Snow Safaris - S.A. Ski Page - The South African Scene

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SKI PAGE

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SCENE

Get your Head Right

First thing to get right, is ATTITUDE. Don't expect to find European standard slopes and facilities. This is Africa's Snow! Experienced skiers usually develop an "I'm here and now to enjoy it" attitude as, by definition, you're not going to get the best snow you've ever skiied everytime you ski. You can have a great time perfecting hops from snowpatch to snowpatch while you avoid the mud and rocks in an early/late season European resort - and our rocks are more challenging!

Skiing has a lot to do with being in the mountains, the cold, the buzz, getting on top of things, and of course, the partying. In Africa you'll get all of these, and from time to time some really great snow and skiing as well!

Snow Quality at the Southern Tip

Good skiing requires a graduated density base. The first snowfalls in winter are a bit mushy and that early snow freezes to the grass and ground. Later falls are less dense and also tend to pack over time from the weight of later snow. All of this provides a graduated density base, ideally with powder on a groomed top to finish it off. But this happens in colder climes, and not as a rule down here.

Our natural snow falls as fresh powder, generally onto no base. The midday sun on day one after the snowfall melts a little of the top powder and it freezes that night to form the dreaded "breakable crust". Ski on day one and you will be running your bases over (and occasionally into) rocks, fences and stuff. The snowpack, especially if it's under 25cm in depth, will also have a tendency to slab and slip. Ski on day two and you'll find why breakable crust has its reputation. So "the snow's falling let's get out into the country and ski" is a bit of a myth, you need to plan this one a little more .......

There are several options here .....

If you're hunting fresh snow close to the cities, then be in a large enough (and energetic enough) party of people who are prepared to tramp down a piste. And if you're looking out the car window for skiable terrain you can forget rigging any type of uphill lift.
Know a place which is high enough to hold frozen snow on a south-facing slope for most of the winter. With no fresh snow it should give corn conditions, and with fresh snow should be excellent. As you know the area you can then pre-plan a lift system. Road access above the run is all you need for a vehicle powered drag system. And you don't really need fresh snow - in fact it introduces the negative of hazardous driving conditions. Examples of such areas would be Matsapa Hill (sp) at Oxbow and Black Mountain behind Sani Top.
Book into a resort such as Tiffindell or make arrangements to ski with the Maluti or SA Ski Clubs. You don't have to worry about providing your own equipment (the other options all require that you have access to "rock skis") and the Tiffendell option offers the full all-amenities holiday thing.

Let us know if you can offer any other bright ideas - but check the pricing before you suggest choppering in to the nearest mountain. Helicopter rates are prohibitive and the snow might be unskiable.

The Season

Temperatures are normally right from the beginning of June through to the end of August. Tiffindell's season more or less follows that pattern. Rember that temperatures rule all - their first snow does fall earlier but it will burn off just as quickly. The snowmaking requires the constant low night temperatures. And that holds just as true for the Black Mountain and Oxbow slopes where there is no snowmaking.

But remember that the precipitation (more important for the "no snow-making" areas at Sani Top and Oxbow) is more prevalent towards the end of winter as the spring rains arrive. Don't forget Demoina! And in general any cold front that dumps rain in Durban from May through September will be leaving some snow at Sani Top and in the Malutis.

Collect your own Equipment

It helps. If you're into skiing regularly overseas then you've probably worked out the benefits of at least having your own boots. The assurance of a great fit and warm feet at all times is motivation enough without considering the avoidance of hiring hassles and costs. And of course you then have kit to use here in SA.

Skis are another story. Most people, even the super keen, avoid purchasing as it eases the pain when you hear the bases ripping if you know you're on rentals. And it is a major schlep trying to navigate through airport halls and train stations with your two metre babies. But down here there aren't too many rental operations in Lesotho, the rental prices (when you can find 'em) are high, and the equipment tends towards tatty, mainly because their life is being dramatically extended beyond what the manufacturer intended. Will those bindings actually release to spare your knee on the next slow forward twisting fall (shudder) as you go through the crust? Think about it. Maybe bringing back an inexpensive pair of soft (recommended) boards from your next trip might be one of your wiser moves.

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