In my ski-patrol uniform

For 2 seasons I was Working as Ski Patrol at Porter Ski Field.

In 2011 after a season sea kayak-guiding in Milford Sound I did the ski-patrol polytech course run by Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Wanaka. It was a lot of fun and learning and for my work placement I spent a month at Porters ski area in behind Christchurch. The next year I was lucky enough to be offered a position there. For 2 ski seasons I worked there. It was such a fun job; you get to ski a lot for work, more than any other position on the mountain. Some days you almost never
stop moving, from attending accidents through to picking up signs that fall over and keeping all the customers happy as they ski. The staff is usually made up of a fun bunch of younger people and it’s a great laugh. It’s still my dream to do a season in North America or Europe sometime!

Hard at work

Doing tricks

Powder day!

Porters Ski Field

Porters Ski Field has got some amazing terrain and the best thing is that there’s not usually too many people on the mountain.  Since I finished working there they have even built a chairlift.  Its the first stage in the possible development of Crystal Valley seen in the Photos above and below.

Porters T-bar

Digging a hole for recco practice