Forum
Ruapehu 2011
Originally posted by: Jude
Could be worse...cars....
SO sorted for cars this year... Hilux Surf, brum brum.
^What about the Subey?
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reine de l'hiver
Looks like there has been some snow making overnight on the Express at Whaka.
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reine de l'hiver
^^Well it was darn cold enough last night. still only about 3 down here.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
*edited 09 Jun 2011 09:09
Originally posted by: Jude
^What about the Subey?
Some, umm, lowering-type things happened over the summer. You can juuuuuust about fit a coke can under the car now.
So the Subey gets used for the Welly-Ohakune bit (or the Audi...) and the Surf for the mountain road
Plus it means we can just throw our gear in, it's suitably beaten up.
Well then I will tell you all about my new K2 rockered board (don't worry it was last years model) that I can't wait to ruin I mean ride. It has a pretty femanine white base with green lines scribbled across it. And my car oh boy.. don't want to tell you about that.
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Winter is always coming!
Hauled off down to 'Kune over queens b/day. Road's in pretty good nick this year.
Inframax have done a fine job over the summer.
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Wait For The Ricochet
Originally posted by: Jude
Looks like there has been some snow making overnight on the Express at Whaka.
Is that what the lone patch amongst the brown is on the webcams?
Looks more like just a test, I doubt it will stick around.
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Originally posted by: jedskiOriginally posted by: fattrav
Who would have kept them, or really need them. Still, i was the auction runner, and in the same situation, I'd be selling them too. Papa needs a long board...
Ha! Great point. Who the hell doesn't have a pass already except Blunt
No pass and no snow.
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*** Blinding Night ***
^ every time I have done this I've wound up regretting it, never again.
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Gaper.
Oh, I'm sure there will come a time this season when I will envious of those with a season pass Merry, but regret wont come into it mate. Its all part of the plan
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*** Blinding Night ***
you can always drink Export 33 (and some ohter beers) and collect the RAL voucher from the box.
we're currently drinking our way to Treble Cone 
Yeah thoses 33's are great last year it was 50% off inlcuding the nzski fields used that a few times better than the 20% your season pass can get..
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Winter is always coming!
TV3 just reported that Ruapehu had special one day offer of day passes for $1 meant for the Aussie market as a promotion but got snapped up by kiwis. 19,000 sold!
nooooooooooooooooooooo, very sad organising.
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Winter is always coming!
Originally posted by: rozboonOriginally posted by: Jude
Could be worse...cars....
SO sorted for cars this year... Hilux Surf, brum brum.
Damn, just when they introduce valet parking...
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Insert signature here
Originally posted by: dumph
TV3 just reported that Ruapehu had special one day offer of day passes for $1 meant for the Aussie market as a promotion but got snapped up by kiwis. 19,000 sold!
The say it was a joint venture with Tourism NZ. I really hope it doesn't hit RAL in the pocket and mean they have to make up a shortfall somewhere else!!
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Sounds like a dumb idea to me. $$ just walking out the door. I wonder what the limit was per person. Even if it was 1 you could get heaps more than that anyways.
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Sounds like someone screwed up pretty badly by not putting some simple things in the T&C's like 'Not available to NZ residents'
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IT Hack & Genuine NutJob
Damn, I woulda bought 100 or so through various methods.
my workmate got 4
How many are gonna hit trade me...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: CCS
you can always drink Export 33 (and some ohter beers) and collect the RAL voucher from the box.
we're currently drinking our way to Treble Cone
maybe time for some big ones, $33 off at tc is an awesome deal.
Originally posted by: jedski
How many are gonna hit trade me...
I'd be happy to pay $5 for a few of them, freight not included either. It featured in the news over here too, there was a lady saying "oh, i average about 10 days a season, so got ten", and some other dork had cashed it too.
Really, why wouldn't you?
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Punter Extraordinaire
Whats the bet RAL will cry poor that they are about $1.85 million down in lift sales at the end of the season...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Well, it's certainly not my fault...
Hopefully they use it as an excuse to raise day pass prices... Really, they've no one to blame but themselves on this one. Nice idea poorly put into practice.
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Punter Extraordinaire
Hopefully the $1 punters will spend lots of $ at the cafes 
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reine de l'hiver
More like a excuse to raise season passes next year! Who feels ripped off by spending circa $400 on a season pass!? (Raises my hand)...
I wonder how many people won't use them too... I have my doubts about my workmate, he's a seasonal mardis gras snowboarder 
Some might say it's pretty damn cunning really - all the serious snow-users will have season passes by now (either Aussie or Kiwi) so those that bought passes will either be newbie riders or people who probably wouldn't have come up anyway.
Newbie rider's $1 lift pass means they will pay for their gear rental and lessons separately rather than in a package deal, then they'll get cold because their gear sucks and drink 3 coffees and eat 2 pies during the course of the day.
Likewise with people who wouldn't have gone up anyway.
If you consider people like us (season pass holders with our own gear) how many did we actually buy? We might have bought them for friends but again, that's just more people up the mountain who mightn't have gone up without.
Plus the flow-on effects for accommodation and hospo in 'Kune and Natty Park - I don't think it's really as dumb as it looks on the surface.
*edited 10 Jun 2011 08:16
Fukit ... I would have bought a couple
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*** Blinding Night ***
Originally posted by: fossberry
More like a excuse to raise season passes next year! Who feels ripped off by spending circa $400 on a season pass!? (Raises my hand)...
If you feel ripped paying $400 for a season pass stay home next season. It's a mega deal and you could of got it for $360 in November. Mountains gotta make some money somewhere. Don't forget the lines company want to charge a million dollers just for line charges...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
I think it is a huge mistake, even if it was 50% or 25% the price it would of had a return, the mt will not make money on $1 passes. But great it might be busier? Hopefully they are all weekend skiers and from Auckland so the will go to the bright side
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Winter is always coming!
*edited 10 Jun 2011 08:44
Exactly SD. Snowpark are wiser. Thats a good one "Not only are we lossing money, lift lines will be heaps longer for full paying guests". Ye ha
http://www.grouponnz.co.nz/ [grouponnz.co.nz]
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
My prediction for the season is more road closed days for whakapapa, more crowds waiting to use one lift at Turoa.
No chain fitting at Whakapapa so on a chains day you can guarentee Turoa will be hit. At least the positive is these $1 passes will have little effect on most sensible skiers/boarders who avoid the busy days. $1 to spend most the day in a lift line and maybe one or two runs or spend most that time in a overcowded Happy Valley/Alpine meadow.
Snow guns have been up and running just need the freezing level to stay down lower for longer. Text from mate working at Knoll cafe says its puking!
Originally posted by: jedskiOriginally posted by: fossberry
More like a excuse to raise season passes next year! Who feels ripped off by spending circa $400 on a season pass!? (Raises my hand)...
If you feel ripped paying $400 for a season pass stay home next season. It's a mega deal and you could of got it for $360 in November.
The season pass here is amazingly cheap, yup. Try getting a season pass that cheap overseas.
Don't feel ripped off in the slightest.
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Gaper.
Originally posted by: jsims
My prediction for the season is more road closed days for whakapapa, more crowds waiting to use one lift at Turoa.
No chain fitting at Whakapapa so on a chains day you can guarentee Turoa will be hit. At least the positive is these $1 passes will have little effect on most sensible skiers/boarders who avoid the busy days. $1 to spend most the day in a lift line and maybe one or two runs or spend most that time in a overcowded Happy Valley/Alpine meadow.
Snow guns have been up and running just need the freezing level to stay down lower for longer. Text from mate working at Knoll cafe says its puking!
I hope you are right and all the $1 day passes hit Turoa
I just wonder what they will tell people when they try to drive up without chains. Some people will definitely risk it to "see the snow" if they can...
Originally posted by: jsims
My prediction for the season is more road closed days for whakapapa, more crowds waiting to use one lift at Turoa.
No chain fitting at Whakapapa so on a chains day you can guarentee Turoa will be hit. At least the positive is these $1 passes will have little effect on most sensible skiers/boarders who avoid the busy days. $1 to spend most the day in a lift line and maybe one or two runs or spend most that time in a overcowded Happy Valley/Alpine meadow.
Snow guns have been up and running just need the freezing level to stay down lower for longer. Text from mate working at Knoll cafe says its puking!
I'm predicting there will be little snow fall until Mid to late August. Then its going to puke its ring out for 3 months ... which will impact on the Rugby World Cup (bad weather across the country) but will produce stellar spring conditions at Ruapehu. All the crowds will have given up for the season, Spring PAss will be the best deal of the year and I will still get over 12 days on the hill.
Oh well, we live and dream ahe
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*** Blinding Night ***
@$95 for a day pass they have given away $1.8m worth of passes at less than the cost of administration!!!
I don't f'n believe it?!?!
Does anyone know if they are restricted to midweek outside of the holidays or are they a free-for-all?
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One good turn deserves another...
I got the max of four and by the looks of it there is no restriction.
Originally posted by: edgehi
@$95 for a day pass they have given away $1.8m worth of passes at less than the cost of administration!!!
I don't f'n believe it?!?!
Does anyone know if they are restricted to midweek outside of the holidays or are they a free-for-all?
Unbelievable there are no restrictions on this promotional. The effort ought to be in midweek outside holidays, otherwise it just seems like an absolute gift for no meaningful return or RAL. Nuts !
Originally posted by: atros
I hope you are right and all the $1 day passes hit Turoa
I just wonder what they will tell people when they try to drive up without chains. Some people will definitely risk it to "see the snow" if they can...
People will just have to take the shuttle like in the old days. Remember those big yellow 'goats'. Good for days that were a bit marginal for the Morris 1100
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reine de l'hiver
Originally posted by: muzza
Unbelievable there are no restrictions on this promotional. The effort ought to be in midweek outside holidays, otherwise it just seems like an absolute gift for no meaningful return or RAL. Nuts !
I Disagree that there is no return from RAL, if people from Australia who typically go to the south island for their trips decide to come to the North Island then not only does that increase the economy in the short term but if they like it they may return and pay full price. Advertising is expensive! it costs 80,000 a month (ish) for a radio spot so if they can have a promotion like this that may only cost them 100 - 200 k then its not bad for them. Sorry for ranting
Consider the bigger picture guys... it wouldn't surprise me if they're getting a subsidy from TourismNZ for every skier-day on a $1 pass.
Have RAL made any comment on this? At Aussie only it was a great idea but if 15k + of these passes have gone to NZ then this has to be a stuff up. They are pissing off exisitng NZ customers while gaining little revenue. Then again grabbing $19k may be the best they can hope for with summer becoming a permanent feature
And how many people will actually use the passes? I know people who get a season pass and don't use it for whatever reason (!), so if people can write off $400 then they will easily write off $1. Ok RAL have 'lost' $94 per pass but they might gain on those who would not have come otherwise and gain $ on food, hire etc (edgehi - get out there with your sheep in sandwich boards to lure the punters in before they get up the road). And if they are newbies and like it they might come back as regular season pass holders who make it their mission not to spend a cent in the cafes (but stil hog the tables)
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reine de l'hiver
Then again grabbing $19k may be the best they can hope for with summer becoming a permanent feature
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*** Blinding Night ***
That's a very 'woolly' jacket you are wearing there Ice Queen, want a job?
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One good turn deserves another...
Bigger picture. I'm into bigger picture but I just don't get $1. How about $10 or $25? Still an outrageous bargain. But at $1 it's actually loosing money. Nuts, I say!
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One good turn deserves another...
*edited 10 Jun 2011 14:06
^As long as you aren't paying $1 an hour.
Agree $1 bit of a silly price...50c would have been better
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reine de l'hiver
High Noon Update
Work on the High Noon Express modifications is now complete with Doppelmayr engineers handing the lift back to us late last week. It's very good news having the lift operating again well in advance of our scheduled opening date and we look forward to skiing it with you soon.
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Winter is always coming!
He might pay you in $1 Day passes...
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Punter Extraordinaire
I'm not sure that RAL takes the entire hit from the $1 passes - it was a joint promotion so costs would be shared some way.
Do the passes look different from the ones anyone can get through the spinner game, which can only be redeemed by Aussies?
http://www.facebook.com/purenewzealand?sk=app_204893716200369 [facebook.com]
Did RAL state that they are non-transferable? And I suppose you'd have to cough up ID to claim them anyway.
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reine de l'hiver
Lets hope they make some money out of it and invest in more patrolers and get things going earlier after a dump.
Originally posted by: muzza
Unbelievable there are no restrictions on this promotional. The effort ought to be in midweek outside holidays, otherwise it just seems like an absolute gift for no meaningful return or RAL. Nuts !
No they should be weekends and holidays only I reckon
re: bigger picture: I hope they got some money from tourismNZ
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Winter is always coming!
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts pay $1.1 million in lines charges to The Lines Company and $400k to King Country Energy for the actual power used. They are considering switching over to diesel as other industry people are because of the extortinate lines charges. They don't want to switch because of their situation inside a world heritage park but as they are paying twice what comparable south island ski areas pay they may be forced to make a commercial decision. Many operators in the area are facing the same dilemma. And of course if this crazy business model by TLC of reducing customers takes hold the charges to the remaining customers will increase even more creating a huge disincentive for new business and business expansion in the Ruapehu District.
TLC is a monopoly lines company in this area.
Source: Energy News www.energynews.co.nz 26 May 2011
*edited 11 Jun 2011 00:12
^^ Ruapehu DC and KCE (that says a lot!) got an independent report done that finds TLC pricing model fundamentally flawed!
TLC is a wart on the king country's ass and marches to a different beat than any other lines co in NZ... yet they are right.
Small town 'big timers' running artificial monopolies are scaaarrryy
$1 passes - reaction;
a) bugger (for me)
b) bugger (for RAL)
c) doh!
...or if you've got the inside info Jedski you're meant to do one of these ...apparently it means we'll take you seriously.
at least there is snow (of minor significance) on the cams now