“Avec Nicolas Cruz-Mermy, rider de Châtel, on s’échangeait des mails depuis un bon mois pour savoir quand serait le meilleur moment pour shooter ensemble. Le printemps se faisant de plus en plus pressant, on commençait à perdre espoir. Mais le 24 mars, Nicolas m’envoie un mail intitulé « enfin de la neige » contenant de bonnes prévisions de snow-forecast…
“… And it looks like these storm cycles are set to continue on a weekly basis for the rest of August, ”grumbles the hard-working Kiwi farmer on TVNZ news. The 2008 season is different. Storms are burying Canterbury and the farmers are not happy. Meanwhile, skiers across the South Island load up their cars, come up with more and more elaborate excuses for their bosses, and make the pilgrimage north towards Arthurs Pass.Hearing that another low pressure system is rolling in, I roll the dice. Next thing I know, I am driving French skier Nicolas Cruz north to Canterbury. With no real plan, we take the gamble and drive, hoping that a club field trip may finally pay off.”
More “Words And Photos By Camilla Stoddart on Nicolas Cruz” on the latest issue of “NZ SKIER”, at your local skishop or grocery store, down under though.
My trusty 1990 Subaru Legacy splutters into life after getting a jump-start from a fellow powderhound. We sit there in silence, driving down the access road from Broken River Clubfield*, processing what a 24 hours we’ve had. My iPod’s shuffle clicks over and The Doors fill the speakers… ‘Riders on the Storm’. Nicolas and I look at each other and grin. Slumped over my laptop at am the morning before I find that all of Canterbury Clubfields’ fields are closed but Broken River … more in the latest issue of FALL LINE MAGAZINE !
Photo: Camilla Stoddart
Here’s a caption of the 5 pages article published in Fall line magazine issue 81. It’s about an incredible 24h hours session in Broken River NZ, last summer. Check out the mag ….
Cheers,
Nicolas
It all started like a normal day, skiing with friends, enjoying the fresh snow. It has been dumping for five days straight, and we were now counting over a meter of fresh snow. But today the body starts to feel the effects of so many days of riding from opening to close in a row. The visibility is non existent, I’m physically tired, there are no fresh tracks to be made, and I’m seriously considering calling it a day. But conditions like that don’t happen often, it would be a waste to go home now. I realize I have been spoiled by so many good days that I’m not too motivated to ski if I don’t get to ski unspoiled slopes.
Watch Nicolas shredding severe Japan powpow.
Nicolas Cruz on the cover of Powderlife Niseko.
A magazine, that was created to help visitors understand more about Niseko, the Japanese people and their culture during their holiday.
