Skiing tip #1, Get well Back!

Like a light switch winter was turned off at the end of August. Corn skiing became the norm and the days of powder seemed all to distant. Deep snow cover remained in the high elevation areas for several weeks and provided for fast and often unusual antics. Anything for entertainment, right? Spring is the same everywhere really.

Photo by Browne, Skier: John Mletschnig

Photo by Mel Parsons. L to R: Derrick Parsons, Russell Buxton, John Mletschnig, Johnny Curin

Photo By Browne

Photo By Browne, Skier: John Mletschnig

Photo By Browne

Kiwi Style

New Zealand is a breeding ground for unusual weather. It is very hard to predict what will unfold over the course of a winter; powder, dirt, flowing water, the sensation of sticking your head out the window of a jet... sort of a mixed bag. This winter the Canterbury region got repeatedly slammed by cold storms leaving deep, dry powder with little wind. Many hours were spent moving snow and skiing lines that normally don't fill in. Living in the Top Hut at Mt. Olympus it was hard to stop skiing for almost two months, powder every day. The access road here is highly exposed so during storms the ski area was left to those already on the mountain. When the visibility was good the skiing was on, regardless of the time of day.

Photo By Roo

Photo By Browne

Photo By Russ

More really good shots can be found at:

http://stereoscope.smugmug.com/keyword/mt+olympus#359037889_Buqap

When the Living's Easy, The Cook Islands- Rarotonga

Aside from the roosters everything is nice is in Cook's. Stray dogs lounge on the beach, care free and the locals follow suit. The countrys wealth is more evenly spread than in many tropical areas and the people are outwardly friendly. Low income is the norm as well as a very high quality of life. Food is abundant, the weather is fair and male furtility is flaunted. Yes, the Cook Islands are a country and are example for the rest of the world.