Diary of a Snowboarder - Part One

Trip Start Jan 12, 2006
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Trip End Nov 13, 2006


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Where I stayed
Bunkhouse Backpackers
(Methven hotels)

Flag of New Zealand  ,
Sunday, August 13, 2006

I came to Methven 3 days ago after talking to some people in Christchurch who had been snow boarding on Mt. Hutt. There are day trips from Christchurch but I want to get about 5 days boarding in so I decided to catch the bus to Methven. Methven is a small friendly village that comes alive in winter for the ski season. It has 3 pubs, the Blue Pub (that's what it is called) for the younger people, the Brown Pub where the older crowd slash farmers go and the Steel Works which is a pub that opens a bit later. I am staying in the Bunkhouse which is a very friendly backpackers and is like staying in someones house. The people running it are lovely and there are mostly Japanese people living here for the ski-season. This can make communication a bit awkward sometimes but everyone is very friendly, unlike the hostel in Christchurch. Also, this hostel has a cat and in my experience, if a hostel has a cat then it tends to be a hostel that you can stay in for a long time. Anyway, let me tell you a bit about my snowboarding experience so far:

DAY ONE
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I rented a jacket, pants, gloves and goggles from Big Als (ask about backpacker discount) for 5 days ($95). I did the beginner starter pack in Mt. Hutt for $102, that includes your board & boots, lift pass and 3hrs of lessons. We stayed on the training slope and by the end of the day I was begining to get a feel for it and was able to make heel & toe edge turns. I fell over a lot this day. I am a natural rider which doesn't mean that I was naturally good, just that I lead with my left foot. The bus up the mountain from Methven costs $22 return. Oh and bring a packed lunch because the food is so damn expensive in the resort!

DAY TWO
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I arrived on the mountain for about 9am, the weather was perfect and there had been a light dumping of snow from the night before. I decided to get another lesson so I did the beginner progression pack for $130. I found myself getting a bit frustrated in the begining as every now and then I would catch an edge and fall over. Also, I was begining to get bored of the training slope and the magic carpet is so slow. After lunch I got the chair lift up to the top of the green run (beginner) and had six runs down it. I fell over a lot but started to get some nice 'S' turns and was comfortable both on my heel and toe edge. I can feel the control coming now and felt for the first time like I was really snow boarding. I still have problems avoiding the skiers and especially the little kids. Their parents give you that look as you hurtle past their kids and you look like you might take them out. Today was a lot of fun but my body hurts all over.

DAY THREE
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The mountain closed today because of heavy snow falls in the night. Probably a good thing because I am as stiff as a board (no pun intended) this morning. Just going to hang around Methven, watch DVD's, maybe go down the pub...

To be continued...
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