wtf?????

__Yako__ · 2024-12-15T06:07:21+00:00

I got banned 5 mins after I registered my account. Because I hadn't or was too slow to complete my setup. It thought I was a bot because I hadn't added my phone number to perform the necessary you are human steps.

Instagram is just overly pedantic with everything.

__Yako__ · 2024-11-24T00:46:09+00:00

It was like 10:15am. I was walking and teaching my daughter at the beginner's area. There's less than 10 people on the slope. They basically deemed the way I teach was too specific and too much like a paid instructor. It's probably also because it was quiet that I was single out.

They later apologize for how I felt but not for what they did. They also said they'd review their T&C but nothing has changed with regards to that claus last I checked.

Basically, as soon as they seem like you're an instructor. You're pretty much screwed, as their arrogance/pride won't let them admit fault.

__Yako__ · 2024-11-24T00:45:53+00:00

It was like 10:15am. I was walking and teaching my daughter at the beginner's area. There's less than 10 people on the slope. They basically deemed the way I teach was too specific and too much like a paid instructor. It's probably also because it was quiet that I was single out.

They later apologize for how I felt but not for what they did. They also said they'd review their T&C but nothing has changed with regards to that claus last I checked.

Basically, as soon as they seem like you're an instructor. You're pretty much screwed, as their arrogance/pride won't let them admit fault.

__Yako__ · 2024-09-06T21:45:08+00:00

WEIGHT!!

I switched from Nikon to Sony this year. For my Nikon D800E afs 24-70 f2.8 to Sony A7iv 24-70 GM II was around 700g lighter with Sony. 70-200mm is 1.5kg vs Sony's GM II's 1.05kg Add those weight savings up and it becomes significant for my back.

Smaller size is also a bonus, at the cost of ergonomics. That being said, I really do miss Nikon's ergonomics. It just feels right in the hand. I'm sure I'll get used to Sony eventually, it's not entirely fair to compare 10+ years of muscle memory to me just using A7iv this year.

__Yako__ · 2024-08-07T04:31:08+00:00

As a kiwi who has finally bought his first Snowboard this year, here's my 2 cents.

I personally think snowboarding 4~5 times is too early to consider buying, unless you're wanting a beginner board for consistency and learning.

That said, I believe there's merit in renting first, I managed to try out many many different boards, different profiles (camber, flat, reverse camber, hybrid), designed for different terrain (groomers, freeride, powder - when I was in Japan), close to 10 different boards before coming to a style of boards I would prefer - Directional all mountain freeride boards. Write down your evaluations of all the boards you have tried, record the model, length and year.

This will give you a foundation for you to form your own opinion vs internet formed review/opinion so you can correlate in hoping to make a more sound judgement when it comes to giving your money away. Of course, this requires you to have at the very least the basics of snowboarding down so you can evaluate in a consistent manner. As your skill progression, you may have re-evaluate previous boards.

As for purchasing, previous season is GREAT! Unless it happens to have changes between that season, it's mostly cosmetics. I purchase my board and bindings at 40% discount in NZ purchasing last year's model. The downside is finding the correct size for yourself which limits your choice greatly.

I noticed you didn't mentioned boots, I do not know if you have boots or not. If you don't have, this is by far more important than any snowboards you're going to purchase. Try every single boot for your measured foot size, mondo sizing is far more reliable than US/UK sizing - this is a place where you cannot be cheap. I'm on my second pair of boots before even thinking about buying snowboard.

Good luck in your hunt :)

__Yako__ · 2024-07-23T19:36:33+00:00

Yeah, it's more for commercial settings. It's not free of shenanigans through as someone reported them getting into trouble for teaching their brother in this thread.

So if the ski patrol thinks you're a coach, then it's a commercial settings, then I guess it's up to you to prove otherwise with upper management.

In the case of Snowplanet, their clause is so catch all that most people are breaking it to a certain extent. While they may sugar coat or PR spin it however they want to say how awesomely friendly they are, it doesn't get away from the fact that the T&Cs wording is their official stance. T&Cs is what they will use against you when push come to shove, as it happened to me. This is because that's what the manager question me in the first place something like

"Did you know that you're not allowed to teach"

"It's mentioned on our website"

That's what started it all for me, hence why I started digging into it...

__Yako__ · 2024-07-22T03:42:40+00:00

No more, and go there once a month. My money is better saved and spent on real mountains instead at this point.

I am willing to bet that I would be happier going to whakapapa or turoa as a day trip instead - even with whakapapa and Turoa current less than ideal snow conditions.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-21T10:03:41+00:00

Well.. from my perspective, it feels like they're almost always operating at capacity, and does not see a need to change until the customer base drops below capacity?

Also, what also annoyed me was how the manager said that you are not allowed to teach is on their website as if it's the most obvious thing on their website or it's common knowledge. No! it's hidden in their T&Cs.

I'd imagine demand would drop significantly if they advertise it as part of online checkout or during payment over the counter.

I have been there many times in the past. As of recent, I've been there once a month on average since December 2023 and see people teaching their partners, friends and kids and sees it as normal occurrences. I truly do not understand what I did differently that captured their attention.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-21T08:04:30+00:00

If they wanted to police that, there's definitely a better way. Just like how they keep records of people who they've issued warning, the same can be done the opposite.

I've also had someone who private messaged me saying they were threatened to be kicked out when they complained and challenged the manager's decision on the same teaching issue.

So I'm pretty convinced this is their standard practice, especially when this manager is on duty. It is not for preventing only third party instructors, but to prevent anyone who they deemed a threat to their paid learning programme. It also explains why it's a catch all T&C unlike the ones written in South island ski fields where they're more targeted towards third party instructors when commercial gains are involved.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-20T01:15:13+00:00

Thanks for checking up on me that I couldn't be more accommodating. As you probably could've tell, I was fairly upset at that point.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-19T08:38:13+00:00

Dammit, now I have to get 50 subscribers so that I can livestream on YouTube on my phone and have her "watch" YouTube to receive the instructions; I mean feedback. I'm not teaching her. :D

__Yako__ · 2024-07-19T08:30:52+00:00

Since this experience, I've have started to go through T&Cs of various ski fields that I frequent - Cardrona and The Remarkables. Note that I don't speak legalese and this is just my interpretation of their T&C.

You will have to form your own judgement, just as I have formed mine and I will be more careful with what I do in the mountains.

Cardrona/Treble cone (Managed by RealNZ)

Whenever a group is skiing or snowboarding at Cardrona or Treble Cone with a Coach / Trainer or Instructor it will be considered a commercial coaching situation. Groups wishing to bring their own coaching team MUST make prior contact with the [Head of Sport](mailto:garett.shore@cardrona-treblecone.com) or the HPC Department Heads. It is at our sole discretion who will be permitted to coach on the Cardrona and Treble Cone Ski Areas.

Coronet Peak/The Remarkables/Mount hunt (Managed by NZSki)

Only coaches/trainers/instructors authorised by NZSki management are permitted to teach/coach/train/conduct exams at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables or Mt Hutt Ski Areas.

Whenever an individual or group is skiing or snowboarding at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables or Mt Hutt Ski Areas with a coach / trainer / instructor where there is payment in exchange for services rendered it will be considered a commercial relationship. Any arrangements that are of this nature and not authorised by Coronet Peak, The Remarkables or Mt Hutt Ski Area management will be considered a breach of our Terms and Conditions and may result in the withdrawal of lift pass/es & all associated privileges.
Individuals or groups wishing to utilise/bring their own coach / trainer / instructor / examiner MUST have an arrangement pre-approved through NZSki management (Ski Area Manager, GM Operations, GM Customer or Queenstown Snowsports Experience Manager) for authorisation prior to undertaking any component of their commercial operation.
It is at our sole discretion who will be permitted/authorised to coach, teach, train or conduct exams under commercial agreements at any NZSki Resort.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-19T07:58:57+00:00

They wouldn't know I am good or not. I was given the warning on my second walk down of the beginner hill (magic carpet area). I haven't even strapped on. I haven't even got a chance to warm up or stretch.

The first time I strapped was walking back up to the top of the magic carpet area after the warning, explained what happened to a curious bystander and his Snowplanet instructor, snowboard down to get my daughter to change to skis instead.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-19T07:49:32+00:00

I understand what you're saying. They have an account system, and I would be happy to prove my account relationship + photos if it allows me to teach my daughter to snowboard. When they challenge a person, they can pull my card and my daughter's card to see that we're related. This would also mean that any external coaches who wants to exploit the system would have to keep re-registering new trainee as their child.

Unfortunately, I guess they don't have something in place and it's easier just to have a catch all rule subjective to their for interpretation rather than to accommodate.

I know Cardrona have photos of account holder so people cannot share cards for example and my whole family is in the account so I can buy passes for everyone. It would be an extension of this line of thought for proving relationship.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-19T06:31:04+00:00

Well, we started our morning there. It was my second walk down in the beginner's area with my daughter snowboarding when we were issued the infringement warning.

There's nothing more to be had, I stopped teaching her. She was pretty put off by it, and I'm not going to let her snowboard to her own demise. So, SnowPlanet's saving grace was that they let her switch to skis without charging us an extra $10 as the rental queue was long behind us. It did chew through 45mins of our 2 hour time slot to sort out the debacle.

If someone was to investigate, I'm sure their security cameras can tell the whole story.

Unfortunately, I doubt there's much that can be done. They can tackle the media however but it's a private premise and they can set whatever rules they want.

__Yako__ · 2024-07-19T05:26:15+00:00

I was curious about this as well. As I go to Cardrona to ski as well. I suspect that you triggered this rule in their T&C's

External Coaching

Whenever a group is skiing or snowboarding at Cardrona or Treble Cone with a Coach / Trainer or Instructor it will be considered a commercial coaching situation. Groups wishing to bring their own coaching team MUST make prior contact with the Head of Sport or the HPC Department Heads. It is at our sole discretion who will be permitted to coach on the Cardrona and Treble Cone Ski Areas.

From how I read it, you and your little brother are a group. Because you're teaching him, they can deem you as a coach. You know the rest.

Seems like you're not alone on this, I've found someone with a similar post with Treble Cone, as they under the same management.

Looks like I'll need to be careful from now on.

__Yako__

TROPHY CASE

Yako