Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Spike [or Victoria University College Review 1954]

Ski Club

page 103

Ski Club

The Ski Club was formed in 1947 by a group of Tramping Club members headed by the late Malcolm Mace and Jean Priest who were the first president and secretary respectively. It was felt that the Tramping Club was unable to cater for the skiers, as separate trips to Ruapehu and other skiing grounds added too much to an already heavy programme. A constitution of a new club was consequently drawn up and a grant applied for. The Ski Club is now completely independent and has developed vigorously thanks to a series of enthusiastic and hard-working committees.

A year's programme is always a full one. There are on the average two long trips to Ruapehu, one at least being during the August holidays. There are, in addition, three or four weekend trips to Ruapehu catering for about twenty students at a time. The club supplies its members with skis, while boots, etc., can be obtained at the mountain. Transport is usually in the form of a sleeper truck specially built to allow for all-night travelling. In addition to trips, films on skiing are shown throughout the year and an occasional dance or social evening is held. Periods of ski instruction have also been arranged from time to time.

The huts used for Ski Club trips have belonged to other clubs such as the Hutt Valley Tramping Club. Manawatu Ski Club, and the Auckland Tramping Club. The V.U.C. Ski Club last year felt that it should have a hut of its own. Tentative plans were drawn up by Messrs. Close and O'Shea and the executive was approached For a subsidy which it is hoped will be obtained on the pound for pound basis. With the cost estimated at £1,000 direct donations were asked for and a barometer was put up on the notice board. A dance and other activities were held and the total amount of money raised now is £230. Much money is yet to be raised and this year a raffle is to be run, a film is to be shown and further money-raising plans are to be arranged. And, of course, the club still welcomes direct donations.

page 104

The ski hut is essential to the club, because unless a start is made soon the club will find itself unable to run any trip due to lack of accommodation. This state of affairs already exists to some extent, and will be accentuated with the building of the new chair at Ruapehu.

The tentative plan for the new hut provides a comfortable shelter for skiers and any other types for that matter. The structure is rectangular in shape to reduce complications in building and cost. The interior is divided into two parts, a living room and a covered way comprising drying rooms, equipment room and washrooms. It is felt that communal eating and sleeping is preferable to separate bunk rooms, for a common room is warmer and more sociable, especially when the occupants have the same interests and are of the same age that varsity students usually are.

Of course everything cannot be finished at once, but it is essential to have the living-room complete and the main shell of the covered way complete. Numerous partitions, cupboards and so on may be left out for a while and lockers, workbenches, etc., can come later. Six hundred and sixty pounds would build this shell, giving complete shelter from the weather, but such money is not easy to come by. In order to arouse interest in the hut campaign a news bulletin is published periodically giving progress reports, coming events, etc.

Although the club would be the primary user, other clubs, both sporting and cultural, would benefit from the construction of a hut on Ruapehu. Hence it is suggested the hut be a "Victoria University College" hut. Working parties will begin in the Christmas holidays: this is a crucial period in the V.U.C. Ski Club's history.