Broken pots, ash clouds and tons of skis cont....

Lunch was good, and I ate out for once at a pretty good place in town.

Well after doing everything with Salomon and Atomic ski companies Gerard and I decided to go out for a beer or ten and met Ian and Cam from Atomic there to talk about the other things as far as the ski industry goes.

My flight was to be the next day at 6pm, at around 7am the next day I got a text saying my flight was cancelled due to the ash cloud from the volcano in Chile. So I had to figure out what I was going to do for the day and how I was going to get back to Wellington in time for my bus trip back to Ohakune. This was a a rough time because the phone lines were all booked up for everything. I finally got through to Jetstar and asked for my refund for the trip and they did do that after I sat on the phone with them for around thirty min. So how to get to Wellington, train up the coast? Nope the train is out of service until all the tracks have been fixed due to the earthquake. So bus it is, got the bus booked and it was going to be a 5 or so hour ride up to where the ferry would pick me up and then a 5 hour trip on the ferry to Wellington. This trip would be pretty shit as far as I can tell. the 45 min flight will now take 10 hours by bus and ferry.

But I did make it back to Wellington got into the backpacker and went out for dinner with some friends I have not seen in 9 years. I have not seen them since my family owned the bed and breakfast. But it was strange to see them in NZ when its so far away from both places where we live. But it was great to catch up with them. Later on that evening I was in the backpackers drinking beer and hanging out with one of the guys that works at the Turoa as a cat driver. While playing pool I might or might not have tried to sit on a tree pot because there was nothing else around to sit on. While sitting down the pot might have broken out of the bottom, but no one saw it happen so I was good to go to bed.

But the next day I got on my bus and made it back to Ohakune. So I am back home with my bed and its great. The day I got back is when Mardi gras started and its a celebration of the beginning of the season. Well its just tons of punters and no one you really want to be around so most of my flat mates just stayed around the house and drank.

Its been a great few days. Yesterday I went on a nice bike ride with a few of my friends and say tons of cool things around the area on the Old Coach Road trail. Its a great ride and one of the most beautiful rides I have ever done.

Pictures to come in the next few days.

Broken pots, ash clouds and tons of skis.

Well I guess it has been a while since I have written and that means stuff has been happening because I have not had time or internet to write on here. Well I did leave for Christchurch in the south island of New Zealand last Monday the 20th, and everything was going smooth went to wellington for the day ate dinner and slept in a backpackers lodge. Pretty nice place right close to the train station but I did not think my staying through very well. See my flight was to leave on the 21st the day after I got there so I would stay and then see the town the next day. Well the people that were staying in my bunk room decided it was a great idea to wake up at seven in the morning so I had almost 8 hours to kill in town. This was way to much time for me to kill seeing as I know nothing about Wellington. Well I set out for an early morning breakfast and then decided to take a walk around town. Its not that big of a place but I did not really want to get lost in town and not be able to catch my flight. Well I did get to the airport after my flight was delayed some due to some unknown reason but oh well.

I arrived down at the airport where I was picked up by my friend Gerard and he took me back to his place so I could get settled and have a pint or two. It was really nice to have a shower, bed and a few beers. I do know a few people in Christchurch so Dylan another friend from snowshoe showed up later and we all had dinner together along with Jack, Gerard's 3 year old son and Jamie his wife. It was nice and we got to watch a few ski movies and relax as well. At around 10 that evening as Dylan was getting ready to leave we were standing out front when it seemed the world started to just shake and move turns out it was my first earthquake and not to shabby of one either, 5.4 I would find out later. I didn't sleep at all that night because we had 14 aftershocks.

The next morning I was met by Cam from Atomic Ski, and he took me over to the company Brandx. They are the main importers and distributors of Atomic skis in NZ. There I met everyone who worked there and proceeded to check out the the new line and all of the new skis that Atomic had to offer. It was a great experience and I look forward to working with them this winter. I then went with the guys from Salomon and did the same. Both are great companies and I am stoked to start this winter.

More to come later on today after I eat some lunch......

Great morning for a hangover.

Well last night was interesting, after locking my keys in my room I had tried to break into it. Not as easy as breaking into a room at snowshoe and that is for sure. My housemate with the master key had been out to dinner and I didn't know where he kept the key.
It was at this time that my housemates decided to go out to the bar. So I caught a ride to the bar so that I can get the key and unlock my room so I can go out cause I have no shoes, jackets, wallet or money so it does not seem like I can go out. I did end up finding the key I got dressed and went out with my friends to a pub called Suitcase. Very interesting bar, lots of cool people and some nice pool tables and tv's with ski movies on them.

One cool thing was the giant Jenga, I thought about playing but the problem with playing is if you loose then you must buy everyone that is playing a drink, and when beer is 4.50 and mixed drinks are higher, I cant really afford to buy drinks for 5 or 6 people. But I did get to meet the reps for Atomic and talk to them about the product and what they will need from me for this season. Along with meeting the guys from Atomic I also met reps from K2 and Volkl.

This morning was met with the usual from an exciting night. The hangover bad taste in mouth and headache but at least it was a beautiful day.

Business trip?

Well it seems that I have my first business trip coming up soon, and its even being paid for by Salomon and Atomic skis. I am traveling from Ohakune to Christchurch this coming Monday the 20th for some training in this years ski equipment. Turns out I will be the demo rep for Salomon and Atomic this winter along with working at SLR ski rental shop. Half of the day will be spent with each rep so I can learn as much as I can about the products before I return home.

I am taking the bus from Ohakune to Wellington and flying from there to Christchurch, where they just had a massive earthquake again so hopefully it will be better when I get there. My flight leaves the 21st a week from today and I will find some place to stay once I get down there. Wednesday will be spent with the reps for Salomon and Atomic and then I will fly back out Thursday to Wellington.

I am going to stay in Wellington until Saturday morning where I will catch the bus back to Ohakune for the weekend and hopefully have a bit of a party somewhere. The mountain is suppose to open this coming weekend but it is not looking good, the weather this week is suppose to be "nice" which is not good for skiing. We really need the storms to start rolling through the area so that the mountain can have a good base of snow for some epic riding and hiking. I have talked to friends and have been looking at the prices of crampons and some ice axes so that I can do some good hiking to find the good snow and the great lines. A friend has some crampons that I can use the next thing I will need is to find some ice axes at a good price.

Let us hope the weather takes a dive and gets cold so this season can be EPIC
Alex

Home brew? Thought that was shine?

Well it was a great weekend for sure, got to go out to a house warming party with a few people I knew and most people I didn't know. It was still a fun time though. Home brew is sort of our moonshine back home. Only thing is that its legal and they sell kits to do it in the stores around here. Its potent and cheap for sure.
Got to do some hiking and walking around to see a few of the different sights that NZ has to offer. It sure is a beautiful country.
I went for a walk with 2 of my housemates that are from England along the railroad tracks to one of the bridges that has an amazing view of the valley and the rolling hills that surround the area, here it is legal to walk along the tracks because it is sort of a rails to trails without the "to". But none the less it was a wonderful hike and we got to see a train or two go by. The bridge was not the same as the train bridge they had a different bridge that was the old bridge but rebuilt for personal transport. Unfortunately I did forget my camera but photos will be taken from my friends and posted up later.

Still no snow on the mountain yet, it might be a slow opening but hopefully it will get going soon. I have heard that the first month that the mountain is open its not the best weather conditions for this area and its pretty slow. But the email did come and I have an official job for the winter working at SLR which also includes Vertigo Climbing, its a high performance rental shop and climbing gym. On busy weekends I will be the demo rep at the top of the mountain for 2 different companies and it looks like they will be flying me to Christchurch for some training with the 2 distributors. An amazing job for my first time down in New Zealand.

Well I hope the snow comes soon and the season is amazing but we shall see, either way the people are still here and I am still seeing an amazing country.

There goes my day....

Well yesterday was a pretty nice day. Saw some blue skies in the morning and it was rather cool compared to the other few days but no rain or any other forms or precipitation. But I wake up today to the roar of wind and the sound of rain falling and falling hard. Looks like it will be another lazy day spend around the house. I had planned to go for a hike today and explore some more of the area but that sounds like a not so fun idea seeing as the weather outside has turned to shit.
Lets home it lets up for tonight so we don't have to drive to get to the bar.

Galliano shots, over the course of time here I have learned a few strange traditions and things but I have never taken a shot like this. It usually starts with about a one half to three quarters shot and you have a few friends all take it together. This is when it gets a bit different. You all take the shot and keep it in your mouth for as long as possible and when one person gives up you all get back together take a deep breath in and let it out as far as you can till you think you cant breath anymore, put your head between your legs and swallow the shot while standing up and breathing in. Sounds complicated but you end up with a head rush and your mouth is numb. On the upside the liqueur tastes pretty good and does not burn to much.


More to come soon
Alex

Red Sky at Morning

So there was a bit of a red sky this morning and I am hoping it means that there will be snow coming soon. After going up to the top part of the house and taking a look over at the mountain it looks like we got a dusting of snow up top along with a small layer of ice or frost down here at the bottom that found as I walked outside. Beautiful morning again here in Ohakune.
Found out over the weekend that I 100% do have a job working in a rental shop setting up skis, the money is good and so are the hours. Work in the morning and if its a nice day you go up to the mountain during lunch for a few hours and then back down to the shop in the evening for some more work. Not a bad life for a ski bum.

There might be a chance of another job that would be amazing but more details to come on that later. Might be doing a company flight down to the south island for that though.

The weather here has been good and I have already created my own bank account and applied for an IRD number which stands for Inland Revenue Department. Not really sure what they do but I know they take your money for taxes so you have got to have one to work.

A few new people have been moving in to the house and everyone I have met has been really cool lately. I have a feeling this is going to be a great winter. Walking to and from town have been a bit of a pain lately but so is filling up your tank on the car back home so I don't really mind to much. Lets just pray for more snow because the start of the season is coming up soon.

More to come soon about the other job and the season if it will start on time or not. Projected opening date has been set for the 25th of this month so we shall see.
Alex

The weekend,

It was a good first weekend down in Ohakune, I went to the fashion show at the Keg (Powderkeg bar) and got to meet lots of people during a fun event. But I also might have a lead on a very good and profitable job in town. Do not have the official job offer and everything set yet but it seems to be around a 90% chance here. The only problem is that it will not be starting till next month but that will give me plenty of time to get to know the town and the mountain and get some skiing in before the starts. 

A few of the house mates and I might take a small road trip around the island to do something like bungy jump or something else outside. For now it will be hanging out and trying to keep myself occupied. 

More to come soon.

Alex 

  

More Photos.

The mountains on the way up were the only thing that seemed to be in the distance.

The room is kinda small more of a hole in the wall but its a hole in the wall big enough for my stuff and me. 

View is pretty good also

This is walking back from town and looking at the mountain in the distance. Cant wait for the snow.

Photo

Well the internet is moving really slow. More to come later. 

The long haul.

So I have made it to NZ.
After my flight was delayed several times when I was in LA. I made it on the airplane and was surprised with how few people were on the flight. After departing we were told we could move around and stretch out, shortly after the flight attendant asked me if I would change seats because the man across the seats from me needed to stretch out because of his back problems. I was asked very nicely and then told that I could have a bottle of wine, since I don't drink wine I simply said could you make that a bottle of Bourbon and we will be straight. Shortly there after I had my bottle of Jim and I was set. Now for some shut eye.
Or not, I don't know if I am the only one that has a problem with sleeping on planes or if this was just a particularly bumpy plane ride. But I made it to Auckland shortly after 8am where customs and immigration went just fine and now I am standing at the airport in Auckland with over 100lbs of ski gear and clothes and no where to go.

Getting a bus and hotel was not a problem either, just go to the counter and ask for your bus trip and hotel along with a bus ride to Ohakune (where I am now). And shortly after its all set and all you need to do is go outside and hop on a bus with all of this shit that you have and go in to town. After sitting down with all of my things I noticed I was the only one on the bus. The driver said "hey come up here so we can talk" so drowsy from the plane ride I walked to the front of the bus and stood in the isle while he drove me to my hotel that he said "has very small rooms" and boy did it (Pictures to come).

After getting settled in my tiny room with all of my stuff from the flight, it was only 11 am and I was hungry, well it turns out in Auckland many of the people are Asian and so are most of the places to eat. And having a non adventurous apatite I decided to stick with fast fried foods and at at the closes Burger King. It was ok and seemingly similar. But the town is beautiful I have a few pictures even though it was a cloudy and rainy day in the city. Still needing time to kill, I got a few ski mags and sat down to read when I saw that Hangover 2 was playing in town, now one would think a movie theater is a movie theater but this is not so, this was one of the largest ones I had been in and it seemed to have assigned seats in the theater but I disregarded that and sat down to my movie hoping I was not sitting in someone seat. The movie was very funny and popcorn is still the same no matter where you go.
The bus ride to Ohakune was nice and long, only about 6 or so hours including stops so was not a bad trip, one strange thing did happen when we made our first stop the Police did board the bus and take some younger girl off of the bus and all of her bags. It was very strange but other than that it was a fine trip.

I am now settled in my new home for the next few months down in Ohakune and its a very nice small town with a good ski resort feel to it and hopefully I will be able to find a job some time soon so that I can keep myself busy.

Alex