Last year we had over 33,000 skiers on the field and very, very few injuries."

Porters is just over an hour's drive from Christchurch and offers the longest, steepest single slope in the southern hemisphere, known as the Big Mamma. I'm more interested in the gentle beginners' slope and magic snow carpet.

We arrive on a sunny day in the school holidays, so the car park is packed. The skifields look as if an ant farm has exploded in a six-tier pavlova, and the cafe is a riot of colour and happy noise.

We stop for a hot chocolate before heading out for our beginners' lesson. We are a mixed bunch of adults, and it's a relief to find I'm not the oldest. Nor am I the wobbliest. That honour falls to a young Indian visitor who hugs Bob a lot.

My biggest breakthrough comes when I realise the skis don't have to control me.

I can pick up my feet and make them go where I want them to, mostly.

I also discover Bob's love of food. "Pizza, french fries, pizza, french fries," he yells from the bottom of the slope as we lurch rapidly downhill one at a time.

Pizza is the triangular- shaped snow plough designed to slow you down.

Pull your feet together with your skis parallel, and you're in the "french fries" position, picking up speed, a lot of it.

"Relax and smile," croons Bob.

I stop frowning and do just that. I'm having such fun that I forget about feeling underdressed in my borrowed ski gear.

Besides, my legs hurt so much that the pain of being unfashionable pales in comparison.

Everybody tells you how your knees will suffer, but nobody says anything about how painfully uncomfortable ski boots are.

Despite that, the sense of achievement is huge and I'm not ready to stop.

The next day I have a lesson with Mark Kline at Broken River, a Canadian Level IV ski instructor.

But that's another story.

What to know about Porters Ski Area:

* The closest ski area to Christchurch. Travel west on State Highway 73 through Darfield, Springfield, over Porter's Pass and Lake Lyndon to the ski area turnoff.

* Check skiporters.co.nz to make sure the slopes are open before heading out there.

* Pay just $79 for two adult lift passes on Mondays with the Two-for-One special, or $95 for two learn-to-ski, snowboard packages that include two hours of lessons, ski hire and a beginner's lift pass.

* For this season's ski deals, see christchurchnz.com.

 

 

* Kim Triegaardt travelled to Porters courtesy of Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing.

- © Fairfax NZ News