One Kiwi woman’s idea to bring an indoor snow slope to Fiji to heal the nation’s post cyclone economy. New Zealand ex-pat in Fiji Juliette Siversten writes for Snowsbest.com
I ask the Fijian store keeper if she has ever seen snow. I know what the answer would be, but I still ask.
‘Snow?” she asks, initially confused. Snow is not something Fijians think of often, if at all. With her broken English, I was unsure if she even understood what I had asked.
“Oh, no,” she responds. “Too hot in Fiji!”
I show her some of my photos and videos from the top of Mt Hutt ski field and her eyes widen.
“So pretty!” she exclaims.
I know that these photos are the closest she will get to seeing snow in her lifetime. The majority of locals who I have spoken to, say travel outside of Fiji is just a dream and snow is a mysterious cold substance they’re unlikely to ever experience. Fiji is not a wealthy country (the last economic survey in 2009 revealed 35% live in poverty) and many cannot afford an overseas holiday, let alone a trip to a ski field in a foreign country.
And while I wish not to make any wild scientific climate predictions, the chances of it snowing on this tropical island are probably as likely as hell freezing over.
So here’s a wild idea. If Fijians can’t get to the snow, why not bring the snow to Fiji?
Hear me out on this one. Here are 6 reasons why Fiji needs an indoor snowsports centre and how it could benefit the nation.
TO DISCOVER UNDISCOVERED TALENT
Just because there’s no snow in Fiji, doesn’t mean Fijians wouldn’t be good at snowsports.
Fiji has actually had TWO Winter Olympic representatives – cross country skier Rusiate Rogoyawa and alpine skier Laurence Thoms.
Sure, they didn’t win medals – but they were proof Fijians can ski.
You see, Fijians are naturally active and athletic. Drive through villages and you won’t see a family stuck behind a computer screen – you’ll see mum and dad working hard outside on the farm, teenagers playing rugby in a field with makeshift goal posts and 7-year-olds herding horses and cattle.
Fijians are used to hard, physical work in tough conditions and against the elements. That makes them ideal for skiing and snowboarding. Given the success of the Fiji Sevens Team at the Rio Olympics, maybe there’s more talent ready and waiting to be discovered at the next Winter Olympics?
THERE’D PROBABLY BE A NATIONAL SKI HOLIDAY
Let’s talk about that Olympic gold medal again. A national song was composed to support the Sevens team, the nation basically shut down and went into party mode when the team won gold and the Prime Minister announced a public holiday.
With that sort of support and enthusiasm, I wouldn’t put it past this country to call for a national ski holiday.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLACE TO COOL DOWN
It’s friggin hot in Fiji. ‘Winter’ is basically defined by any temperature lower than 25 degrees Celsius. Give us a break from the humidity and heat and let’s build an indoor snow centre.
A SNOWSLOPE WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER ADVENTURE CAREER PATH
Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world, which has resulted in some great career pathways in scuba diving and dive tourism. Fiji is filled with dive centres run by locals.
A snowsports centre provides yet another career path in the adventure sports department for locals. Fijians are ridiculously friendly so their customer service would be second to none and the instructors would ensure everyone on the slopes were having the time of their lives.
Did I mention what a great sense of humour Fijians have? You’d be laughing all the way down the slopes under their instruction.
IT WOULD PROVIDE EVEN MORE TOURIST DOLLARS
Fiji relies on tourism to support the local economy, especially after times of extreme hardship such as Cyclone Winston. Tourism is the backbone of this country. More tourist activities = more tourist dollars = a stronger economy. Easy equation. And what a cool story to tell the folks back home; “I went skiing on a tropical island!”
FIJI IS STRONGER THAN CYCLONE WINSTON
If a nation can recover from a category 5 storm and the people still choose to focus on the good times – well, that’s a lesson for us all that you can overcome anything.
Fijians are resilient. They have to be. Resilient people make excellent sports men and women.
An indoor snowsports centre might seem like a mad – and insanely costly – idea for a tropical island but it’s one I’m sure would be met with enthusiasm and excitement by locals and tourists alike. It might be the only chance for many Fijians to ever experience one of the greatest winter activities in the world.
Now we just need to find someone to fund it!
Read more from Juliette Sivertsen at Snorkels to Snow, her blog about living the expat life in Fiji and her passion for both beach and mountains. Follow her on Twitter & Instagram @snorkelstosnow
