Old NZ Heli-skiing footage

Finally got around to resuming this thread with another video.

This one was from 9th August 1990 in the North Buchanans.

Starting off on Eostre, then around Dragons tail, Alberts Burn, the coming back to Stag peak and finishing on Moliefes.

This one has a bit of Powder 8's action mentioned earlier. That year there were 2 Austrian pairs there. One of them was having a warm up day prior to the competition and you see them in the first part. They were a class above the other skiers out that day.

This was again all filmed by Ross McMillan. He skied with one group to start with then switched to our group later. Also apparent watching this again now was that they still at that stage looked to be operating with 2 load groups. This was probably the last year they did so as the 1991 video I started with was certainly a single load only which has been the case ever since.

Flying that day was Bill Sargeson who tragically was killed in a crash I think (not heliskiing) several years later.

Guides in the first part were Paul Scaife and Trevor Streat. You do see Paul at one point do a bit of 'old school' avalanche control. They certainly don't do it like that any more.

Then guiding in the latter part was Nick Cradock who I would ski with quite a bit in the 90's.

From my notes the best skiing that day was off the top of Stag peak in the afternoon. Brilliant long run, good pitch and consistent 30cm powder. You can see at other times the snow was a little more variable which did catch you out a bit.

The Powder 8's comp was on the following day. I think the guys in the video were runners up to the other Austrian pair. The presentation was that evening at the Edgewater hotel. Some of us regular clients and guides joined the Austrians for a fun night. I recall one of the Austrians auctioned off the pair of poles that was part of the prizes. Winners got skis I think.
The Austrian pair that won it - Peter Larcher and Georg Höllrigl - also won the world Powder 8's in Blue River Canada 3 years running.

 

No, not me. I'm generally not into jumping off things. My guess is that would have been Roger. He was doing a few jumps in the video.

 

Wasn't really any skiing shots of me that day. Looks like Ross was mainly filming the one group with Peter Tocker that had Roger & you in. Brief view of me at lunch and at the end of the day about to fly out. In navy blue jacket and wearing blue Coronet peak beanie that day.

You can say that you skied with Roger the future HMH Operations Manager. Have you been back since? I had to miss this year of course, being on the other side of the ditch as did Roger in Tassie.

 

Yep, skinny straight skis. No one talked about width back then. In fresh powder they were still perfectly fine, it was in variable conditions where there was more of an issue.