Ski Champs cancelled at weekend

By John Armstrong

The Ruapehu Ski Championship was cancelled last weekend because of an abysmal lack of snow.

Though the weather was fine and the T-Bar and chairlifts were operating, there was not enough room in the rock fields to hold a giant-slalom or even a slalom course.

The Victoria team intends to compete next weekend in the Maensil Cup and the following weekend in the Christie Derby Giant Slalom.

The Vic. club championships are planned for this weekend, but if there is not a substantial snow fall, this will have to be cancelled.

The problem of contaminated water in the drinking tanks on the mountain still exists and it is necessary for members to take their own flagon each weekend.

Other huts in the area do not seem to be in quite such a difficult situation as they were able to cut-off their drain pipes almost immediately after the eruption, preventing the sulphur and arsenic contamination.

Operating last weekend: Happy Valley, Rock garden Poma and Chair, T-Bar, Waterfall Chairlift, National Chairlift and Ropetow.

The T-Bar was rocky with only the liftline and Brokenleg Gully skiable.

Best skiing was on the downhill Ropetow.

Unless more snow falls before next weekend conditions will be very difficult, almost impossible.