What's New in TwentyTen

Comment Share Posted on Thursday May 27th at 5:09 p.m. Tweet

Every summer New Zealand ski & board areas give something back, upgrading lifts, facilities and access roads.

This year the theme seems to be tunnels with a new Home Run tunnel under the Goldrush Downhill run at Cardrona and a tunnel magic carpet lift on the beginners run at Hutt.  The major capital upgrades in New Zealand this year though in the way of lifts are the old Captains Basin Chair at Cardrona being reinstalled lower down the field, the new high speed beginners chair at Coronet and the ridge line nut-cracker rope tow at Roundhill which will open up heaps of new steep and deep terrain on the ridge above the existing ski area.

MT RUAPEHU

Whakapapa

• The largest project that RAL have been working on this summer has been the rebuild of facilities at the Knoll Ridge.
• On top of the massive rebuild, they have managed to give a fresh coat of paint to a variety of buildings.
• They have picked up a new loader for road clearing and,
• the Bruce Road also underwent a re-seal of a significant section of road in the early summer.

Turoa

• Turoa had a quieter summer this year after many with routine maintenance and small efficiencies being the key.
• The new 2 lane bridge was installed on the Ohakune Mountain Road and officially opened this summer by the council with Dave Mazey in attendance. There has also been work on other road repairs and maintenance with a re seal of the top of the road and crews out patching, maintaining or re sealing other sections as needed.
• They have re aligned the Turoa Helicopter pad staircase for better access
• The Alpine Bar and Café have been preparing a new après menu to align with their extended licensing hours so you can easier enjoy that glass of mulled wine or ice cold beer at the end of your day.
• The rentals department has given itself a fresh coat of paint on all the tables and benches.
• The Snow School has moved the building that used to be at the bottom of the Alpine Meadow up to the plaza area and will now be the point of call for everyone looking to book their private and group lessons.

NELSON

Rainbow

• The T-Bar now has an electric motor for a much quieter & smoother ride,
• The new Kassbohrer Pisten-Bully PB300 Polar groomer has arrived (see below) and will provide faster and better grooming and snow management capability,
• The collection of shacks that were our Staff accommodation buildings have gone and will be replaced with a new building constructed with the assistance of Nelson Boys' College students,
• Plus many other improvements to the Rentals building, snow-making infrastructure, lifts, Cafe patio, water supply system, car-parks, access road and so on. 

CANTERBURY

Mt Hutt

• Beginners magic carpet now fully enclosed
• Beginners area extended and graded to provide more consistent slope angles
• Earthworks to improve terrain park
• Easier access via a new road to the beginner/novice terrain park
• New FM Mt Hutt radio station to broadcast up-to-the-minute information on conditions - coverage extends from Mt Hutt, along access road and out into the Canterbury Plains
• Upgrades to Sky High Cafe - new seating, improved serveries
• Extensions to Huber's Hut into Huber's Loft - more seating added
• New F&B product - Dinner with the Stars - bus from Methven to Mt Hutt, dine in Huber's Hut, enjoy the mountains at night
• New equipment fitting service in downtown Methven
• New Direct-to-Lift radio frequency system

MACKENZIE COUNTRY

Roundhill

• The new Heritage Express rope tow is 632m vertical rise to an elevation of 2133m and is 1.440m long.  It will give access to the Richmond range and a 172 hectares of extra terrain within our boundary and give easy access to a vast amount of unpatrolled back country.  Roundhill will be running a full snow safety programme within their boundary. Harnesses and nut crackers will be available for hire.

WANAKA

Cardrona

• New for 2010 is the first phase of the Valley View Development. The first phase is the lift installation which will bring the total number of chairs to 4 which is the most in the South Island. It will also increase the vertical drop to 600m and increase the terrain to 345 hectares. Cardrona will be the largest Ski Area in the Queenstown region and second largest in the Southern Lakes. In 2011 the development will be completed with the installation of snowmaking to ensure top to bottom skiing throughout winter.
• As part of the Valley View development a 35 metre tunnel has been constructed. This will allow uninterrupted access from the Captains Express to the bottom of the Whitestar Express.
• Cardrona is on the brink of launching a new website, especially for kids. A first of its kind in NZ the website will provide adults with information whilst engaging the kids with some simple games & interactivity. Check it out at www.cardrona.com/kids
• The Cardrona Parks NZ mini site will also be re launched prior to opening day with a fresh new feel.
• Two new groomers have been purchased a Kassbohrer PB 400 Winch and a Kassbohrer PB400 (PB = Piston Bully).

QUEENSTOWN

Coronet Peak

• New high-speed detachable quad chairlift with automatic loading carpet and automatic safety bar. This is the first of its kind to be installed in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Earthworks to improve and extend learner areas
• New Direct-to-Lift radio frequency system

The Remarkables

• Base building to be upgraded with new dining facilities, improved kitchen and new furniture
• New features for all three terrain parks
• A series of ‘kids fun' activity trails for children of all abilities with jumps and tunnels, new bouncy castle for the crèche
• Guided tours every day at 11am
• Resurfacing of the access road, improvements and more signage
• New Direct-to-Lift radio frequency system