Disabled Snowsports Canterbury

Newsletters 2005

February/March 2005

Welcome to the 2005 season. It may be too soon for some of you to start thinking about the coming season, but the committee has been very busy planning since December last year. It looks to be a very promising season with many dates already on the calendar.

AGM

The date for the AGM is 21 st March 2005 at 7.00pm. This will be held at Sport Canterbury which is now situated at QE11, 171 Travis Road. The building is in the car park area. It would be good to see as many of you there as possible as this is your opportunity to have your say. There are a few updates to be made to the constitution, details on the AGM agenda.

SKI SALE

The date for the annual ski sale is 1 st May 2005. This is a good opportunity to purchase good quality second hand gear as well as new. Once again we will have a stand there and we need volunteers to help man this, if you are able to help please leave your name and contact phone number on the answerphone and someone will call you back to sort out times etc. This is the start of the selling of our bargain books, which is our biggest fundraising project. Last year was a huge success, selling double the number of books from the previous year so lets see if we can top it again. The answerphone number is 03 365 8348.

MEMBERSHIP

The membership fee has been kept the same as the previous two years, the application form and medical information form are available for downloading now. These files need Microsoft Word to view them. If you don't have Word you can download Microsoft's Word Viewer here. Alternatively please email or phone (03 365 8348) for membership and medical form). Please fill out and return with your payment as soon as possible so that we can get your ID cards out early.

Subscription amounts: Individual $60.00 Helper $20.00 Family $80.00

VOLUNTEER HELPERS

Thank you for your support last season. We would love to see you all back again for this season. If you know of any one that you think would be interested in becoming one of our dedicated helpers please get them to phone the answerphone 03 365 8348 and leave their details. The dates have been set for helpers training and we are going back to having a weekend away in Methven as part of the training program. From feed back last season, we feel that it is just too much to cover in one day. There will be an evening held at Sport Canterbury from 7.30pm on 8 th June to cover the dry land training. Please put this date on your calendar now.

CARER SUPPORT

There have been a few changes to the amount that we claim on a ski day. Previously we have only claimed a half day carer support when you have skied for a full day, unfortunately the prices of lift tickets have increased and a half day no longer covers the cost of lift tickets and the $10.00 administration fee for an adult. If you use carer support as payment for skiing and we purchase an adult lift ticket or a student ticket plus ski or board rental you will be charged a full day carer support this season. Our aim is to make skiing affordable for everyone and we are still entitled to purchase our tickets at half price, so this is still a huge saving for all.

FITNESS

Fitness will start on 30 May 2005 and will once again be held at Hammersley Park School. Please come along every Monday at 6.00pm and join in, it is not strenuous but very low impact with a lot of fun and loads of laughs. This is the best time to book in for ski days as those who have booked at fitness get first priority in the vans. Please remember to bring along a gold coin to help cover the costs of the hall hire.

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 21 AGM Sport Canterbury ( QE11 Travis Road)7.00pm

May 1 Ski Sale (volunteers needed)

May 30 Fitness starts 6.00pm Hammersley Park School

June 8 Helpers dry land training (Sport Canterbury) 7.30pm

June 11 & 12 Helpers weekend in Methven

July 11 - 14 Beginners ski week (dependant skiers & boarders)

July 25 - 28 General ski week at Dobson (time for a challenge)

August 22 - 27 National ski week (Cardrona)

WELL DONE GUYS

For those that are not aware Hamish Chand is currently in Japan competing at the World Winter Special Olympics, we wish him every success and hope that he achieves everything that he wants to.

Back in November last year the Canterbury Zonta awards were held and one of our members received the award for outstanding sportswoman who has overcome a disability….

WELL DONE RHEA SMITHSON Rhea was also nominated for the SPARC future champions 2004 awards. Outstanding achievements by both members “congratulations”

May 2005

Welcome to all the new members who have signed up over the past month, it is looking like we will have good numbers on the mountain again this season. Our AGM was held back in March and brought about a few changes in the committee. We would like to thank Felicity Tyson for her time as president last season, and wish her well in her new venture. Welcome back to Julie Kerr who has been re elected as president, Heather Clay Vice President, Joy Weller Secretary, and Betty Chand, Storm Blacklock and Noeleen Francis as committee members.

It has been a very busy time for the committee getting everything organised and prepared for the coming season.

The committee has conducted interviews for the Instructor/Programme Manager’s role and all will be revealed in the very near future!

SKI SALE

Thank you to all of you who helped out at the ski sale, it was great to see so many of you there.

This is an ideal opportunity for us to make our organisation known and to let the public see what we are all about. We also use this time to promote and sell our skiers/boarders bargain books, which sold very well again. Some people only come to the sale to purchase these, as it is the first day they are offered for sale. These books have vouchers for 17 South Island ski fields in them, and when presented at the ticket office on the mountain you are entitled to purchase one lift ticket and get another one (for the same price) FREE. One gentleman informed us that he saved $1400.00 last season by purchasing two books and using most vouchers. What a saving !!! (Yes he was back to purchase 4 books this year).

If you know of any one wanting to purchase a bargain book, they can either send a cheque to Disabled Skiing Canterbury, P O Box 13 429, Christchurch or head into either Snow & Surf or McEwings in Christchurch as the sell on our behalf.

Prices are; 1 bargain book for $100.00

Or purchase 2 at the same time and get the second one for half price ($150.00)

MEMBERSHIP

The membership fee has been kept the same as the previous two years, enclosed in this newsletter is the application form. Please fill out and return with your payment as soon as possible so that we can get your ID cards out early.

Individual $60.00 Helper $20.00 Family $80.00

VOLUNTEER HELPERS

The dry land training will be held at Hammersley Park School, Amos Place, Shirley, (This is off Marshland Road) on the 8 th June starting at 7.00pm. Please come along and catch up with every one from last season. If you know anyone who would like to be part of our organisation, please bring him or her along. This evening is designed to out line what we do and find out about the different disabilities, and what their needs are. It is very important that you do attend as we can only cover so much on the mountain.

CARER SUPPORT

FITNESS

Don’t forget fitness starts this week! Monday night at Hammersley Park School Hall, entrance off Amos Place, Shirley starting at 6.00pm sharp. Once again we will have a social night to start off the season, with Fish and Chips and for something a little bit different a

“MYSTERY AUCTION”.

Please bring along $2.00 for tea and some extra funds for the auction. The auctioneer will be known to a lot of you (but of course my lips are sealed) so you had better come along and find out for yourselves. “There is a free days skiing up for grabs”

DATES TO REMEMBER

May 30 th Fitness starts 6.00pm Hammersley Park School

June 8 th Helpers dry land training ( Hammersley Park School) 7.30pm

June 18 th & 19 th Helpers weekend in Methven

July 11 th - 14 th Beginners ski week (dependant skiers & boarders)

July 25 th - 28 th General ski week at Dobson (time for a challenge)

August 22 nd - 27 th National ski week (Cardrona)

What's comming up??

“JULY IS CAMP MONTH”

Check out the details below and get in early for your spot. You must book a place on either camp, at least 7 days prior to the start date. There are limited places available for each 4-day camp. Ring your ski/board mate and get on the camp together.

1) Beginners Ski/Board Camp 11th – 14th July (4 days)

“Targeted at people who need helper assistance on the snow”

Staying at the Mt Hutt Bunkhouse in Methven.

$140.00 will cover all Transport, Accommodation, and Meals,

Ski/Board hire (if req’d) and lift tickets (if req’d) are additional to this,

Helpers: Interested in Camps?

Leave your name and details on the answer phone 365 8348.

Check with the Instructor for details, and your costs.

2) General Ski/Board Camp at Dobson 25th – 28th July (4 days)

“Targeted at people who are more independent on the snow”

Staying in Fairle.

$140.00 will cover all Transport, Accommodation, and Meals,

Ski/Board hire (if req’d) and lift tickets (if req’d) are additional to this,

Helpers: Interested in this Camp?

It will be great to have a small number on this camp,

Leave your name and details on the answer phone 365 8348.

Check with the Instructor for details and your costs.

NATIONAL SKI WEEK

Dates for this year have been finalised and are 20 th – 27 th August. Once again this will be held at Cardrona Alpine Resort. Disabled Snowsports will send registration forms to those who have attended previous nationals, if you do not receive one or have not attended before; you can download a form from their web site- www.disabledsnowsports.org.nz

We will be sending a team from Canterbury again this season, and would appreciate your early commitment to this, as accommodation is at a premium at this time of year. Please let Nicky or Storm know if you would like to attend, so we can make a pencil booking.

July/August 2005

Well what a mixed bag the season has provided so far. It has been probably the worst start to the season that many of you can remember. The conditions on the mountain have been very average with more rocks and tussocks than snow. It has been the first time in approx 20 years that the committee has had to make the decision to cancel not one but both ski weeks due to lack of snow. Each day the snow report has been very similar, with conditions icy and suited to beginners to intermediate skiers/boarders. We can understand that you are probably getting very frustrated with ski days having been cancelled (you are not alone on this our new instructor/program manager, Helen is as well), but the committee has made these decisions based on safety. So we need you all do get up and do your very best SNOW DANCE and lets hope that the weatherman is kind and sends plenty of that white stuff our way. Hopefully we can put an extra ski week in the September School Holidays for all of you who missed the first one!

We would like to welcome Helen Perkins to our team as our Instructor/Program Manager, and are sure that you will help her settle in.

For those who have not met Helen, come along to fitness, as it is always good to be able to put a face to a name. Helen has a vast background of helping people with disabilities, and has also been involved in a program at Cardona last season with Back Up. We have also been very fortunate to have the help of Helen’s partner Justin (who is mad on snow boarding). Justin has been helping with the driving up and down the mountain. Many thanks.

Please can you try to have the correct money (cheque) ready for Helen to collect before leaving BP Avonhead. Please check what your costs are, as this makes things a lot easier.

Helen does not carry change with her.

If you need to contact us please phone the answerphone and leave a message, we will call you back. (this is the only way to make contact with ay of the committee)

THEATRE ROYAL BOOK SALE August 13 – 14

If you are available to help at this please leave your name on the answerphone, and Julie will contact you. This is a very easy fundraiser for us and we have been fortunate to have had this opportunity for many years. This is not difficult and many hands make light work!!

Your help is appreciated!

CHOCOLATE BARS

Thank you to all who have sold theirs and returned the money, if you have any money outstanding , please bring this along to fitness and give to Joy of Nicky. We would like to get this sorted out as soon as possible

CARER SUPPORT

FITNESS

Don’t forget fitness! Monday nights at Hammersley Park School Hall, entrance off Amos Place, Shirley starting at 6.00pm sharp.

If you need to book in for an assessment, please phone the answerphone and leave your details and you will be contacted. (answerphone 365 8348)

And Yes Rachael is Back!!!

DATES TO REMEMBER

August 13 th - 14 th Theatre Royal Book Fair

August 22 nd - 27 th National ski week (Cardrona)

September 19 th Last night of fitness

September 26 th - 29 th Ski Week (general)

NATIONAL SKI WEEK

The time has come to make that commitment. We have booked a house for this week and need definite numbers of those attending. Please leave your name on the answerphone or let Storm or Nicky know ASAP.

Rumor has it, that there is an Australian team attending this year and the US ski team will be in Wanaka at the same time. We have enough beds for 8 members booked, so first 8 booked get to go!