Offsite Issue 33 Nov/Dec 2022

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Rheem offsite is published bi-monthly by NZ Fishing Media Ltd.

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Editors Jason Harman & Nick Jones

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Editorial Enquiries Jason Harman jason@nzfishingnews.co.nz

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Cover Photo Tim Schulpen

Welcome to Issue 33 of Rheem offsite

The wait is over. Spring is finally here and things are on the up and up. There’s plenty to look forward to in the coming months – longer days, the three B’s (beach, BBQs and bevvies), and a hearty supply of outdoor activities – if you can break free from your daily routine and put yourself out there, beyond the pale.

Rheem Offsite is here to inspire you, to encourage you to throw off the chains of monotony and seek the wild, and this issue is sure to get your blood pumping.

Tim Schulpen takes us on a journey into the South Island backcountry to experience the excitement, intensity, and (sometimes) rewards of the Roar.

For the ColourCote Tradie Profile, newly minted editor of NZ Fishing News magazine, Nick Jones, sits down with legendary kiwi Zane Munro to talk about the plight of men’s mental health, his organisation For All The Brothers, and his passion for promoting mental health awareness and advocacy amongst tradies in Aotearoa.

Next up, keen fisher Suraya

Hollands gives us a run-down of her 2000km roadie, from Ohakune to Twizel, to sample the sweet flesh of the behemoth brown trout of the canals.

Simon Walden (@thetradiebbq) whips up a hoki burger that’ll have your eyes popping and your stomach grumbling. Maybe it’ll even be the catalyst you need to cook something other than baked beans on toast (or anything on toast, for that matter).

Lastly, mountain frother Tina Vainola shares her passion for snowsports and interviews her mate Ally Osborne – full-time carpenter on weekdays and part-time snow shredder on weekends – about the beautiful satisfaction of making the most of everyone’s most hated season.

As always, get in touch if you have any stories of your own to share, we want to hear from you! Message us on Instagram (@offsite_ magazine) or flick me an email at jason@nzfishingnews.co.nz.

See you out there!

– Jason Harman

Stag & Chamois

hen it comes to hunting in New Zealand, there’s always something to look forward to. From the end of March through April, and sometimes even into May, our deer species have their mating seasons all around the country, and I usually find myself chasing the all-consuming roar.

For the remainder of the year, chasing Tahr and chamois is another option, as their rut takes place during the winter and they become even more accessible in the spring. Once that’s all over, long summer days allow for easy travel over alpine passes and you can witness animal numbers that you never

Wwould have believed in winter. With some planning and accumulated leave, you can follow these short-lived windows, bouncing your way up and down the country. You can try hunting reds in the Canterbury high country in early April, and then quickly race up to the central North Island to chase sika. Despite the possibilities and excitement of brainstorming, I always end up panicking at the end of March, trying to decide where to go, what to hunt, and whether the boss will approve my leave.

Last year was no different. I finally got together with my buddy Jae to make the final call on where to go for our roar trip. It was 1:00 am, our trip

was about to start, and our destination had yet to be decided. We had the entire South Island to pick from, but despite hearing plenty of tales about ‘wall-hanger’ reds being pulled out of the Otago area, we kept being drawn back to the Arthur’s Pass catchment. Jae was obviously getting sick of my indecisiveness and finally made the call. “It’s always good once you’re in there,” he said, pointing at the ridge on the centre of the laptop screen. An extremely wise and valid point from a kid born in the early 2000s.

There was, and still is, a diverse set of opinions on the Arthur’s Pass area. Great heads seem to be produced there; not only for red stags but also for

Words & Images by Tim Schulpen

Chamois are high on the bucket list for most kiwi hunter’s, especially a specimen like this.

chammy bucks. However, the regular poisoning through the majority of the National Park seems to weigh heavily on people’s minds and means the area is considered less productive than it really is. There can be low numbers of deer in some areas of Arthur’s Pass, and people are quick to conclude that this means poor hunting for the entire area. Putting the negatives aside, we allocated five days to see what we could find, with the ultimate goal of finding one nice stag and a first chammy buck for Jae. We both thought this was more than achievable, particularly given the absence of snow and a range that provided plenty of

travel scope into distant basins.

There was an immediate roar as we parked the ute – a nice omen to start the trip – that offered us a brief distraction from the impending slog up to the main ridge. It was a bluebird day, which allowed us to see for miles in the direction we were heading, but the heat, 12km of alpine travel, and 1100 vertical metres quickly took a toll on both of us. Night one came around mercifully after a long day on the feet. We found ourselves perched above two large basins, hearing roars far below us, deep in the bush. A lone chamois in the bluffs poked his head out just as the sun faded, the only animal we saw that day.

As we began day two – the second slog of the trip – the whistle of a chamois had us very rapidly dropping our packs and reaching for the binos. Although it sounded extremely close, we couldn’t locate it to save ourselves. Long story short, this was the most excitement we would get for another day as we pushed on without seeing a single deer.

On day three, we changed tactics to bush hunting and our luck changed. We decided that all the stags were holding tight in the shade of the trees and had likely pushed the hinds out of the tops with them. One bush basin had at least four stags roaring well, so we

“It was a bluebird day, which allowed us to see for miles...but the heat, 12km of alpine travel, and 1100 vertical metres quickly took a toll on both of us.“

The search never ends once you’ve got the bug.

Kea: otherwise known as Aotearoa’s prettiest criminals.

punched down a long spur and hunted, 40 metres below the bush edge, back up the valley towards camp. With the thermals pushing up from the valley floor, the idea for this approach was that we would see anything that might be just above us, while not going too deep and cutting animals off. Although everything went quiet for a moment once we stepped foot in the bush, the deer quickly piped up again when we let off an aggressive, challenging roar.

Two stags started going at it in the spot we had just walked through. As we continued to roar, it sounded like one was being drawn in closer to us. Jae suddenly tapped me on the shoulder and pointed at another stag sneaking around us through some beech. He was

Sometimes It’s the simple things. Camp food done right (and light) with Radix freeze-dried meals.

likely trying to get on our uphill side and into our scent. I took Jae’s word when he said, “It’s a good stag!” and placed a round in his chest at around 25 metres, sending him tumbling down the hill. In the moment, I could tell he had goodlength antlers but wasn’t sure of his shape because he was broadside to us with his head facing forwards.

As we scrambled down the hill, we quickly realised his top inner tines almost touched, and he was easily the narrowest stag Jae and I had ever seen. Despite this, the antlers boasted a dark maroon colour unlike any tussock or alpine stag I had shot to date. He measured up to be a respectable 37” in length. Quick work was made of the butchering before we made our way

back to camp for lunch.

After a few hours lounging in the sun early in the afternoon, we decided to look for another stag in the next basin rather than try for a first buck chamois for Jae. With this being the last chance for a stag, we packed all the gear required for a walk back to camp in the dark. We didn’t make it ten minutes into our tramp before spotting a lone chamois on the bush line below us. Both of us were extremely surprised to see one that low. I wasn’t convinced it was a big buck as it seemed to lack a bit in the hook, but Jae was excited to have a crack anyway. Being above them while making an assessment in the spotting scope can often make them seem a lot smaller than they are.

Holding on his shoulder for a relatively long shot with the .308, Jae let a round go.

The chamois quickly disappeared down a small chute, and then reappeared on a scree face another 30 metres away. The shot looked like a good hit, and the sight of him beginning his tumble a few seconds later confirmed Jae had got himself his first buck. I quickly apologised to Jae as we walked up to the amimal as I had completely misjudged his length – it was far better than I initially thought. Running the tape over the hooks, he was a hair shy of 9.5” and had a fair few age rings stacked up at the base; an impressive first chamois and a hard candidate to improve on.

Camping up top: it’s usually better if it’s not raining sideways.

Hooks like Jupiter.

The Southern Alps are an adult playground for those willing to pay the sweat tax.

With all our goals well and truly knocked out of the park, we decided on a leisurely evening sorting gear and eating rations, before walking out a day early. The last day consisted of steep descents, sore knees, and another stinking hot day for a long traverse along the tops. A cold beer stashed in the tray was more than deserved as we returned to the Ute late that afternoon. Not a bad trip considering it was all based on 1:00 am decision-making!

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Teaching qualifications and experience are not essential for this position, however you must possess the following qualities to ensure you have the potential to quickly grow into an effective tutor: patience, adaptability, positive attitude, good communication skills and a reasonable level of physical fitness.

Successful applicants without teaching qualifications will be supported to achieve a Certificate in Adult Tertiary Teaching or similar tertiary teaching qualification through on-job training and development.

The role is based at WelTec’s main campus in Petone. Applicants will be required to undertake a police vetting check in order to work with young people and should hold a current driver’s licence.

Benefits:

• Competitive remuneration package

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Please complete the online application form. Please note it is important that you complete all sections of the online application. For other information please email recruitment@wandw.ac.nz

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“A cold beer stashed in the tray was more than deserved.”

A CANALS ROADIE

Words and Images by Suraya Hollands @surayahollands

A trout fishing mission to me usually means chucking the rods in the back of the ute and having my line in the water in less than 10 minutes.

However, this recent trip looked a little different. With a little more gear (and a lot more planning) me and four mates set off on a 2000km round-trip from Ohakune to Twizel, hoping to catch the ‘big dog’ – a brown trout of epic proportions.

Banter and yarns amongst the crew helped distract us from the two-metre swell on the Cook Strait crossing – and from the fact that we forgot to pack our dive gear as we passed through a sunny, calm Kaikoura.

Eventually we reached our destination and, with a few rums to celebrate, we hatched a plan for the

morning session. Not knowing what to expect, where to go, or what gear to use, we opted to set our alarms early and hope for the best.

Unfortunately, we had a few quiet fishing days initially, with none of the big fish we’d been hoping for. But, after a bit of local advice in the ear and a fair amount of YouTube research under our belts, we eventually saw our first bit of action.

The 5:00 am wakeups were made a little easier by the sound of the birds, and on this day the slight hint of orange peeking over the horizon meant another bluebird day was in store for us. So, we smashed our coffees, rugged up in some thick layers and headed down to a new spot. “This one is going to be it!” and “Today is the day!” we told each

other as we drove down the road with the heater cranking in the ute.

Sure enough, about an hour into our morning Dave was the first on the board, reeling in a healthy 10lb brown trout, using a bit of ‘chunky cheese’ (as the locals call it). After a few minutes of admiring the beast, we raced to get our lines back in the water – the competition was now well and truly on!

Not long afterwards, my rod bent over. Hard. Thinking it was just another snag, I put a little pressure on and suddenly line started screaming out of my reel… “Fish on!” It felt like hours later when I finally got him into the net – 16.5lbs of Twizel brown trout. I was speechless. The girls were on!

After a few too many pics for the ‘gram and a couple of smart-arse little

chirps thrown at the boys, we called it a day and headed back to the Airbnb. While filleting the giant trout, we started thinking about how we were going to cook the big beauties.

That night, Dave’s partner Nikita cooked a couple of fillets in butter and it was blimmin’ mouth-watering! The competitiveness kicked in again and, with some spare time on our hands, my partner Bodie and I decided to try something new.

Every Christmas my grandmother makes delicious Salmon Gravlax, a real crowd pleaser. So, with that in mind (and a few glances at Pinterest for inspiration) we decided to cure our big Twizel brownie in beetroot and gin to make Trout Gravlax, which sounds fancy but is crazy-easy and superdelish. There are tons of in-depth recipes out there if you want to go a little further, but this is what worked for us!

All you’ve got to do is spend 10 minutes prepping, then walk away and let time work its magic. The trout slowly cures, and the flavours are infused. A little bonus of adding the beets is that you get that vibrant purple colour!

Trout Gravlax

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup mayonnaise

• 1 pickle, finely diced

• 1 Tbsp capers, finely diced

• 1 Tbsp dill, finely chopped

• 1 Tbsp lemon Juice

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp dijon mustard

• Salt & pepper to taste

Method 1

Catch and fillet trout. 2

Mix together gin, beetroot, sugar, and salt. 3

Place fillet in a zip lock bag & evenly cover the trout in beetroot cure, ensuring all the edges are covered. 4

Seal and place bag in the fridge for 2-3 days. Add a little weight on top and turn every day or so. 5

After being in the fridge for a few days, rinse off the remaining mixture with cold water, pat dry with a paper towel, and cut into thin slices. 6

Serve as is, on a bagel with cream cheese or in a salad. The rest is up to you!

Take pics of your dish and tag us, enjoy it with whanau and friends, and most importantly, have fun with it!

THE COLORCOTE TRADIE PROFILE

Words by Nick Jones Images by Nick Jones and Zane Munro @forallthebrothers

Zane Munro is the kind of guy that immediately leaves an impression on you – his eyes are friendly yet resolute, conversation with him flows naturally, and he’s got a calm presence. It’s no surprise then that he’s doing some great things for men’s mental health with his brainchild For All the Brothers –but we will get into that later.

I met up with Zane on-site in the West Auckland suburb of Green Bay. Funnily enough, the very same suburb where he grew up.

“I went to school down the road –

there were no uniforms, and we called the teachers by their first names,” he tells me.

After a 14-year career in the print industry and a stint in Australia (he still holds a lingering Aussie twang), he decided to return home to familiar territory. He had lost his passion for printing work, he says, “I wanted to do something where at the end of each day I could walk away and be proud of it.”

So, following in his old man’s footsteps, he started an ‘adult apprenticeship’, as a builder, and now

ZANE MUNRO

works for JS Builders alongside owner and childhood buddy Jamie Stewart.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done –you get to work with your best mates every day and enjoy it.”

“All builders drive past houses they’ve built and proudly tell their kids they built that one – now, I’m that dad,” he says with a grin. “A lot of us males, we’re hands-on, we need to be handson.”

“When you’re in a job or situation you don’t like, you take that shit home, and everything around you tends to follow suit as well, even though you don’t mean it to,” he says, speaking with wisdom developed through experience.

So, what is For All the Brothers?

“It’s a no-bullshit approach to men’s mental health,” says Zane. It’s all about

normalising conversations about mental health with the mantra that it’s OK to take your feelings into work, feelings that weren’t previously tolerated in the ‘old school’ building and trades industries.

Zane isn’t scared of talking about ‘taboo’ topics like suicide, drugs, or alcoholism. He wants men to discuss these things honestly.

“I love to get on the piss and enjoy myself, but I had to learn that there’s a time and a place,” he says. “If it’s a nice sunny day, you might wanna have beers after work, but did you know about ol’ mate who’s struggling with losing his missus and doesn’t really wanna drink but can’t say no when it’s shoved in his face?”

“I’ve talked to industry stalwarts and asked them how many friends they’ve

lost to suicide. The response was in the 20s, 30s, or even 40s”. Zane knew that was unacceptable.

Zane started For All the Brothers anonymously with no real aspirations other than trying to help those grappling with mental health issues. He wasn’t doing it for the followers or to grow his profile. Quite the opposite – he was nervous about putting himself out there in such a vulnerable way, but when guys he grew up with began reaching out on the page, he felt the confidence to put his face out there.

“The whole point is getting guys who wouldn’t otherwise talk about mental health to talk about it, and when you start talking about it you realise you’re not alone.”

And now the For All the Brothers Instagram page has over 40,000

“Two men walk into a bar. One says to the other ‘I’m having a hard time lately bro, shit’s just feeling heavy’. They both get a beer and sit and talk about that shit that’s heavy. It’s seriously that simple, let’s not overcomplicate it.”

Zane with his mum after walking 115km in 24 hours to raise more than $20,000 for I Am Hope and Lifeline NZ.

followers from New Zealand and around the world. Zane uses social media as the platform to spread his message –be it publicising a fundraising event, letting people know about speaking events, walks and group fitness sessions, or simply sharing a thoughtprovoking quote.

One of his recent posts is a prime example: “Two men walk into a bar. One says to the other ‘I’m having a hard time lately bro, shit’s just feeling heavy’. They both get a beer and sit and talk about that shit that’s heavy. It’s seriously that simple, let’s not overcomplicate it.”

Zane is the first to admit that For All the Brothers doesn’t have all the answers or tools. Instead, it is all about opening up dialogue with friends and finding avenues for confidential professional help. You can tell Zane

genuinely wants to help everyone he can, and that has sometimes led to him sacrificing his own interests: “I had to put boundaries in place for myself. I got caught up trying to reply to every message, help every person, and almost forget about myself. The second you do that, your cup starts to empty.”

It’s also clear he’s invested a lot of time and money into For All the Brothers since its inception. But it seems like he’s found the right balance now.

Normally when we ask our Tradie Profiles what they like to do off-site, we hear about fishing, hunting, or other action sports. But Zane simply enjoys being outdoors: “I love to walk, love to run, love to be in the bush, love to be in the ocean.” I told Zane about my own deep-rooted need to go

For All the Brothers is all about opening up the conversation around mental health.

shing every week or so. He nodded in understanding, telling me about all his mates who genuinely use shing and hunting as ‘therapy’.

And that’s the ethos behind the catch-ups organised by For All the Brothers – helping guys get away from the pressures of everyday life and connect with nature or get some exercise. Zane’s best advice for helping a struggling mate? “Pick them up and take them outdoors. Get them away from their phone or TV.”

For All the Brothers isn’t a registered

charity and works with partners such as I Am Hope to help fundraise. Zane recently nished a 24-hour 115km walk to raise more than $20,000 for I Am Hope and Lifeline NZ. That’s no walk in the park (pun intended).

“What’s coming down the For All the Brothers pipeline?” I ask, naively expecting some kind of detailed schedule. Apart from mental health month in November (for which Zane said there were some cool plans in place that he couldn’t divulge just yet) and more walks in the summer,

Zane told me that most of the events and catch-ups are organised at short notice and kept informal. Only then did I realise this is by design.

“For All the Brothers is just talking about shit, joking about life. We try and keep it as low-key as possible, as simple as possible,” Zane con rmed.

I left Zane to get back to his tools (I didn’t want him to nish late on a Friday after all!) and walked away with a smile on my face. The world could do with a few more Zane Munros.

This tradie profile is brought to you by ColorCote

Zane relishes being outdoors: “I love to walk, love to run, love to be in the bush, love to be in the ocean.”

Ngamatea Station Success

If you follow Desert Road for an hour past Taupo, avoid the temptation to turn right towards Mt Ruapehu, and instead head deeper into the North Island’s central plateau, you’ll find thriving high country – and if you’re lucky, the Ngamatea Station will be your destination. Beyond the thousands of acres of farmland (and 35,000 lambs), the station offers another 36,000 hectares of prime hunting grounds. Sika and red deer roam freely over the plateau, offering hunters no shortage of opportunities to encounter a stag.

Richard Skilton was one Aucklander lucky enough to find himself on an ATV in the Ngamatea Station high country on a recent cold Thursday afternoon. Richard is a self-titled “toilet salesman” who’s worked at Chesters Plumbing for 18 years (his real job title is, of course, far more flattering, even if he refuses to share it). Rheem’s John Bebbington (JB), the host of the hunting excursion, had extended the invite to Richard, along with plumbers Dave Good and

Paul Simpson. They’d arrived at the Station at 1pm and wasted no time getting out the rifle and beginning their search for venison.

“The deer were a bit skittish,” Richard explained. “There were deer out there, but they were just hard to shoot. We saw quite a few but finding one to shoot at was the hard part.

“The area is mostly tussock – it’s not like we were bush hunting. We covered quite a bit of ground to find the deer, but when we got a chance, we made the most of it.”

The team managed to get one deer on the board for day one and retreated to the hut for the evening in good spirits. A big advantage of choosing

Ngamatea Station is that it’s truly a one-stop-shop. Accommodation, guides, and food are all included in their hunting trips – all you have to bring is your beverage of choice, and a sleeping bag to tackle the brisk, central plateau nights.

Day two came early – even if it didn’t seem that way for those in the industry.

“We’re in the trade, so when we left the hut at 6:30am it was actually a sleep in,” Richard laughed.

“We jumped on the ATV and got chauffeured around until we found something to shoot,” he continued. “The guide is very good at what he does.”

The day went like “clockwork”. The guys spent the day exploring the high country and came back with three more deer – which meant all four of them had got on the board for the trip. Richard was typically humble about his shot.

“It was a very good easy-going trip. My deer jumped in front of the bullet, and it’s all I needed it to do,” he laughed again.

Taking home venison is obviously a huge drawcard for Ngamatea Station’s guided trips, and the guy’s made the most of the opportunity.

“The boys all had a great time and we all had something to put in the freezer when we got back – couldn’t be better. We dropped the deer off at a home kill butcher on the way back and we got the meat back the following Monday.”

When asked what his highlight was, Richard had a hard time choosing one moment.

“JB is an awesome host and Rheem do a great job of putting in those events. The highlight was the whole trip really.”

All in all, it was another successful trip, and having received the invite for two years running now, Richard is no doubt looking forward to the 2023 road trip to Ngamatea Station. Rheem know how important it is for people to get away from the day-to-day responsibilities of working life to spend time in nature, so they are proud to host several fishing and hunting excursions throughout the year – check back here in a couple of months to see what else the team has been up to!

Rheem proudly supports Save the Kiwi to achieve their goal and take kiwi from endangered to everywhere. If you’d like to take part and help save New Zealand’s national icon, go to www.savethekiwi.nz/donate – Your donation will help hatch and raise kiwi chicks in safety, increase kiwi populations, and protect wild kiwi habitat.

CRISPY HOKI BURGER

Recipe by Simon Walden @thetradiebbq

Burgers are near and dear to my heart. I love them all, but this fresh hoki burger will always hit the spot. Crispy beer battered fish, fresh slaw, and homemade tartar; this is sure to cure any hunger pains. I hope you enjoy making it as much as you’ll enjoy eating it!

Ingredients

Sesame Brioche Buns, toasted Gem or butter lettuce, cleaned 300g Fresh Hoki Canola oil

Tartar Sauce

• 1/2 Cup mayonnaise

• 1 pickle, finely diced

• 1 Tbsp capers, finely diced

• 1 Tbsp dill, finely chopped

• 1 Tbsp lemon Juice

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp dijon mustard

• Salt & pepper to taste

METHOD

1To make the tartar sauce, combine mayonnaise, diced pickle and capers, chopped dill, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard into a small bowl. Give a good mix, then season with salt and pepper. Cover and store in the fridge for 30 mins.

4For the batter, whisk together all the dry ingredients in a bowl, continuing to whisk, add in enough beer to create a smooth batter, and drink the rest! Slice the hoki fillets into roughly 1inch x 4inch pieces and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Dip the hoki into the batter one at a time, then place in the hot oil. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes turning once. When golden brown, drain on a wire rack and season while hot.

2Into a large bowl, add the sliced cabbages, carrot, parsley, mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar. Mix until creamy then season with salt and pepper.

3

Fill a deep pan or cast-iron skillet with half an inch of canola oil and heat to 375F / 190C. The easiest way to test if your oil is at the right temperature is to stick the end of a wooden spoon into the oil. If bubbles form around the stick and float, the oil is ready. If it bubbles too hard, the oil is too hot. Turn the temperature down, cool a bit, then recheck.

5To build the burger, add a heaped tablespoon of tartar sauce to the toasted bottom bun and spread out evenly (you can use more or less if you’d like). Top with 2-3 lettuce leaves, the crisp battered fish, slaw and finally the top bun. I like an extra pickle on mine. Grab with two hands and enjoy immediately. Don’t be afraid to get messy.

Coleslaw

• 1 Cup cabbage, thinly sliced

• 1 Cup red cabbage,

• thinly sliced

• 1/2 carrot, grated

• 1/2 cup of chopped, flat leaf parsley

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise

• 2 tsp dijon mustard

• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

• Salt & pepper to taste

Crispy Beer Batter

• Cup of all-purpose flour

• 1 Tbsp onion powder

• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika

• 1 Tbsp of black sesame seeds

• 320ml of cold beer

• Pinch of salt & pepper

SNOW DAYS

Words and images by Tina Vainola @tina.vainola

SNOW DAYS

It’s a freezing Saturday morning, in July, and your alarm starts blaring at 4.30am. It’s that same annoying tune that you have playing from Monday to Friday. The worst part is, you know it’s the weekend but the alarm was deliberately set – why do this to yourself?

At that ungodly hour, your brain can’t come up with a logical answer, and yet you drag yourself out of bed anyway. You pull on a set of thick thermal layers, make an extra-strong coffee, load the car, and then set off into the darkness.

It’s not until sunrise comes that you remember why you endure this self-inflicted pain – when the winter sky turns from jet black to purple and the snow-capped ridges start glowing white. Without all of this, it would be just another stock-standard Saturday.

Here in Aotearoa, we are not blessed with the fluffy powder of Japan, the reliable precipitation of Canada, or the immense terrain of the United States. And, unless you live in the Queenstown-Lakes District, you probably also have to get up at some ridiculous hour just to secure a coveted spot at the top car park. Yet, we do have it pretty good here – sometimes it’s just about picking the right mountain.

Snowsports can be costly to get into, but are so worth it. There is something special about being in the snow and looking at those outlandish vistas, mighty mountains, and everchanging landscapes. Hitting the snow does usually come with a few bruises and sore muscles, and exposure to the elements often ends up in sun and wind burn, but the experiences you get are worth the price of admission.

“Without all of this, it would just be another stock standard Saturday.”

Should you succeed in forcing yourself to get up early and brave the chills, you will most likely catch the ‘snow bug’ and start thinking of winter as an exciting time of year, rather than the miserable season that we’re all taught to dread.

One thrill-seeking soul who has caught the snow bug big time is Ally Osborne, a carpenter by trade who loves to play in the snow. I caught up with Ally to ask her some questions about snowboarding.

What got you into snowboarding?

The main reason was moving to New Zealand from the UK. My friends have been snowboarding and inviting me for years to go to the mountains of Europe, but I never did because I

was surfing instead. After moving to New Zealand, I met some people who snowboarded, went up with them once and realised what I’ve been missing out on. I’ve never looked back.

Has it taken you a while to pick up since you were familiar with surfing?

Nah coming from surfing meant the transition was easy, and I picked it up my first season – in fact, I was riding park by the end of that season. It didn’t take me too long to catch up to mates who have been riding from a young age.

One thing I love about snowboarding is that it’s quite a social sport. In surfing, you never really see your mates riding the whole wave. But when snowboarding with a group of people, you see what everyone does, it’s like one massive party wave!

There are quite a few places to go around the country. Have you stuck

“There is something special about being in the snow...”

Sometimes, it’s just about pickng the right mountain.

to one mountain all this time?

I started at Mt Hutt and then, after moving to Cromwell, the Remarkables became my home mountain. It has a variety of terrain and a well-constructed park. That’s where most of my progression happened. It helps when you ride with a group of people who are constantly pushing you to do better and try something outside of your comfort zone.

Are there any downsides to snowboarding?

You’ve gotta pay to play; injuries are a part of the process. I have fractured my tailbone, landed on rocks, and bruised my leg from ankle to butt cheek, among other injuries. Not ideal – especially when you have work on

Monday…

Have you had lots of epic days without injuries?

Any day up the mountain is a good day, but powder days are the days you dream of, when you get a dump of fresh snow. Many people ride the easy stuff until it’s ripped, so that’s when you go higher to the bluffs to find untouched snow.

Do you have many sick days up your sleeve?

I’m lucky my boss is accommodating when the conditions are right, so I don’t often miss out. Although I have to make up the time afterwards, it’s still worth it!

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Do you have any words of advice for

Progress is quicker when you ride with people who push you outside your comfort zone.

“Any day up the mountain is a good day, but powder days are the days you dream of...”

On the best days, the winter sky turns from jet black to purple.

“YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO START A NEW HOBBY AND LEARN SOME NEW TRICKS.”

anyone new to snowboarding?

Don’t eat yellow snow! Nah but seriously, you are never too old to start a new hobby and learn some new tricks.

So, there you go – if you ever find yourself miserable in the middle of winter with no fishing, hunting or other offsite options available, head up to the mountain and give it a go. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

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