Improve your backcountry skiing and avalanche skills

Choose your focus:

- off-piste skiing, avalanche skills, or do a combination of both!!

Choose your course - 2 hours, 1 day, 3 or 5 days.

DATES: Monday 13^th - Friday 17^th September

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Read full details and prices of all six courses offered:

1. Backcountry 2-hour info sessions - (held 1.30pm daily Monday to Friday)

Different topic each day: avalanche rescue techniques, basics of touring & skinning, reading weather maps

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2. One day Off-Piste Ski Clinic - Monday 13th September

3-hour off-piste group instruction with Certified Canadian Level IV Ski Instructor

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3. Three day Off-Piste Ski Clinic - Tuesday 14th to Thursday 16th September

3 days with 3-hour group instruction per day taught by a Certified Canadian Level IV Ski Instructor

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4. Five day Off-piste skiing-Avalanche Awareness Training - Sunday evening 12th to Friday 17th September

1 evening/1 day Mountain Safety Council (MSC) Avalanche Awareness Course (NOTE course starts Sunday night/Monday)

The MSC Course provides the basic information for understanding avalanche phenomenon and decisions to make when travelling in avalanche terrain. Check out the full MSC course details.

3 day off-piste ski clinic with 3 hours of group instruction per day (Tuesday-Thursday)

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5. Five day Backcountry Avalanche training - Monday 13th to Friday 17th September

1 day off-piste skiing with 3 hours of group instruction (Monday)

4 days/2 evenings Mountain Safety Council Backcountry Avalanche Course

Suitable for: skiers & snowboarders. MSC Course covers snow pack and snow stability, avalanche formation, travel in avalanche terrain, small group search & rescue (prerequisite MSC Avalanche Awareness Course). Check out the full MSC course details.

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6. Five day complete two Avalanche courses - Sunday evening 12th to Friday 17th September

1 day/1 evening Mountain Safety Council Avalanche Awareness Course (Sunday night/Monday)

4 days/2 evenings Mountain Safety Council Backcountry Avalanche Course (Tuesday-Friday)

Start with the basics and by day five have detailed knowledge of avalanche information - snow stability, avalanche formation, travel, search & rescue (prerequisite MSC Avalanche Awareness Course). Check out the full MSC course details.

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Bookings essential for all courses. Booking deadline: 8^th September. Book by emailing bookings@brokenriver.co.nz

Read full details and prices of all six courses offered:

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Summary of course schedule:

Hey telemarkers, improve your technique at one of our two remaining days of telemark lessons. These are very affordable and fun.

Saturday 28th August

We’re holding a 3-hour lessons on Saturday 28th August, run as two 1.5 hour sessions. Great value at $60 per person (BR members $42). Lessons grouped by ability.

Bookings essential, spaces limited. Deadline Thursday 26th Aug. Email marketing@brokenriver.co.nz

Saturday 11th September

1.5 hour telemark group lessons available. $35 per person ($21 BR members). Private lessons also available $50 per person.

Bookings essential, spaces essential. Deadline Thursday 9th September. Email marketing@brokenriver.co.nz

Freeheeling Jim Henderson in powder 19 Aug 2010. Photo Claire Newell

This news is HOT off the press!

Calling all gals. If you’ve never tried telemarking but thought you’d like to try then THIS is YOUR weekend to give it a go!

We’re hosting the R & R Sport Freeheel Fun Weekend this coming Sat and Sunday (Aug 14 & 15th). Our sponsors are GIVING AWAY a pair of skis to the beginner telegal skier who makes the most progress by the end of Sunday. This must be your first weekend of telemark skiing.

There are no excuses!

• Our sponsors R & R Sport and Black Diamond will have demo gear to trial throughout the weekend.
• We’re offering FREE tele lessons for all beginners on Saturday 11-12 am and 1.30 to 2.30 pm. We’ll probably have clinics on Sunday. Check on the notice board at Palmer Lodge for times.

Come up and give it a go - you might be the one who goes home with a new set of skis!!

So what is telemarking anyway? Its been called the “world’s oldest newest sport” and dates back to the 1800’s. Read all about it on www.telemarktips.com.

Jim on main ridge of Allan's Basin. Photo Claire Newell

Mick ripping it up! Photo Claire Newell

We’ve had some GREAT powder riding since the storm over the weekend dropped us 55cm of the delightful white fluffy stuff that is known to some as powder snow. What more could we have asked for? (Of course a bit more but we are certainly NOT complaining!)

On Sunday night powder hounds and pups came out of their kennels from far and wide, tongues hanging out,  ready to sample what was still falling thickly from the sky. There was more, more, more on Monday for those fortunate enough to already be on holiday or who had managed to pull a sickie or bribe the boss. (We all know work is over-rated, but alas a necessary evil to fund the powder snow obsession). There is nothing quite like fresh powder!

Conditions continue to be awesome with stunning riding all around. Bluebird days and powder snow - what a combination! Those up on Tuesday (no doubt thinking they’d missed the best of it) were rewarded with fresh tracks all day in Allan’s Basin. There is some justice in the world after all and for once there weren’t too many people saying “you should have been there yesterday”, which it always like rubbing salt into the wound.

Check out a few pics below. Sorry if you couldn’t be there, Everyone did their very best to have a few fun runs for you. We do hope you can make it up there next time.

View from the Bottom Station of the Tramway: Photo Claire Newell

Palmer Lodge Aug 10 2010. Photo Claire Newell

Allan's Basin on Super Tuesday 10 Aug 2010. Photo Jim Henderson

August 14-15 at Broken River is the annual gathering of the faithful freeheeling types. This event brings participants from far and wide on the promise of fun events, clinics to up your game, spectacular crashes and a few tall tele tales. The weekend caters for people of all abilities and it offers those of the fixed heel persuasion the opportunity to free the heel and enter free heel heaven. Read on.

We’re GOING BIG on instruction this year

Telemarking is a beautiful thing and there is always more to learn. Is that back foot really doing its job? Can I kick the low-rider stance and get some more power to my skis by being taller? Where abouts in the turn do I make the lead change? And so …

This year we are offering 3-hour telemark clinics on Saturday 14th August. These will be taught as two 1.5 sessions (10.30 am - noon and 1 - 2.30 pm). The total cost for the 3 hr clinics is set at $60 per person ($42 for BR members). Our instructors for the weekend will by Jeremy Taylor and Jim “too much energy” Henderson. What can we say? If all heads of government could ski like these guys there would be world peace and everyone would drink craft beer.

Places for the clinics are limited. Bookings can be made at marketing@brokenriver.co.nz. Jim and Jeremy would like some idea of your ability so they can plan the groups. Please register for the clinics by August 11th.

We’re GOING BIG on demo gear this year

If telemarking is something you have always wanted to try (which of course it is), here is your chance. R & R Sport and Black Diamond will have demo gear available all weekend. This is a great opportunity to have a go or to suss out your next set of gear. Tele gear has come along way since the “misery sticks” and low leather boots of the 1980s and 1990s. These days its all about carving skis, width under foot and of course plastic ski boots. The R & R Sport and Black Diamond guys are passionate about their skiing and they know how to set you up right. Whatever level you are skiing at - or aspiring to ski at - R & R and BD can sort you out. Be nice to them and buy some stuff off them some time. Telemark gear is a niche ski market so lets support the people that make the effort to stock the gear we need and then lug it all the way up to our place so we can try it out.

We’re GOING BIG on fun this year

Sunday is fun day: events for all abilities with spot prizes. Yay for spot prizes! Registration ($10) is from 10-11am at Palmer Lodge on Sunday. For that you get events, a can of something, and some other goodies. Sunday is also a day of worship and by then you will be sorted. Kitted out with the right gear and “cliniced” (though definitely not “Clinique”d) to perfection. Every sweet, smooth, flowing turn you drop will be an act of worship. Hallelujah!

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors R & R Sport, Black Diamond and CHILL.

See you there.

R & R Sport Freeheel Poster 14-15 Aug 2010

This year the Broken River Ski School is under the direction of Level 4 Canadian ski instructor Mark Kline. “The BR Ski School has been really busy over the school holiday break” says Mark. “It’s been great to see everyone’s enthusiasm to learn and improve. Everyone has made so much progress and had a lot of fun along the way”

Group ski lessons are included as part of multi-day packages for guests in Broken River and Lyndon Lodges.

Lessons are available Saturday to Thursday. Anyone can book a lesson. Lessons are exceptionally affordable - $35 per person for a 1.5 hour group lesson and $50 for a one hour private lesson. Email Mark at skischool@brokenriver.co.nz to book your lesson now.

Many people have also signed up for the Ski Improvement Clinics which start next weekend. Some spaces are still available and very affordable at $105 for 4 x 1.5 hour clinics (members $84).

Ski Improvement Clinics

Ladies’ Swing - shine on the slopes this winter & start to swing on those skis

(clinics Saturdays Jul 24, 31, Aug 7, 14)

Men’s Carve - hot tips for more powerful skiing & a smooth carve

(clinics Saturdays Jul 24, 31, Aug 7, 14)

Supa Skeas (ages 4-12) Let’s rip it up together

(clinics Saturdays Jul 24, 31, Aug 7, 14)

Steeps n’ Deeps - Agressive techniques applied to our most challenging terrain

(clinics Sundays Jul 25,  Aug 1, 7, 14)

Extreme Teens - Catch some air & improve your big mountain skills. Technical & big air training

(clinics Sundays Aug 1, 7) - 2 x 1.5 clinics each Sunday

Cost for all clinics: $105 ($84 for members)

Book: email bookings@brokenriver.co.nz  Book NOW as spaces are limited

Impress your mates by joining Broken River’s Ski Improvement Clinics.

A five-day course designed to help you improve your off-piste skiing and increase your backcountry avalanche knowledge.

Broken River has great packed powder conditions at present. The cool, clear conditions have kept the snow light and dry. An additional 1 cm fell late yesterday adding a lovely velvety finish. This has made for smooth turning around the mountain.

Our first week has gone well. Everyone has had lots of fun around the mountain and down in the huts. The improvements in everyone’s skiing has been very noticeable - thanks to excellent lessons. Well done everyone and thanks to our instructors Mark and Lucy.

We’re currently setting up an online booking system so may not to respond to your emails to bookings@brokenriver.co.nz  straight away but rest assured we have received them.

Lodge availability:
First week of school holidays (Jul 4-10) - plenty of room in Lyndon Lodge and White Star Chalet. Broken River Lodge is almost full. We will be having a great ski school programme for the kids and adults so don’t miss out!
If you would like to make a booking or enquiry for this week please put “First week July school holidays” in the subject line of your email to bookings@brokenriver.co.nz

Second week of school holidays (Jul 11-17) - all lodges are FULL. We have one or two bunks for the odd night.

Other dates when bookings are heavy
White Star is fully booked for the 31st of July, 4th Sept and 18th Sept.
Broken River Lodge is also fully booked for 18th Sept (Kids Weekend).

For theme weeks below

These are based in Broken River Lodge. Please contact the coordinator to register your interest rather than bookings@brokenriver.co.nz:
Scone Grabbers (families with 0-8yrs or so kids) 15-21st August - contact Claire: marketing@brokenriver.co.nz
Mid Timers Minibreak 25-27th August (scheduled synchro ski comp, ski rogaine plus other social activities) - contact Sally: membership@brokenriver.co.nz
Oldies Week 5-11th Sept - contact Jan
Kids Weekend - 18th Sept - contact Trudi

Please remember that you must pay upfront for your booking to secure your booking (or provide your credit card if you are using work party cards.)

Thanks for your patience! We’re looking forward to our new online booking system.