Hi there,

It’s that time of the year, Uli and the team at Porters are spinning the T’s for the last time in 2009 this Weekend, giving you the final opportunity to take advantage of some great spring skiing at CHristchurch's favourite ski area.

After the recent cooler weather and snow falls, we’ve had a return to winter on the slopes at Porters. Some excellent skiing on Saturday as the ski area opened again after the storm that passed through last week. The changeable weather patterns have continued this week, with further Easterly and Southerly systems hitting the South Island, bringing further skiffs of snow to the alps. It’s usually a heavy battle with the Nor-westers at this time of year!

This is our final winter newsfeed for the 2009 season as we move to close after this weekend. We’re open each day between now and Sunday, and will operate the lifts from 8am to 3pm this Sunday so as to allow ski area staff enough time to close the ski area for the season on Sunday evening, and enjoy a beer at Springfield afterwards!

Read on for this week’s and this season’s round up from Porters…

From the Mountain…

Where have you been?! The skiing has been great up here following the recent snow. Bluff face was in prime condition on Saturday after the fresh snow on a smooth base, many customers taking advantage of the awesome late winter snow. It’s meant that we’ve been able to push on and through this first week of school holidays, giving the young ones a chance for some fun on the slopes.

As we look to close the gates on another fantastic winter season, another polar blast is forecast, with more snow coming and clearing weather for Sunday. Come on up and make the most of the new snow, and while you’re here, check out the plans for the development of the Porters Project, the model is in the Porters Café.

The low down on the weather for the weekend as below, with thanks to MetService NZ.

Weather for your weekend

Sat Oct 3    Issued at 11:12 am 1 Oct 2009 NZDT
High cloud with brief rain spreading from the west. Showers spreading north from afternoon. Snow down to all levels at night.
Free air freezing Level: Lowering to 800 metres at night.

Sun Oct 4    Issued at 11:12 am 1 Oct 2009 NZDT
Snow showers, clearing in the morning and becoming fine. Cold southwesterlies easing.

2009 Season Highlights

It’s been a great winter, our third busiest in over 40 years of operation, and our strongest season since 1996! We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have!

Following on from 2008, another great season, we were into it early this year, with cold temps in June and July making for some superb skiing right from the word ‘go’. We opened once again with Big Mama, our crown jewel, skiing well, which is always well received by our customers – you guys! The great skiing continued into August, with consistent snowfall leading into the month setting the mountain up well for a good push into Spring. It definitely sprung early, awesome warm days skiing with great snow in August, as well as some nasty Nor-westers beginning the melting process. We’ve pushed through it, with some superb skiing right through September and into the School Holidays.

The Porters Race Team had a fantastic season – a great crew on board, and some outstanding results to match. The Porters team would like to echo the praise of Race Team parents regarding Porters Race Coach, Pete Beets, who has done outstanding job with the kids this year, and has achieved great results to match. A standout performer, in her first year of racing Stella Hoeper achieved a myriad of top level results, and was E1 Canterbury Champ for Slalom, Giant Slalom and combination as well as winning the Margaret Coberger Cup. More impressive, she also won the South Island Cup in winning the SI Slalom and Giant Slalom.

Anabelle Ottawa also achieved a great result at Cardrona, winning the Super G and the Giant Slalom at J1 level at Cardrona. Also of note was Toshi Pander’s first placing in the same events (Super G and GS) held at Mt Hutt. Congratulations to all those who participated in ski racing this winter and thanks for flying the Porters flag, we’re proud of your results and with such a strong group of young skiers on board we’re sure of more of the same in the years to come. Top 10 results from 2009 are as follows.

The Porters Snowsports School once again featured an impressive array of local and international ski and board instructors, led by German sensation, Katharina Klein. The usual high standards of instruction combined with a friendly and understanding approach that is signatory of the Porters Snowsports School were upheld by this year’s crew. It’s great to have Katharina on board after three solid seasons with us, and we look forward to having her and many of our instructors back again in 2010. Specific mention must go to Dan Walbeoff, a Welshman who has spent the last five seasons instructing at Porters – much appreciated.

The Porters Free-ride Team was again well populated with local up and coming skiers and riders who are the future of the free-ski and freestyle disciplines in the region. In 2009, Katharina and Dan, together with the Snowsports School team, headed the team’s training and development. This year they were assisted by Neil Williman, local free-skier competing on a national and international scale, particularly in the Big Mountain arena.

It’s awesome to see that we have such strong skiers in this area, to the point of pushing the coaches to up their game! We look forward to seeing any results from the Junior Nationals currently being held in Wanaka, and to next season when these athletes will undoubtedly continue to excel. Hot off the press, congratulations to George Pengelly who has placed 2nd in the under 16 division of the Big Mountain Junior Nationals held at Cardrona this week. He has excelled this winter, and it’s great to see results flowing for him. The slope-style finals are being held today (Thursday), strong support from a good number of Craigieburn Range skiers – good luck to them all!

Porters Project

On top of a fantastic and exciting season, the Directors of Porters outlined the highly anticipated plans for the future development of the ski area. Released in late August, the early concept plans to expand the existing ski area into the neighbouring area of Crystal Valley with main-trail snowmaking, and to establish a small, year-round resort village at the foot of the expanded ski area.

Although it’s early days in the project, the plans are exciting. A scale model of the proposed development is now located in the Porters Café on the mountain, where feedback forms are available to convey your support and feedback on the proposal. We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re unable to get up the mountain to see us, you can pass on your feedback via our website and a special Porters Project Feedback platform. We’re appreciative of your views and support, and look forward to continuing with the project in coming years.

Porter Heights Ski Club

A great season makes for happy locals, and fair to say that the members of the Porter Heights Ski Club have enjoyed some great skiing this year. There has also been great interest in the lodge during 2009, with both members and the public enjoying the convenient facilities on offer. It’s awesome to be able to stay in the mountains for your ski trip or holiday and it appears that the lodge has proved a popular way to do this. We look forward to the ongoing patronage of the lodge in 2010, and congratulate the club for the success of the lodge this season.

Uli’s Ski Trip 09/10

He works hard does Uli, and after a strong winter season he’s off for his annual pilgrimage to North America to get some skiing of his own – even if it is work for him again! Uli is a very experienced tour leader and if you’re up for this amazing ski tour, you will be in great hands. He knows about getting the best out of the mountains, and would love to share his wealth of expertise and experience with you. You will also benefit from casual lessons, tips and helpful advice from the maestro himself. If you’re interested in being involved in this trip, check out the website, or contact Uli directly for more information. Have a great trip!

Kia ora….

Well, that’s everything from us this winter. We’ve had a superb season, some exciting times with more to come in the years ahead. We look forward to hearing from you over the summer months with your feedback and ideas. We’ll be busy over the summer completing our routine maintenance and looking to spend as much time in the Crystal Valley area as we can, looking further at the ecology of the area and finalising our plans.

We’ll be in touch again over the summer with any further news and information, and will keep you posted via this newsletter platform of the pricing and plans for 2010 season pass purchases. All purchases are now driven via our website skiporters.co.nz, we’ll let you know a clear, step by step guide on how to go about this early in the new year. Keep in touch over the summer – follow us on Twitter for the latest news over the summer and leading into winter 2010.

From all the Porters team, a huge thank you to all who have supported us in 2009. We hope you’ve enjoyed your time with us, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2010 for some more fantastic days in the mountains.

Thanks and warm Regards,
The Porters Team.

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