Hello everyone….

Last week I scored a zoom/macro lens off trademe for a hundy – yay – given the new ones are up to 1500+!

Picked it up last week, and the next day heading to work, was told our test environment was down so ‘dont rush’…. that was of course the perfect opportunity to ‘stop briefly’ on the way to work for a few pics….. Not sure ifabout 1 & 1/2 hours is brief in everyone's mind, or just mine…

Its amazing how a new lens can really boost your passion for a hobby like photography….

Suddenly all those shots that were just too far away – weren't, any more, and with the mere click of a button, I was able to capture crystal clear close-ups, framed by blured background – so much so they almost looked three dimensional (to me anyway).

My mission to capture ‘the bird in motion shot’ to end all bird in motion shots, was re-inflamed and I spent most of the morning, and a very long lunchtime that day chasing seagulls (there aren't any other birds in ChCh CBD except ducks – and they don't do anything active that often….)

I've since learnt that my zoom lens is hopeless on any scenic/wide angle shots – or anything where the point of interest spans more than the absolute centre of the shot – it is beautiful at focusing right in, but cannot focus on a larger scene, or focus on anything closer to me than about 3 m…..

I went to Orana park with my friend Brian on Sat and snapped a few animal pics (and a few of Brian leaping out all animal like – ok maybe I told him to in the name of artistic merit!)\

Stayed out in Rangoon Sat night for a BBQ-turned-dinner (the weather was shyte) with Dale, Grant, Maddy and friends.

I also took ‘Pajy II’ out for a bit of a blat at the local river on Sunday, and following the directions of my brother in law Grant, was able to appreciate that great truth about men and directions….(We went into numerous dead ends, al-la Grant-de-navigation).

Upon leaving the river – after nothing more exciting than I put Pajy I through numerous times on Moreton and Fraser Islands and NSW national parks, we went back onto the tar seal and into 2wd to discover that the gearbox and the steering were… well… not what they had been about an hour prior….. Poor old Pajy II is into the garage on Thursday for a diagnosis……(I do hope I haven't brought me a wimp!).

More photography ensued, and got some nice pics of Maddy – and a funny clip of her trying to walk in sandals that were far too small for her – but according to dale she insisted on wearing…..how cute – shes already taken immediate notice of my cutest shoes, when I visit, and now it appears at the ripe old age of 1 and a half years, she is already struck by that worst of dilemma's… whether to wear the shoe you think is cute…. or the one that actually fits….Much as she’d like to sensibly advice the fitting shoes….’Auntie Kim’ cannot deny the aesthetic, and emotional lift that comes from cute shoes (even when they don't fit – which usually the cutest ones don't!).

Anyway – here are some pics from the weekend:

Its the end of winter here in NZ…. And here are some videos and picture memories of the ski season…

A year of firsts for me…

• First pair of skis of my own (Vokyl 2010 Sol Womens Carvers – good fun)
• First real proper ski injury (rib sprain/cartilage fracture)
• First time I am NOT wanting summer to roll on (First time I've welcome storm weather, prayed for snow, etc)

I’ve skied occasionally before, as have most kiwis, but after my mate John from Australia said he wanted to come to NZ for a holiday and give boarding a go, I said Id go to Cardrona, Mt Hutt etc with him. 

The last time Id skied before that was a weekend at Turoa with workmates back when I lived in Auckland.  It was my first time on carvers – and I loved them (shows how long since Id skied!)  Anyway, Id been stuck in whats called the intermediate plateau apparently, for years, mainly because Id taught myself to parallel turn – after ice skating really improved my balance on skis.  Id also taught myself a lot of bad habits. I had a lesson that weekend at Turoa, and then had a private lesson at Cardrona, and some very simple tips (lean FORWARD!) improved my skiing big time. 

I then started noticing the difference in the skis I was renting, and was having days of putting on rentals, doing one run & switching them.  I was also renting performance skis only as they made such a difference to my skiing, that skiing in non performance rentals resulted in me spending the whole time thinking how much BETTER it would be.  I used to do a lot of ice skating and learnt through that that the quality of the skate is not something to skimp on if you really want to enjoy the sport.  That was my first ‘treasured’ posession as a teenager – a pair of custom fitted ‘stickleman’ skates (the chap is now deceased but made skates for Torvil & Dean when they were in ChCH).  I didn't find out till after she died that my grandmother – who had always seemed strict and grumpy and pretty tight with the old folding stuff…had actually paid for them – mum and dad weren't financial enough at the time.  I don't remember her ever saying a thing about it – anyway if you’re out there somewhere and they have the web in cyber space – THANKS Gran – those skates meant the world to me for a long time… And sorry for never acknowledging your generous and meaningful gift at the time…  And that was a lesson learnt – never judge people too harshly – you just don't know what they might be doing for you behind the scenes…

Anyway  back to skiing…So I started thinking about getting my own skis…I was getting tired of trying to find the perfect rental.  I also have feet which are a pain to fit – they are long and narrow and flat footed but also have a high umm (not sure what its called – the bit between the heel and top…

this bit:

This meant it was really hard to find boots that fit closely enough through the foot, gripped my heel so it wasnt dancing all over the show, and didnt end up cuttong off the blood supply in the above marked area…

Anyway despite that, it was just a quick thought  hmm should I buy some skis… I didnt even know what I should ask for.  I knew I liked ‘rigid’ carvers…. but ‘rigid’ in comparison to standard rentals (which Ive had the rental people describe as ‘cardboard’) and rigid in the new ski market – well did I really want rigid?  Or just ‘decent’?

I did a bit of research – wasnt a lot more enlightened after that, so decided to go into some shops and just ask (just so I can go and try & get the same thing 2nd hand mind you)

But next thing I know Im in R & R Sport being fitted for some boots to go with my new skis!  It was a lengthy process – over 2 hours, and the skis I got were called ‘intermediate to advanced’ described as great to turn on but with some personality.  So on my first ski on them I was a bit worried about the personality (I wanted no-fight, turn for me).  They were very short – only 150 cm, and had edges so sharp you could slice a tomato with them!

The first few skis on them I really didnt get a chance to work them – first was Hamner Springs – where I got stuck on a slope too steep for me, which was also not groomed – and as a result my skis (narrow waisted carvers) were sinking through the snow …. That was followed by two overcast days with horrible flat light and no terrain visibality at Roundhill and Dobson, then a great day at Mt Hutt – where I finally gave the girls a work out – and they were GREAT!  So good I decided I was invincible – I remember thinking about jumps and doing black runs (this is me who coudlnt cope with the intermediate poma run at hamner…. anyway that resulted in overconfidence followed by a nose dive and rib injury….  skied on it the rest of the day no worries but ended up in a lot of pain that night – and went to see the Dr who said no skiing for a few weeks :(

The overcast day Id had at Dobson, Id really liked the terrain and lack of crowds, so was dead keen to get back there – and got another couple of days in there before the season ended.  Most of the pictures and vids are from Mt Dobson…

Anyway – after that ramble… Here is my..

Ski 09 Memories….

Love that when there's no one round I can make an ass of myself – and no one (except the internet) sees!

Last weekend (late Sept) skiing on Saturday after a snow fall Friday night

Closest thing to virgin snow I'm going to get in my skis!  It was FANTASTIC

and I feel a little emotional and teary eyed thinking about that lovely powdery

perfect perfect snow…..(Oh DAM the season being over!)

CLASSIC!  Hamner Springs have a weekend called the ‘Barcardi Cup’

Where they get dressed up in ridiculous outfits and then have barcardi and have a ski race.

At ome point during the race, my workmate Tessa ended up at the bottom of the hill

when I think everyone else was at the top… So not to be defeated by a lack of a board..

Tessa, her hubby Matt and a few others decided to test a new novel snow riding errr

‘implement’.  Look out for the ‘snow-spade’ in winter 10 – sure to be the next big thing!

That was a great night – we stayed up on the field at the lodge and things pretty much went downhill (excuse the pun) from there…

Pics from Barcardi Cup Weekend (top to bottom, left to right)

The landscape from the lodge – taken at night (11pm) on long exposure, Tessa and Matt in his sexy pink….umm thing, Tessa finishing the Bacardi Cup, Tessa posing for the camera, Tessa and I later on that night at the fancy dress piss up, Brian and I, Tessa(SuperGirl), Holly(catwoman) and me (the navy).  Me and Brian (Zorro).

SKI Cam…. Using various ideas - (ranging in stupidity) I tried to film my skiing down the hill…

Natural Half Pipe at Mt Dobson

(Next year I’m going to tackle this one!)

Why I like skiing there…

Goodbye, Winter :(….

Mt Dobson Skifield – South Islands Best Kept Secret (if you like wide open runs, no crowds cheap prices but still want a chairlift to take you up….)

I got me another Pajy...... Pajy II (Kiwi Pajy)