HAPPY RHYTHM MOTHERS DAY!

We thought we’d take Mother’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate the SNOW MUMS! Soccer mums are a thing of the past. Snow mums are very much used to early mornings, long days and all kinds of weather conditions. Spending hours trying to find the perfect snack to their fill pockets, the right beanie to match their jacket and the perfect gloves to keep their little hands warm, then enough coat hangers to dry them ready to do it all again the next day. Rhythm’s very own Snow Mum is Karen Klima, one of the owners here at Rhythm who has had plenty of experience not only sorting her own kids out but has done the hire for thousands and thousands of kids. How long have you been skiing for? I started skiing in primary school when Mum and Dad started taking us to Guthega. I did a few years with the Region Ski Hire holiday program and then joined St. Moritz, which is now sponsored by Rhythm. I became great ski buddies with Kari Blyth in St. Moritz and we're still friends. Have you skied around the world? I've skied in the Dolomites in Italy on the Sella Ronda, but mostly in Japan and North America. I first skied in Japan in 1990 at Shiga Kogen and Furano. it was a different experience in those days. No skiing off piste and the skis were far too short - I skied on 200s in those days and there were no hire skis more than about 165cm which was kind of like a kids ski for me. I've also skied in New Zealand with my friend Angela Cigana and our girls at Mt Hutt. That was a very memorable trip because the first Christchurch earthquake happened when we were there. What is your favourite resort? I love Niseko for the snow quality and Steamboat in Colorado for the tree skiing. My favourite run there is Closet amongst the snow monsters on a powder day. It's also a great resort for kids. Do both of your children ski? Did you teach them yourself? Mick and I taught our girls to ski, firstly at Mt. Selwyn and then at Thredbo. What is your favourite part of skiing with your family? We've had some great times together on snow at many resorts around the world. We've managed to catch up with friends and family as well, which has been awesome. We've skied with the Lang family in Aspen, Vail and Steamboat, the Ciganas and Morasuttis in Italy, and the Olds in Steamboat and Hakuba. Some of our greatest times as a family have been on the cross country trails at Perisher with the Cigana family. My fave ski Mums are Susie Lang, one of the hottest skiers I know, my sister Jodie Old, who is a joy to ski with because she's always so keen, and Angela Cigana, an incredible skater who always corrects my technique so kindly (without telling me how bad at skating I am haha!).

How long have you been an owner of Rhythm Snow Sports? I've been at Rhythm since the early 90s and I pretty much brought my kids up there. Our staff are so great now that I've been able to go back to uni to do my PhD. It's always been a fun place to work and I still adore catching up with the Rhythm team.

Here in Australia we get skis a year ahead of the rest of the world so we have all new 2017 skis, Karen, our gorgeous Rhythm Mum was in yesterday so I cornered her and got her to pick a Mothers day ski package. Her resort and fun package runs the new Salomon Qst 85. While not a specific women’s ski these are heaps of fun and versatile. New construction in these actually uses flax fibres instead of fibreglass for lightness and flex (or flax) ability. For boots she liked the X MAX women’s in a 110 flex. To complete the Salomon package we added Sth13 bindings, for a bulletproof, tried and tested stalwart binding. Through in some Salomon telescopic stocks and this is a shmick set up.

Karen’s second choice package is an all mountain, big fun set up. The TSTW from Armada was and still is a game changer in skis. My wife Nonie tried them once and has never stepped onto a carve ski again. Karen said she liked the look of the Lange Rx women’s also in a 110 flex. Another great boot from Lange in a four buckle design. Bindings for this setup are the Marker Squire. Nice and light, with a reputation for reliability.

So why not get your mum a practical gift this year rather then yet another bunch of flowers… Get her ready for the slopes! Here are some ideas to get your mum ready for the ski season: