NZsnowboard.com

22nd August 2007

After the Billabong Slopestyle and the free concert at Snow Park featuring Lupe Fiasco it was time to drive up north to Canterbury to check it and to visit a bunch of my friends living in Methven whom have been shredding at Mt Hutt for the past 12 or so years. Loyal Mt Hutt shredders!!

But first things first, a day trip to Christchurch was in order to pick up some new tunes on Vinyl and to catch up with the Ry-dog who, in between riding, is getting set to bring Benga, the first ever international Dubstep DJ to play in NZ at Double Happy (chch) on the 31st. Busy lad!

After a good day in ChCh we headed back to Methven for dinner at Thai Charming restaurant.


The views up to Mt. Hutt, Canterbury

The Next day we woke to a Beautiful blue skied day with the sun blazing strong on the tops of Mt Hutt, reminiscent of the many days I spent here during my 5 seasons at Canterburys biggest snow sports field.

So on went the boots, packed up the car, and made tracks up the infamous Mt Hutt access road.
Its been a lean season in Canterbury to date, but Mt Hutt had good snow coverage. In fact the snow conditions were very good. All the lifts were open with top to bottom riding.

The Crew, Jemu Caird, Nobuko, Momo, Sean Thompson, and Myself, shredded the Summit Six all morning. M.I.A was Big Trev Ponting because of a little FWD incident the day before. Yes he drowned his Truck in the Ashburton River. Oops,.


The crew heading up the Mt. Hutt 6 seater

That New Chair has made it so easy to have nice long runs from top to bottom. It was like the old days, freeride along the top track hitting the wip me ups, drop down for some big open turns, round the triple chair, down through the park (now designated to the newly built terraces) and into XE bowl. Fun times.

After a good solid 2 hours up and down the Summit Six it was time for lunch upstairs in the restaurant. A big well priced healthy Ham and Salad sandwich with an ice cold beer. Perfect.


The Mt. Hutt 10m down bar

After lunch it was back to the shredding. We were tempted to do the Rakaia Saddle aka poor mans heli but ran out of time. Mt Hutt run a free shuttle service from the Rakaia Saddle every hour. A super fun run when its on!!

We were all pretty done by half 2 and headed down the hill back to Methven. The Brown pub was our dinner place of choice. Good sized cheap pub meals and a good place to catch up with the local dairy farmers. Beeeeautiful mate!

As I write this blog, news comes in of a storm heading this way, so later this week could see a good powder day at Hutt. Super fun freeriding mountain. Go check it for yourself.

Thanks to Mt Hutt for the fun day. See you up there in spring.


- Niels.


www.mthutt.co.nz