Winter is objectively shit in Dunedin. Flats are cold and damp, and icy roads and footpaths do their best to take you out on your walk to the library. Finding your olive oil frozen solid in the flat pantry or the $100 power bill from your flatmate's heaters hardly sparks joy. In a season with seemingly so few redeeming factors, why not escape the city and embrace the mountains?
Aotearoa New Zealand has some of the most accessible skiing in the world, and Dunedin sits right on its doorstep. With plenty of student deals right at your fingertips, skiing (or snowboarding, pick your poison) will never be cheaper or more accessible than right now. The Otago University Snow Sports Club Exec has the top tips and cheeky tricks to help you fall in love with winter this season.
Planning is Key!
Without a solid plan, skiing can be an expensive, unenjoyable and ego-crushing experience. With the right strategies, however, it can make for some of the best memories of your university experience.
- Book accommodation and passes in advance to ensure you can simply turn up and be ready to go. Backpackers, holiday parks, and campgrounds are a great go to for a cheap bed. (Jasper’s top tip: Avoid the long, cold walk home and book accommodation close to a pub!)
- Rent ski gear before you head up the hill to avoid spending half your day trying on boots. Both Unipol and Beggs Ski Shops offer affordable student rates for rentals. They stock everything from skis and snowboards to outerwear – not to mention you get an even better discount when you join OUSSC! You absolutely don't need to be kitted out in brand new North Face jackets, but thermals, fleeces, and waterproof layers will make your experience so much better. (Peter's top tip: Invest in a pair of comfortable boots. You can be in jeans and a hoodie on skis from the ‘80s, but if your feet are sore you will not have fun)
- Bring your own food up on the mountain. Much like an airport, the cost of on-hill food ranges from an arm and a leg to your firstborn child. (Clay’s top tip: A New World roast chicken and buns can feed you and your friends for days!) (Slime’s top tip: Big duopoly doesn’t want you to know that you can actually check out a whole rotisserie chicken as kg carrots nz!)
Up The Mountain
If you've planned properly, you should show up to the hill ready to go straight up the lift.
First-timers: If it's your first time, take a lesson! Either pay for a first-timer lesson or find a keen friend to teach you with the promise of a drink on you at après (more on that later). (Natasha’s top tip: invest in a lesson from a qualified instructor! You'll progress far quicker and progression is fun!). OUSSC runs a learner’s trip with qualified instructors and freestyle coaches if you’re keen to upgrade your steeze.
If you have skied before: Remember to keep within your ability, especially if it's been a while. Those big jumps underneath the chairlift look awesome when the pros hit them, but unless your name’s Nico Porteous, you're probably not ready on day one. (Ben's top tip: Have a look at slopes or features you want to ride before ripping down them. A large rock or small child in a landing is a nasty surprise)
Make the most of your time on the slopes! But if you're feeling sore or tired there's no shame in taking breaks. Skiing beyond your body's endurance will only lead to a short trip back to Dunedin, courtesy of a medical helicopter. (Amelia's top tip: Ski lodges are a great place to curl up with a good book, and those helicopters aren't as fun as they sound!)
After The Mountain
Après-ski is an art in itself. Finishing a day on the slopes with a beer and a boogie is a fundamental part of the skiing experience. There's no need to dress up, either, as the standard après uniform is whatever you wore up the mountain that day. Keep in mind that you'll be dehydrated from the exercise and altitude when indulging in some bevvies, making you a cheaper drunk than normal. (Gabby's top tip: A true skier should be able to party harder than everyone else and still get up and shred in the morning, so pace yourself!)
A few casual comments about the conditions at the pub will show your mastery of the sport and label you “core as”. Examples include: “The snow was a bit dry/sticky/heavy today” or “Wow, it was a good day to be on-piste.” You don't have to even remotely know what you’re talking about, but everyone will probably nod and agree anyway. (Max’s top tip: Ask someone if they prefer skiing or snowboarding, and then agree or disagree with their choice depending on how attracted to them you are)
Join the Community!
Sliding on snow is way more fun with mates. OUSSC is a fantastic community of skiers and boarders who want to share the aroha! The club runs trips to heaps of different fields around the country and is full of qualified instructors who want to see you shred like Zoi Sadowski-Synnott. Trips are relatively cheap, including travel, accommodation, food and 50 new friends! So get out there, get involved, and fall in love with winter! (Gwen’s top tip: There's lots of unlocked, and unprotected by security, hot tubs in ski towns! A sneaky dip is the perfect way to unwind at the end of a trip.)