By ROB AIVATOGLOU
A MELBOURNE boy from the northern suburbs Mark Borderick grew up sharing his father's love of the mountains.
His Dad use to go up and visit Mt Buller with his business friends in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
They stayed at old Lantern Lodge owned by George and Lilly Aldinger.
George had built the lodge in 1964 and owned and operated it until 1994.
The Duck Inn now occupies this same site.
Mark went to school at Ivanhoe Grammar.
Back then Ivanhoe did not have a ski team, which is ironic given in recent years they have fielded one of the biggest Interschool teams.
Dad would drag Mark and his two brothers up to Mt Buller on the odd weekend.
The family also ventured to Thredbo a few times during school holidays.
It was these trips when Mark was eight to 12 years old that created a bond with snow and the alpine environment that would last a lifetime.
They would park down near the skating rink, and walk up to Lantern carrying their rucksacks.
It was classic, old club style accommodation.
Four to six in a room.
Kids running amuck everywhere.
People socialising and becoming rowdier as the night wore on.
It was fun times.
And each day, the family would make the trek from Lantern along Delatite Lane to the bottom of the two seater Bourke St chair lift.
That was also the base for the French Ski School.
They were weekend warriors but rock solid skiing foundations had been laid.
Around the age of 12 years, Mark stopped skiing.
Other priorities appeared and at the same time, Mark’s Dad’s textile business endure some tough times.
In 1979 Mark was doing a fitter and turner apprenticeship.
He would earn $100 per week as an apprentice, and soon rediscovered snow and skiing.
However, for an apprentice, it was incredibly expensive.
His Dad had become a member of the Ski Club of Victoria (SCV) so Mark began staying at Kandahar.
Mark decided to apply to Orange Lifts and the Austrian Ski School for a job.
He wrote letter to Griff Morgan, co-founder of Orange Lifts.
Jane Morgan saw the letter and wrote back and explained how it worked.
Through this connection Mark did the ski instructors course with Paul Romagna.
It lasted six weeks, with on snow tuition every Saturday and Sunday.
Mark would drive up Friday night from Melbourne after finishing work, and jump straight into bar work at the SCV.
He would also work the bar on Saturday nights, thus covering his accommodation.
Then drive back Sunday night and then go to work as a Fitter and Turner Monday.
Mark started taking his annual holidays in winter and this became his lifestyle.
He finished his apprenticeship in January 1981, and then immediately packed up and travelled to Fortress Mountain in Canada. He had been bitten by the ski bug.
Part time ski school.
Part time maintenance.
Andy Laidlaw, Robbie Moore (Bill Duffs), Timmy Hancock, and Colin McDonald were all working there as well.
Plus many others too.
Work was available.
Everyone went there.
Language was easy.
Mark was 22 years old and living his dream.
“Holy crap!
These were real mountains, just like the postcard or ski magazine," he said.
Mark was a talented instructor and had found his true love.
He came back to Mt Buller after Fortress.
Then completed his APSI training and examinations, two levels - associate and full certification.
Mark resumed working with Orange Lifts and the Austrian Ski School.
And although it was Orange v Blue, Austrian v French, the reality of the situation was that it was a group of like minded, eclectic people.
They trained together, often learning from the best instructors in the world including Alexis from Chamonix, Mike Porter from Vail and Austrian Paul Romagna.
The influence from different countries provided an exceptional learning environment.
Mark went somewhere different each year.
In 1981-82, it was Sunshine Village in Canada with Bill Green.
Another year it was Kirchdorf, Tirol, in Austria.
Then Courmayeur, Italy in 1982-83 skiing in and around Mont Blanc.
He worked with Colin McDonald, Pete Lynn and Peter Minoni for an English tour company that would bring English children over to learn to ski.
Mark was particularly fascinated by the Austrian technique due to the Orange Lifts connection so ended up getting a job at Sonnenkoft in Arlberg.
He learnt German and became familiar with the famous slopes of Stuben, Lech, and St Anton.
“My eyes were popping out of my head," said Mark.
"I was blown away with the snow and had to really learn how to ski all conditions – chutes, breakable crust, powder etc”.
Then Mark got a job in Zurs in 1986.
It was widely regarded as the best ski resort and ski school in Europe.
Best snow.
Best clientele.
Best conditions.
The pinnacle as many regard it as the birthplace of modern skiing.
Mark spent 1986-90 in the region alongside legends such as Peter Strolz.
Back in Australia, SCV general manager Eric Goetz convinced Mark to go over to Hotham and run the SCV.
It was three seasons of sensational snow, running functions (including darts nights and beach parties), and enjoying some incredible skiing.
There were 40 beds, and the tariff included breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Mark got to know many of the Hotham (and Falls Creek) personalities including Zirky, Colin Hackworth, Nigel Mills, Gavin Crawford, Steve Lee and the Biggins brothers.
It was a wild three seasons.
Brian McGuire was the director of the Mt Buller Ski School, once the French and Austrian ski schools amalgamated.
He wanted Mark in Vail.
However, at the last minute Jerry Berg convinced Mark to go to Aspen.
Jerry was a top PSIA examiner who also ran the Aspen Ski School.
In 1991 the next chapter of Mark’s life was about to commence.
It was while instructing in Aspen that Mark saw the photo business.
Photographers would take action shots on the mountain and then sell them to the patrons.
Mark loved the concept and started plotting to bring it to Mt Buller.
He had done some work in front of the camera for Bill Bachman and Mark Askanasy.
Randy Weinman had tried it but decided to take the concept to Thredbo.
Mark started talking to Mark Woodsford (aka Woody, the self appointed Mayor of Mt Buller), brought an old photo printer and processor and opened Fun Photos 1992, in the old Auski building.
Together they operated the Fun Photos business from 1991 to 1996.
Gavin Crawford worked for them.
Mark Ashkanasy was the technical advisor.
For the other Mark all his Mt Buller energy went to the project but he kept instructing in Aspen.
In 1996 Mark got married in Aspen, and in 1997 his daughter Rhianna was born.
Mark stayed in Aspen year round.
Summer was photography and odd jobs.
Winter ski school.
In 2001 he ran the mountain photo business for the Aspen Skiing Company.
It was very similar to the Buller business, only far bigger.
When Rihanna was five or six years of age, Mark resumed full time ski instructing.
It was 2003-04 and it was tough times in the photo business with the new digital phones appearing everywhere.
Once Rianna went to uni, Mark started returning to Buller (2015-16).
It also allowed him to see his parents and friends, and reconnect with his Melbourne roots.
He also went on to become a trainer and examiner for the APSI.
Mark has a special relationship with Mt Buller – he loves the mountain and the people.
It is the challenge of teaching new skiers of all levels from beginner to expert and helping them to conquer their fears.
The optimism of the local crew.
He loves his old ski clients and is now teaching third generation skiers.
And when we get the snow, Mark still believes the skiing at Mt Buller is as good as anywhere.
