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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 5 (September 1, 1932)

Winter Sports Carnival — Gay Scenes At National Park — Heavy Train Traffic

page 7

Winter Sports Carnival
Gay Scenes At National Park
Heavy Train Traffic.

For the last fortnight dull care has been banished, and hundreds of young New Zealand optimists have made merry on the sunny slopes of Mt. Ruapehu. In the seaboard cities there is an impression that The Chateau sits amidst the ice and snow, and that its visitors only venture abroad when clad in garments more fitted for the North Pole than their own National Park. For weeks the mountains have been bathed in sunlight, and climbers have received a coat of tan that even Auckland's sunny beaches could not give them.

Early in the month the Auckland railway station saw the first contingent of mountaineers arrive with skis, ice axes, ropes and equipment designed to conquer the mountain peaks and glistening snow fields of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu. Many were the expressions of delight that the train left in the afternoon, and allowed its passengers to be in The Chateau before midnight.

On arrival at National Park station the motor service that co-operates with the Railways Department had a fleet of buses and cars waiting, and the short road journey of ten miles soon brought the visitors in sight of the great pile of buildings, ablaze with coloured lights, and with its hundreds of flashing windows bidding a welcome to the first Alpine Club to arrive for the Winter Sports. Night after night saw an influx of railway passengers, until 350 mountaineers and their friends packed the five stories of The Chateau from basement to attic.

The New Zealand Snow Sports Championships were contested in brilliant weather, and attracted record entries from Australia, England, Sweden, and all parts of the Dominion. Several members of the British Alpine Club also competed, and although ski-ing is quite a new pastime here, the overseas competitors were always hard pressed by native-born sons, who in several instances had made their own skis from New Zealand woods. The principal race was won by a member of the Taranaki Alpine Club, who had not only bent and shaped his skis, but had forged the necessary metal parts. His win against the overseas visitors, equipped with gear from world-famous ski-makers, caused the utmost enthusiasm amongst the hundreds of spectators who lined the snowfields to see the exciting finish of a hard and gruelling race.

At the conclusion of the New Zealand Championships, Messrs. Mitchell and Tennant, the Australian champions, were given an official farewell by the members of the oldest and largest ski club in New Zealand, the Ruapehu Ski Club, supported by representatives from the University Clubs, Taranaki Alpine Clubs, Tararua Club, Auckland Alpine Club, Hutt Valley Club, Mr. L. O. Hooker (Vice-President of the Federation), and Mr. J. Linklater, M.P.

The annual Winter Sports Ball was an outstanding success, over 400 guests filling the great lounge, and many startling and original costumes were evolved from the materials found in the Park. As the Grand March commenced, an immense ape, clad in a skin torn from a mountain deer shot that morning, sprang from the main staircase, and so realistic was his acting that there was no question as to the winner of “the most original costume.”

The increasing popularity of snow sports showed that even the large Chateau was all too small to hold the intending guests, and over 200 bookings had to be refused. The improved rail services, allowing visitors to reach or depart from National Park at 11 p.m., has made it accessible to all.