THE RIPPER IS BACK!

Hello Girls and Guys, Well lets hope you all had a great summer and got lots of time out doors there playing with your favourite toys, be they mountain bikes, kayaks, surf boards, climbing gear...well the list is endless isn't it!

Unfortunately perhaps, Summer isn't endless, but now we get to look forward to playing in the snow and even though I've been ski touring in the French Alps recently I for one am still amped for more!

I'm told there has been some glorious weather recently I also here that if you happened to be in the central North Island last month you might have seen beautiful Mt Ruapehu gleaming white from a fresh dump snow!

All this brings me to the point of reminding you that the Ruapehu Ripper Ski Mountaineering Challenge will again be held this winter at Turoa. Since you all have either participated or expressed interest over the last two events I would like to up date you on this season's coming developments.

Firstly, there will be a brand new course for the Ripper this season, bringing new terrain and dynamics with the biggest change being a long and linear course to better suit all gear set ups. Over all the course should be roughly similar to last season with approximately 1400m of vertical climb over a distance of 10 – 12km.

Secondly and even more excitingly, is the introduction for this season of a teams category so you can work together and enjoy the race with mutual support from your team mate. Based on what I have seen in France this season racing as part of a team is lot of fun and excitement.Of course, the solo category will remain for those who enjoy the individual challenge!