Snow lovers make the most of local slopes
The last time Nick O’Neill hit his local slopes he was a kid and only remembers that he had a massive tantrum.
Decades on he finally went back up Mt Taranaki’s Manganui Ski Area and carved up the slopes on the second day of the 2020 season.
Yesterday saw dozens of skiers and snowboarders walk the long track to the tiny ski field following a decent dumping of snow that allowed it to open on Thursday.
But as Mt Taranaki’s slopes are highly dependent on fresh white stuff, today may be the last day – until the next snowfall.
O’Neill was among those who were enjoying their first day out this season, after having a surf on Thursday instead – in true Taranaki fashion. He usually skis over at Mt Ruapehu, but decided to give his local a go.
Roy Evans, 4, was also trying out his local slopes for the first time and loving it, he said.
Dad Dave Evans said he and wife Amanda came to the mountain on their own on Thursday, but brought the kids up from New Plymouth yesterday. He said Roy had given snowboarding a go at Mt Ruapehu last year. ‘‘He wants to be like me.’’
For Olivia Cavey, 9, and Jackson Cavey, 7, it was their first time having a go at snow sports.
Mum Amanda said the trio had gone up the mountain on Thursday and tried sledding, and considered doing it again yesterday.
But then they spent Thursday evening watching snowboarding and skiing tutorials online and had a ‘‘big talk’’ about how learning would be like riding a bike.
‘‘Then this morning they were like; can we try skiing,’’ Cavey said yesterday. ‘‘You forget this place is right on your doorstep.’’
Dequerius McQueen, 17, had taken the day off school to hit the snow for the first time in more than a year, after breaking his leg last season.
Jamie Hareb, 27, was out for the first time this year too and came up because it’s just ‘‘in the backyard’’.