New Zealand invests in ski future
Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:00 AM
Treble Cone has invested heavily in its future as a ski destination
The world order of premier ski resorts is set to change over the coming years because of declining snowfall, with places in Europe such as Switzerland and Austria losing out to the likes of Israel and New Zealand.
Indeed, resorts like New Zealand's Mt Hutt and the South Island's largest skiing area, Treble Cone, are primed for an explosion of tourists keen to enjoy the country's powdery pleasures.
Operators at Treble Cone in Wanaka have been busy improving the mountain trails and boosting the resort's snowmaking facilities in a huge £565,000 project.
Improvements are being made to the resort's trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders.
Those relatively new to the slopes will be able to enjoy a more relaxed induction to the sport on the enhanced Easy Rider, New Zealand's longest groomed beginner trail, which has been widened and had corners removed.
Intermediate skiers are benefiting from the broadened Big Skite trail, extended to a width of 100 metres and 200 metres in length.
It is hoped that the changes to the slope's dimensions will make it accessible to different levels of skier and boarder.
An additional improvement to Big Skite is to the logistical accessibility of the trail, thanks to the introduction of the six seater express chairlift, which is easier and quicker to use than the previous T-bar system.
Advanced skiers will also be taking advantage of the more spacious and always scenic, Raffills Run.
And to ensure that the snow is of a high enough quality and quantity to make the most of the new slopes, snowmaking capacity is being increased by 50 per cent, with 30 new snow guns being installed.
Area Manager, Jackie Van der Voort, said: "More snowmaking facilities will help ensure the ski area opens June 27th with a good snow base ready for July school holidays."
The ski area owner, Treble Cone Investments, has invested more than NZ$12 million in Treble Cone over the past four years improving facilities and enhancing the snow experience for guests.
For more information on Treble Cone visit http://treblecone.win.mydns.net.nz/
