Two polar blasts have played havoc with southern sport this winter. Last Sunday, the big chill even affected the North Island, with the national hockey league final abandoned in Wellington. Hayden Meikle looks at 10 famous sports events made memorable by bad weather.
THE FOG FINAL
Crusaders v Hurricanes,
Christchurch, May 2006
It was the best game of rugby I've never seen.
Those of us (un)fortunate enough to be at the ground formerly known as Jade Stadium were hoping for an epic Super 14 final between two New Zealand teams.
What unfolded was a night beyond belief. Intense, dense fog descended just before kick-off, making it virtually impossible to see the field. Many punters left, and broadcasters were forced to use close-up shots for most of the game.
The Crusaders won 19-12. Not that any of us could see the scoreboard.
THE WATER POLO TEST
All Blacks v Scotland,
Auckland, June 1975
They still say it was lucky nobody drowned at the bottom of a ruck.
Torrential rain had fallen in Auckland for hours leading up to this test and large parts of Eden Park resembled a swimming pool.
The All Blacks, wearing white, and the Scots splished and sploshed their way around the ground, choosing - funnily enough - to eschew open, running rugby in favour of a more freestyle (groan) approach.
There were 13 penalties awarded, but not a single attempt at goal. There were, however, some lovely tumble turns on display.
THE ICE BOWL
Green Bay Packers v Dallas Cowboys,
Green Bay, December 1967
The winner of this would progress to the second Super Bowl. But the preliminary game became a whole lot more famous.
Green Bay, in Wisconsin, is not exactly Palm Beach. But a particularly vicious cold front swept through on the day of the game, with temperatures plummeting to -26degC.
Lambeau Field - the "frozen tundra" - had a turf heating system, but it failed, leaving the surface like an ice rink.
Before the game, seven members of a marching band were treated for hypothermia.
And when referee Norm Schachter blew for the kick-off, his metal whistle froze to his lips.
The Packers, under great coach Vince Lombardi, won 21-17. But that was cold comfort (sorry) for the several players who got frostbite that day.
WET IN THE HOLE
Ryder Cup,
Newport, October 2010
For the first time in the history of the biennial golf clash between the US and Europe, the Ryder Cup was finished on a Monday.
Torrential rain at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales resulted in a bunch of late starts and early finishes.
The Americans went shopping for wet-weather gear but the Euros regained the trophy with a one-point win.
THE CANNY SCOTS
All Blacks v Scotland,
Edinburgh, November 1905
The Originals tour, all 35 games of it, is best remembered for the 3-0 loss to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park and the disallowed Bob Deans try.
But there was also an act of rank gamesmanship by the Scottish rugby union, zealous defenders of rugby's amateur ideals. Offended by the intense excitement generated by the All Black tour and by news the tourists were receiving a daily allowance, the Scots declined to award caps for the game and did not invite the All Blacks to a post-match dinner.
Worse, the hosts did not take the usual precautions of covering the pitch with straw the night before the test.
The surface froze and was still an icy block just three hours before kick-off.
But the uppity All Blacks played on, winning 12-7. To this day, Scotland has never beaten the All Blacks.
THE SNOWBALL GAME
San Francisco 49ers v Denver Broncos,
Denver, November 1985
At the end of the first half in this NFL game, the 49ers were attempting a field goal from close range.
Matt Cavanaugh, whose job was to collect the ball from a snap and hold it for the kicker, suddenly got distracted by a snowball thrown from the stands in Mile High Stadium. He mishandled, the kick was unable to be taken, and the 49ers ended up losing by a point.
After the game, referee Jim Tunney said officials had "no recourse in terms of a foul or to call it on the home team or the fans. There's nothing in the rule book that allows us to do that."
THE BIG BLOW
MLB All-Star Game,
San Francisco, July 1961
The 1961 Major League Baseball season is best remembered for the home run race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.
But there was also a memorable All-Star Game at Candlestick Park, where it was so windy a relief pitcher, Stu Miller, was allegedly blown off the mound.
THE SNOW PLOUGH GAME
Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots,
Foxborough, December 1982
Heavy snow had blanketed the Patriots' artificial turf-covered Schaefer Stadium, forcing officials to allow a snow plough to clear yard markers during the game.
But, with less than 5min on the clock and the score 0-0, Patriots coach Ron Meyer craftily asked the plough operator - a burglar on work release from a local prison - to clear a spot on the field for the placekicker.
John Smith made the kick. Miami protested but the goal counted, and the Patriots won 3-0.
The NFL banned the use of snow ploughs the following year. The plough used during the game is displayed at the Patriots' new stadium.
THE ITALIAN ICEBOX
Juventus v Perugia,
Italy, May 2000
The 1999-2000 Italian football "scudetto" came down to the wire, with both Juventus and Lazio in the title hunt on the final day.
But while Lazio won in beautiful conditions in Rome, Juventus was forced to play in a virtual bath at a rain-sodden Stadio Renato Curi.
It was so wet, play was temporarily halted for an hour by referee Pierluigi Collina. Play resumed, a frustrated Juventus was beaten 1-0, and Lazio claimed the title.
THE INDY 500 (ML OF RAIN)
Indy 500,
Indianapolis, May 1975
The Brickyard turns into the Slickyard.
Heavy rain forced the 1975 Indy 500 to be abandoned after 174 laps, and Bobby Unser was declared the winner.
Just minutes later, the rain stopped.
