Whakapapa

New Zealand is well known for skiing and most of the ski fields are on the South Island. The North Island is home to the largest ski field in the country, Whakapapa, located on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. Ruapehu is an active volcano and is also the site where the Mount Doom scenes were filmed for the Lord of the Rings.

Headed to the slopes!

Skiing on the slopes of a volcano is unlike skiing the alpine forests of Colorado. There are no trees but craggy rocks abound. I tried to teach myself to snowboard seventeen years ago, but gave up in frustration. I expected (hoped?) the kids would enjoy snowboarding more than skiing, so the boys and I signed up for a two hour lesson. 

Phillip and his family joined us in National Park and Heaven, Phillip's daughter, joined us on the slopes and learned to ski. Laura skiied and served as family photographer. Saturday was windy and cold and the beginner slopes were icy, but our two hour lesson went well and we had fun with our instructor. I spent a good portion of the afternoon on my backside trying to internalize my lessons and snowboarding started to click near the end of the day.

How do these bindings work?

Let the teaching begin

Heaven learning to snowplow

Sometimes it's easier to walk

Justin describing the finer points of turning

Up the magic carpet for another run

End of a long day

Most of the mountain was closed for wind on Saturday which made for a large crowd and long lift lines on the beginner slopes. Sunday was much warmer and less windy and we had a great day polishing our snowboard skills. I started off the day with a hard crash but gradually my lessons came back to me. The warmer weather made the snow slushy and slow; perfect conditions for a beginner.

Finally getting the hang of it

Jack on his heel edge

Steven gets it

In the lift line

Da boys

We had a great weekend and the boys and I can say with confidence that we learned to snowboard in New Zealand.