New Zealand 2008 - Powder and Parks Tour

Blue Skies, Heli, Fresh Tracks and A Wallabies Victory over the All Blacks!

26-Jul-2008

The day began with the magic words ‘we are a go’. Paula’s words to me on the phone just before 7am were a great way to start the day.

My second day of the trip after arriving from Sydney and 18 months since my last run on the board back in Gulmarg, Kashmir was shaping up as a great way to get back into the swing of things.

I’ve wandered down the street all of a few metres from the YHA to the Methven Heli Ski office to meet the rest of the lucky riders for the day.

Mt Hutt was opening today as well after 3 days shut with 90cm of fresh, but I’m more than happy to leave that to the weekend warriors and take to the skies.

With 5 groups heading out today we piled into the van and made our way to Glenfallloch Station about an hours drive outside of Methven.

With IPOD tunes on I chilled out and took some extra Z’s on the drive out… On arrival I was gobsmacked by the absolute scenic beauty on show at Glennfallloch Sheep Station. I’ve been around the world and seen some truly stunning sights, but this was just brilliant and top part of the earth and the launching pad for Methven Heli Ski jump into the Arrowsmith Range of Mountains.



Gary and Paula have led the crew in transceiver training before breaking into 5 groups. I’m paired up with James and Cameron a couple of lively lads from the UK and our guide Paula. We are the last ones out so we get to watch the Choppers pick up their keen skiers and it’s always a buzz to watch the heli take off into the mountains.

The only time I had been Heli Riding was 3 years ago in Queenstown, and I was buzzing especially knowing this time we had some fresh to get our teeth into.

The flight doesn’t take to long into the peaks and it’s a massive spin to get so close to the mountain face, you have to give massive credit to the pilots because at times it feels like we are flying straight into the cliff. Adrenaline pumping we unload quickly and then with a roar of blades and a whirling snowstorm we are left on top of the run known as ‘Grid Iron’.

Absolute stunning scenery and stone cold silence greet us as we follow Paula’s instructions and make our way down, smooth fresh turns.

The terrain is stunning and dangerous and I have to stay in control not to whiz past Paula and rip it up. I was worried after 18 months that I would struggle to find my feet; needless to say I had nothing to worry about.

Snowboarding is like riding a bike, the turn’s come, the body responds and the smile is bigger than the Jokers.

Life is farking good …



This time we’re off to ‘Homeward Bound – Right’ and the snow is wicked and the pitch fantastic to lay down some nice long carving turns…

This is why I love to snowboard…

The buzz of getting picked up and then left on the peak with your snowboard is by far one of the best feelings in life you can ever experience.

‘Reichek’ is next and halfway down after more fresh lines, all the crews meet up and break for a gourmet lunch. Time to relax, take in the scenery, fill the belly and refuel for the rest of the day.

I’ve decided to I’m going to add a couple more runs in for the day, the conditions are too good not to… so I switch groups and tag on with guide Gary, Auckland Snowboarder Stefan and Skiers Heath and Simon.

Next up is ‘Ocean View’, a steep pitch to get the blood pumping, cranking fast turns downward. My smile is etched into my face now… Onto ‘Reichek Bound’ and ‘Homeward Bound – Left’ was just brilliant, long fast untracked carving run, simply just don’t want to stop but we’re down to one more run…




Gary asks us whether we want to hit up a slope none of the other groups have hit up today, although every track has been fresh today, we have followed the other groups, so Gary leaves the best for last.  Virgin, untracked slopes on the ‘Bull Spur’ has us absolutely frothing at the mouth. The ‘Bull Spur’ had the best snow of the day, a perfect pitch for just smoking it.

What a way to finish, what a day, you can’t really ask for more…

Blue Skies, fresh powder, great guides, fun crew, and awesome scenery - Heli Skiing rocks. It is worth every penny there is no doubt. I just wish I could do what some fella had one and had the cash to drop for 20 runs each day…. If you have the money I ‘m pretty sure I would be spending that way as well.

Gary has given the front seat to let me ride shotgun on the way back to Glenfolllach Station. Just being in the chopper flying through the peaks and along the river deltas rocks…

Beers await as we chill for a wee bit on the deck before loading up the van, everyone is whacked and next thing I know were back at the office, Must have snoozed off on the drive back…

Thanking the Johnny, Paula, Gary and the rest of the Methven Heli Crew it was time to head to out to watch the Wallabies and the All Blacks get it on.

George from the YHA and his daughter Erin had invited me out to watch the game at the SkiTime Lodge and cozy Restaurant/ Wine Bar. 1st Half to Aussie Robbie and the Wallabies 17-12 … It’s always fun giving it to the Kiwis.

Off to the Blue Pub for the 2nd half as there were more kiwis there to get stuck into … things even upped before the Aussies took control and put the sword to the All Blacks, giving the kiwis are belting… The minority group of Aussies basked in the victory enjoying the chance to rub it in…. back to the SkiTime and Earl the Barkeep is keeping the drinks flowing…lucky tomorrow is Sunday, a day of rest and recovery looking more likely…

A Wallaby victory has topped a truly brilliant day in Methven…

Thanks go out to all the crew at Methven Heli Ski for a sensational day and to George and Erin at the Methven YHA for a great hospitality and of course to the Robbie and the Wallabies ONYA fellas…

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