Kiwis dig 'one ski in the grave'
At 84, Queenstown man Les Brough clocks in as one of New Zealand’s oldest skiers but when he takes to
the slopes each day, he’s just one of an exclusive club with "one ski in the grave".
Les is a founding member of an age-exclusive, international group known as the One Ski in the Grave
Club – formed on a whim by a handful of Kiwi veterans enjoying a joke, and now legendary amongst the
world’s aging ski population.
Ski club born
The ski club began back in the winter of 1993 when three senior skiers – Les Brough and friends Noel
McGarry and Arnold Diver – were enjoying an aprés-ski moment while "admiring the ladies" as they sat
on the sun deck at Coronet Peak, above Queenstown.
When "young bloke" 59-year-old Derek McKeown walked by commenting – "What’s this? The one ski in
the grave club?" – an international fellowship was born.
Nineteen years on, the One Ski in the Grave club has gone from strength to strength. There are now
more than 850 members worldwide with branches in far flung corners such as Chile and Canada – a
diverse membership linked simply by a love of the white stuff, their 55-plus years and a life membership
for just NZ$10.
Proudly sporting the distinctive ‘one ski’ patch – an embroidered logo designed by the grandson of longtime de-facto club president Noel McGarry – members can easily identify each other wherever in the
world they find themselves on a ski field.
Mountain friends
Les Brough is the only surviving member of the original trio but, each winter when the snows arrive in
Queenstown, he’s among the first to don his skis and hit the slopes of his beloved Coronet Peak. More
than just a local legend, he is also Coronet Peak’s official patron and has a ski trail named after him.
Brough’s Lane leads off Coronet Peak’s Greengates six-seater lift and offers stunning views over the
Southern Alps and down into an area known as Deep Creek. Les says it’s “quite a buzz” to ski a run with
his name on it.
“You come off the six-seater and turn right into Brough’s Lane, then down through the tuck to join up
with the M1.”
Arnold Diver, who passed away a few years back, is remembered on Coronet Peak by ‘Arnold’s Way’, a
run named after the club stalwart who skied until the end. Noel McGarry, whose skiing ended
prematurely when he permanently damaged his shoulder and back in a ski accident, was still an active
club supporter when he passed away last year.
“Noel was a great skier, and great racer who loved the powder,” remembers Brough. “He ran the club
from the day it began in 1993 right through till he died last year (2011). He won his race (in the Masters)
the day he hurt himself and had to stop skiing.”
Members forever
The club now has a secretary, Jan Robertson who keeps tabs on the members and makes sure plenty of
new ones sign up each year.
Members are members forever – even after both skis are in the grave, their names remain on the
membership list, never to be forgotten.
The Coronet Peak contingent includes ‘Young Derek’ McKeown who eventually joined up, along with
local luminaries – some serious, some social skiers – such as Liz Wallace, Derek’s wife Natalie, Sue Dwyer
and Jules Tapper.
Local club members meet on Coronet Peak most mornings to ski together and share coffee and
conversation.
“It’s for skiing friendship on the mountain," Tapper says. "You can ski for years seeing the same faces
but once you wear the badge, you start to make conversation. It gets people talking."
“Members ski as often as they can for as long as they can. It’s all about the pleasure of being in a place
they love with like-minded friends – taking time out between runs, and relaxing together while enjoying
the surroundings,” Brough adds.
The club has a few high profile members including ex-New Zealand ski racer Jean Nelson and prominent
UK journalist Arnie Wilson who wear their badges for conversation and ski fun.
Coronet Peak ski ambassador
Les Brough is proud to be Coronet Peak’s oldest ski area ambassador. He’s been skiing ‘The Peak’ since it
opened in 1947 so in 2012 he’ll be lining up for his 65th season.
“I won’t ski a lot this year, it’s getting hard for me to get off the chairlifts – except the six-seater. But I’ll
definitely be there on opening day and will get a few runs in over the season.”
An accomplished mountaineer and mountain rescue person in his day, Brough knows the mountain
better than most. When he was given a police citation for half a century’s search and rescue work some
years ago, he was described as a legend in his own lifetime. He is also an honorary member of the New
Zealand Alpine Ski Club which he joined in 1948, and was awarded honorary status after 50 years
membership in 1998.
"There was a group of us who used to do a lot of tramping and mountaineering – then one day someone
said ‘let’s go skiing’ and we never stopped," said Brough.
Coronet Peak is a very different place today to when he first took to the slopes, Brough says. In those
days there were no lifts, no machines and very few people.
"We wore our work clothes – lace up work boots, gabardine trousers, probably a checked shirt and
oilskin parka. We used socks for gloves – you couldn’t get ski gloves then – and had bear trap or suicide
bindings. Once you were tied into them, you either broke a ski or your leg if there was a problem,"
Brough recalled.
The veteran skier admits to a few injuries over the years - "Oh you just get up and go back up the
mountain - it’s great what they can do for the body these days."
2012 ski season
Sipping a flat white or enjoying a gourmet meal in the Peak’s swanky panoramic café is also a novel
experience compared to the days when the only food available on the mountain was tomato soup and a
pie.
"They used to sit the pies under the snow to keep them. Come September they started calling them
baby greens."
Getting up the mountain was another issue in the past, but Brough now lives in the centre of
Queenstown - from there, the mountain is only a NZ$15 return bus fare away. Skiers can be up on the
mountain in about 15 minutes and Brough says the modern Coronet Peak is like an airport with smooth,
efficient operation and amazing facilities so getting on to the ski run is a breeze.
He reckons that modern equipment and facilities mean that just about anyone can ski these days –
though admits that cost can be a consideration.
"The thing is for people over 75 it’s free and quite a lot of us up the Peak are over that. Mind you we’ve
worked hard to get there," Brough said.
When the 2012 ski season opens at Coronet Peak (on or just after 9 June) Les Brough will be one of the
first in the queue with fellow club members around him.
He reckons the two ski option isn’t worth considering.
Coronet Peak, Queenstown
A 25-minute drive from central Queenstown, Coronet Peak is the first ski area in New Zealand to
officially open. Multi-million dollar investments have transformed this much loved mountain into a
world-class experience with magnificent views, a stunning base building, great on-mountain facilities
and a modern snowmaking system.
Renowned for its roller coaster terrain and interconnected bowls, Coronet Peak offers exhilarating skiing
and riding for all levels. A dedicated learner and novice area provides an easy introduction for first
timers. Coronet Peak is home to FIS ski racing and winter down-under sees world class athletes regularly
training in Rocky Gully.
The day starts early with First Tracks from 8am and on weekends finishes late with Night Skiing on
Fridays and Saturdays until 9pm.
More information
Coronet Peak – NZ Ski
oneskiinthegrave@gmail.com
Image captions:
‘One Ski in the Grave’ club members Derek McKeown, Natalie McKeown and Les Brough line up for
competition in the annual Masters’ Race at Coronet Peak
Riding the chairlift above Coronet Peak ski area – Queenstown, New Zealand
Coronet Peak – 15 minutes from downtown Queenstown – nestles in New Zealand’s Southern Alps
Night time skiing at Coronet Peak, Queenstown
‘One Ski in the Grave’ membership card
Photo Credits:
Base Building shots
Tony Harrington; Coronet Peak, NZSki Ltd