Field Report : Ntence Decentz Tour 2013

DAY 12. North to the volcano. Mt Ruapehu

Woke at sparrows fart today to make the most of the last of the runs around Wellington. Actually, we coulda spent a full week here and explored. There's so many canyons! Bounced from our accommodation and head to Blue Mountain. Its Matt K's birthday today. The big 25. We all sang him Happy Birthday and were on our way.

Blue Mountain was a sweet tight winding hill with some nice tight rights requiring some skids. Api passed on the knowledge that it can be ripped but its more fun to skid. Thats the way it went down for about an hour. Wat a great hill to wake up on. So many turns, all similar. The weather was a lil overcast when we got up and the higher we went into the canyon, the more surrounded by clouds we were. It just added to the thrill! Great hill, yew!

The journey north to Ruapehu, saw us take the Number 2 and through the Rumataka Gorge. Its a massive cut, up and over the range. Last year it was raining and for obvious reasons, we stayed in the van. Not to be today. Bluebird skies and a rad temp of low 20's and the road is good to go, well the south side anyway. North side still had road works. The south side was a long 5-7 km's around 70 with some long sweeping turns that offered plenty of room to rail the inside! Hit it once and continued the journey.  

 STOKED. After a day of drivin, we finally hit the famous Mt Ruapehu. Catchin the last few runs today was a must. We had to hit it. After all it was just there lurking in all its glory. The drive up was one of anticipation and respect. We stopped twice. The first for Speedy, who hit the guard-rail a few years back and the second for Jacko after last years accident. Remembering the events of last year, Gabe, Kam and myself where humbled, totally level headed.



For the few of the group who had sk8'd the hill before, they new wat to expect from the sweeping turns, however for those that hadn't, they where about to find out!!!

We smashed out three runs that arvi (afternoon). The first of which was more of just a friendly welcome back to get the feel of this massive landscape of volcanic rock. The second and third runs where a little faster, still being quite reserved. Safety first. We still have two whole days here and theres to be some serious stoke frothing from the crew! There where some spectators getting they're thrills on as well. Sitting on the balconies of the lodges further up the mountain where groups of hikers cheering for what they where witnessing. Such a prevlage to be able to sk8 such an infamous piece of pavement in some of the most extreme terrain! Lookin forward to the next few days!   

DAY 13. Mt Ruapehu

Well rested and frothin. stopped at Mahuia Rapids and lurked there takin in the tranq. Exploring is always on the cards so a few of us went our own ways and had a lil sniff. I went checked out the bridge and the bee hives. Gabe, Bondy and Api cruised and scaled the rock line and i guess Jaco was doin the nature thing!

STOKE LEVELS THROUGH THE ROOF. Winning!!! Arrive at our accomadation up on the mountain. Same spot as last year. The joint is ballin. Player status at an all time high. So many bunks, beds, doubles, rooms, a stereo that will blast ya clothes off with a solid bassy beat. Obviously, we had the view from hell. The lost property box became hot topic for dress-ups! A kitchen table that had been converted to a beer pong table. Beer anyone? Finally the kitchen galley that can sort out an army!  

Pretty easy to sum up the day. EPIC. This is what its all about. Come to the N-Tense D-Centz Sk8 Tour in 2014 and experience Mt Ruapehu. So many runs down and minimal traffic. The mountain is showing us her finer side and we are very grateful. Such a beautiful place to be with such a good group of guys. For Matt k, pretty much the perfect way to roll into the 25th year of his life, for the rest of us, birthday or not, the feelings mutual.

Speedy, Matt k and myself stopped in to have a quick chat with the mountain staff about the possibility of events in the future. All looks promising. Bargained a free ride up the mountain on the chairlift tomorrow to get a birds eye view of the road below us. Broke for a swim down a sweet little spot where theres a nice rock jump, maybe in the ball park of 8 meters. Icy cold water eh. Those that went down where all feeling the lactic of such a rad days sk8in but as soon as we plunged into the icy drop, no more worries! Head back to the house and get a froth on for some sunset runs. Left it a little late today for pics but we still got a few more runs down and the last was the fastest of the day. So much for finishing on a chilled run, shit got real and we all belted in through the top turns, Jaco catching wat he could!

Feel so humbled by this place. The surroundings have the power to make u feel like an ant. Warm fire and a buzz of excitement we all sit down  to a few brews, a good feed and have a good ol chin wag about the days events! STOKED! Tomorrow can't come soon enough.