Tour Leaders for Over the Hill Ski Tour 2011

Why do people keep coming back to the “Oldies”, Over The Hill”, “One Foot in the Grave” (whatever you like to name it) tour?

It has a lot to do with the Tour Leaders, Mike, Vicki, Paul and Steve.

What Christine and Ron started many years ago, Mike, Vicki, Paul and Steve have carried on enthusiastically over the past seasons.

Whether it’s ski tips on the slope, helping with the luggage, booking the restaurants, sorting the transport, helping to select new skis or a new ski suit, they are always there to help.

No one is left on their own (unless they want to be) and nothing is left to chance. It is this attention to detail that makes the whole trip with experienced Tour Leaders trouble free and so enjoyable.
Our accommodation is always (well almost always!) “On the Slope” so you only have to walk a little way to put your skis on, has a restaurant close by and is definitely not “backpackers” and the skiing – well- well its just fantastic nearly every day! New powder, groomed runs, trees, cliffs (for Bryce) covered lifts (sheer luxury!).

From the evenings out snow-shoeing, skidoo riding or tubing, to arranging pot luck dinners in chalets, to organizing special birthday parties or a “Jokers Wild” night, your Tour Leaders are quite happy to make sure it is all great fun and hassle free.

From meeting old ski friends again at the airport to saying a regretful goodbye after a fantastic holiday, this is quite a different tour than most, just talk to the people who have been with us, as they say- word of mouth is the best advertising!

Tour leaders

Mike and Vicki Wiggins : Skiing is their passion and Life

Mike and Vicki have been involved in the skiing business for nearly 40 years and will lead this tour again, as they both have done for over 4 years.
They have both been involved with ski tours to most NZ ski resorts and to Canada, and have toured many USA and Canadian ski fields by campervan so they are familiar with all the in’s and outs of many of the areas.

Mike is a life member of the NZ Ski Instructors Council and can offer ski tips while showing you around the slopes.

Along with their son Ben, they own the hugely successful TCB (Taking Care of Business) Ski, Board and Bike shop in Ohakune and Ben is one of the best boot-fitters and ski-tuners in the country.
They would love you to join them in exploring the sights and slopes of Mammoth and Tahoe.

You can be assured of a great trip with a great bunch of people and great skiing,

Paul Goldfinch : Passionate North American Skier

Paul has been skiing for 50 years this year on Mt Ruapehu and loves the sport with a passion. Since 1982, when he first visited the USA, he has skied in 48 different resorts around the world.

Paul took his first Ski Tour group to Canada in 1988 and has only missed one year since. Paul joined Dive Fish Snow Travel as a Tour Leader in 2001 and has enjoyed the organisational skills and attention to detail that Dive Fish Snow Travel put into their Tour Groups.

Leading a Ski Group Tour is not as easy as it looks. When you have 30 people in a group, you have 30 different personalities, wants, needs and expectations. It is Pauls task to fulfill these, whether on the slopes, at the airport or while socialising. Skiing with Groups is something Paul enjoys so much that he spends nearly every weekend in winter as a Mountain Host on Mt Ruapehu. Something he has been proud to be associated with since the programme started 5 years ago.

Steve Ward

You’ve heard the saying – I liked it so much I bought it! Well this is almost the case with Steve in that after being an Over the Hill groupie for 4 years, he is returning again in 2012 as a Seniors Tour Leader. And for us - our Seniors liked him so much and we ended up with such a big group, that we are proud he has joined the team as one of the Seniors Tour Leaders for the past 2 years now!

Steve has been skiing in Australia and New Zealand for the last 30 years and is a bit of a regular at Perisher and Mt Hotham. He is totally enthusiastic about all things skiing and particularly relishes returning each year to the magic of the powder, guaranteed ski days and non stop fun in The USA. Steve lives in Sydney, Australia and looks forward to this new role and meeting a whole new group of new found friends, along with the old in the Over The Hill gang 2012.

Buzzy: Our Team Mascot

Buzzy has been our team mascot for 11 years. He or She (we are still not sure) likes to know all those special untold stories of the days / events (in confidence of course just for the record book). Buzzy does have a reputation for sleeping around, ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour!’ - and is looking forward to meeting you in person.

Buzzy has skied Lake Tahoe area, Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks, Lake Louise, Sunshine, Fernie and Red Mountain; and looks forward to returning to USA to make new acquaintances and revisit past friends at the Lake Tahoe area again in 2012.

Tour leaders and services to you are all free and include:

• Casual ski instruction from Mike
• Checking out grooming and snow reports / conditions so you get the best of what the mountain has to offer that day.
• organising après ski
• organising special events
• Write the day’s programme, so everyone knows what, where and when plus what to bring.
• Book restaurants
• Arrange mountain snow hosts
• Make sure everything is to your liking.
  
• It's the attention to detail that goes on behind the scenes to make your ski holiday a happy and memorable one.

Level of Skiing Ability.

Skiing with a group is loads more fun. You ski at the level you are comfortable with.

Skiing

Often first timers joining our groups are pleasantly surprised by the camaraderie and friendship of like-minded skiers who welcome newcomers to our group.

Skiing Level – As there are 4 tour leaders, (Mike, Vicki, Paul & Steve) all skiing at different levels and pace, from “gentle” to “steep and deep”, there is sure to be a group of fellow skiers/riders at the same level as yourself, and you are welcome to speed up or slow down to a group that suits on the day.

Couples skiing – no problem if you ski/ride at different levels, and go your separate ways as all the group leaders co-ordinate with one another and meet for lunch at the same time and place.  We also meet for a hot cocoa morning tea break so you can catch up with your partner or friends.

In general, the tour leaders will break the group into 4 different groups:
1. Go hard and fast (experts) 2. Blue + black run cruisers 3. green + blue run cruisers 4. Do your own thing. Often couples ski in different groups, but in the same area, and share the odd lift together.

1. Go hard and fast: This group will ski at their own pace, as hard and fast as they choose on the big runs and hidden gems.

2. Blue + black cruisers: The group will ski at a more relaxed pace with 1 or 2 stops from top to bottom. Most focus is on the challenging blue and black runs with a bit of glade skiing, the Tour Leaders also know those special hide away places on the mountain.

3. Green + blue cruisers plus the odd groomed black runs : Ski the mountains at a cruising pace with stops for photos and morning tea stops. If you are having a good day you might want to try a groomed black run.

4. D.I.Y: Of course you are more than welcome to take off at any time and do your own thing, moving from group to group or skiing on your own as you choose.

Pricing and Details on Over The Hill Ski Group »