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One of the things we enjoy about our Behind the Whiteboard series is sharing the experiences and observations that sit behind the teaching. This week, Brian, one of CFA's owners and directors, draws on a lifetime of winter travel across New Zealand, from city streets to the open roads of Canterbury and Otago Lessons from the Ice: A Lifetime of Winter Travel By Brian There are some lessons in life that stay with you forever. Others, we learn twice. Growing up in Rotorua, winte

Weekend warrior or seasoned athlete, winter sports put massive strain on your body. Nick explores seasonal injuries this week, and how to treat them before they sideline your season. And a surprise risk we don't often think about plus the simple steps that can make a big difference when things don't go to plan. Winter Sports Injuries: Staying Safe in the Snow By Nick Howard I still remember one of my first proper winter walks. We stopped for lunch, and my friend pulled out he

In our beautiful country of Aotearoa New Zealand, the winter months can bring with them some sights that take your breath away. On a recent trip to Tekapo and Aoraki Mt Cook, with crisp winter mornings and late autumn colour, I got to experience some of this breathtaking scenery. Unfortunately, as we head into the winter months, there are also less pleasant things that can take our breath away. A selection of respiratory bugs and nasties come out to play as we hunker down aro

I (Jodie) remember one hike where the day started with clear blue skies and only a light breeze. Despite checking the forecast before heading out, low cloud rolled in, the wind picked up, and a steady rain soon followed. Even though I wasn't far from shelter, I was surprised by how quickly I went from feeling comfortable to feeling cold and miserable. My mindset shifted from taking in the scenery to simply staying warm. I found myself walking faster, hunching my shoulders aga

This morning I woke up to my alarm. That doesn't happen very often. Most mornings I'm awake before it starts playing its cheerful little tune, but today, it won. Once I slid it to off, I started thinking about alarms in general. Some alarms are urgent. The smoke alarm going off in the middle of the night definitely gets my attention. Others are much gentler. A reminder that it's time to leave for an appointment, pick up a granddaughter, or a dinner reservation with my sweethe

Small Ones. Big Questions. There is something uniquely vulnerable about being responsible for a tiny human. Not just because babies and children can become sick quickly, but because parenting is often carried out while exhausted, overstimulated, second-guessing yourself, and trying to make decisions under pressure when your brain went to bed 4 hours ago. Add conflicting advice, social media panic, and well-meaning opinions from everyone around you, and it can feel overwhelmin