Sit-Skis and Summit Rocks.
A historic session on Treble Cone’s infamous summit rocks.
From ISSUE 105 2023
Words Richard Birkby | Images Mark Clinton & Troy Tanner.
Many good ideas start on a chairlift…
Following a morning’s filming of a classic summit rock send-a-thon at https://www.treblecone.com film-maker Danny Warley happened to end up riding the chairlift with para-athlete Billy Dravitzki. The session had been a classic, with a swathe of TC’s regular meat-huckers airing from the mountain’s infamous summit rocks. And regardless of whether they stomped, hot-tubbed the landing, or fell victim to ambition, existing bomb-holes or plain bad luck, it was the epitome of what Treble Cone is all about: pushing yourself a little.
Their chairlift chat centred around how TC’s summit, and sending the summit rocks, is a real rite of passage for New Zealand skiers. Most of the obvious hits have a reasonable landing, but they’re sizeable, consequential and most of all, highly visible. Taking a look over the edge of the classic summit drop, then backing up to give yourself enough run-up, makes a strong statement of intent to your fellow summiteers. Turning and pointing it over the blind take-off into the stomach churning drop between two smaller cliffs takes commitment, guts and no small degree of skill. If you’ve stuck the summit rocks, no one can dispute you calling yourself a skier.
“I’ve never skied pow like that in my life. That was unreal! I’m peaking like a Chinese duck, eh!”
But while it’s technically open to all, that rite of passage is a simpler proposition for some than others. Access to the fabled summit slopes is only possible on foot, which means that despite New Zealand being home to some seriously rad sit-ski riders, very few of that cohort have had the pleasure of laying fresh tracks down that perfect gradient, or the opportunity to test themselves by sending one of the iconic summit hits.
Warley and Dravitzki made a plan to change that. And one overcast morning following a storm, they made it happen.
Four sit-skiers arrived at the resort early, at the same time as the ski patrol were undertaking their control work. Billy and Danny were joined by James Thurston, Aaron Ewen and Cory Peters. This was a heavy crew of ripping riders, including a medal-winning Olympian, and the opportunity to get make turns on the virgin apron of Treble Cone’s summit wasn’t one they were going to miss.
“I’m fizzing over, I’m that frothy,” said James Thurston as the group made their preparations.
Patrol operations allowed for the group to work in with a helicopter from nearby Aspiring Helicopters, which not only made the summit slopes more accessible, but allowed them to indulge in multiple runs. Assembling at the summit, the buzz is palpable.
“I’m pretty scared, eh. But keen for it.”
“That’s a good place to be,” confirmed James.
When it was time to drop in, it became obvious that the boys had scored from the first turn. Not only did they have the summit to themselves, but conditions were all-time. It was lightly overcast, but there was enough definition to see the contours, and each rider’s run saw them whited-roomed multiple times.
With the aircraft available, another lap was a no-brainer and it was time to press the ‘send’ button. The crew was fizzing: “It feels mean at the moment. I’m keen to drop in and see what it’s like,” said Billy as they geared up again.
Aaron, meanwhile, lined up a diving board, pointed it and took flight. The sit ski’s shock worked hard as it bottomed out, and the rest of the group hooted and hollered as he ran out the landing and laid the ski over into some classic, long, radius arcs.
“That man there—some balls going first. Scary.”
But when the camera was focused on them, everyone pointed it. “It was scary, but so sick. So, so sick,” exclaimed an elated Billy, looking back up at the summit from High Street. “That was the sickest feeling ever.”
Sending big air into deep pow on a perfect gradient was a new experience for James:
“You normally land on a monoski and you get, like, a little bit of a buck afterwards. With this, it’s just a smooth push all the way through. It’s crazy.”
There’s something special about seeing a sit-skier turn in pow. It’s the way the ski is angulated way over and the way they use the outriggers. It’s smooth and pure, not unlike watching George Greenough riding a kneeboard in the seminal 70s surf movie, Crystal Voyager.
Back at the base after another lap, it was a great reminder of why getting to the summit at TC is always worth the effort. It doesn’t matter whether you send one of the classics and straight-line the apron, or just cruise and enjoy the sensation.
“I’m sorry to say, ski racing, but this beats the gates hands-down,” Cory said with a guilty smile.
Billy was hyped: “Man, I’m so peaked; this is next level! Next, next, next, next level.”
But Aaron was able to out-superlative him: “I’ve never skied pow like that in my life. That was unreal. I’m peaking like a Chinese duck, eh!”
It was still early in the day, but the mood was summed up by James: “I’m sitting on top of the world today. The mountain has definitely provided. Damn, has it provided.”
A special shout-out to Danny Warley and everyone on the TC/Cardrona team who made this memorable day happen.
