NZ ski season shaping up for repeat record
Posted on 09. Feb, 2009 by Campbell in Inside New Zealand
While New Zealand bathes in sunshine and high temperatures, winter sports enthusiasts have cooler conditions in mind. Last year rated as best on record for New Zealand skifields and, with many skiers and snowboarders already planning their winter recreation, the Ski Areas Association NZ expects 40,000 winter 09 passes to sell pre-season. International sales, particularly in Australia, are important. Of 1,402,000 passes sold during last year’s bumper season, more than a third went to Australian tourists.
Positive attitude
Ski Areas Association spokesman Miles Davidson says the 2008 record and current pre-sales are particularly surprising in view of the recession, but there’s a positive attitude amongst the ski and snowboarding fraternity. “The petrol crisis didn’t impact on the snow sports industry at all last year and we see an attitude of people not wanting to give up on recreation even when they are finding it tough economically,” Davidson said.
Quality conditions
New Zealand ski areas experienced fantastic snow conditions in 2008, and the season opened in time for the July school holidays thanks to both natural and machine-made snow, he said. More snow than usual fell during the rest of the season. Skiers and snowboarders had top quality conditions until October in the South Island, and mid-November in the North Island when the season ended.
Skiers in the know
Providing such a top quality product bode well for the industry and, if good cold temps for snow-making and natural snow came consistently during winter, it would again attract well over the average 1.2 million annual visits, Davidson said. “Skiers and snowboarders are passionate about their sport and are also very knowledgeable. They gather all the information and if they know the conditions are good they’ll go for it,” he said. With so many passes already sold and attractive deals offered by airlines, group operators and wholesalers plus the benefit of a fluctuating dollar, the Ski Areas Association believes the season is shaping up well.
Recession concessions
Some New Zealand ski areas are offering incentives for new visitors and those looking for ways to curb their budget during recessionary times.
Treble Cone – at Wanaka in the South Island – is offering free access to learner lifts with the aim of encouraging learners and families on a shoe-string budget to visit the skifield. It’s hoped that the free lifts will raise awareness of the quality of the learner slopes. Treble Cone will also be offering complimentary mountain tours. The 90-minute guided tours covering the skifield’s groomed trails will operate twice a day.
Winter 2009 events:
- Winter Festival – Queenstown 26 June – 5 July 2009
- Ohakune Mountain Mardi Gras 27 June 2009
- Winter Games NZ 22 – 30 August 2009 Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone, Snow Farm, Naseby and Dunedin
- Gay Ski Week – Queenstown 29 August – 6 September 2009
- Wanakafest – Lake Wanaka 15 – 18 October 2009
Proposed 2009 ski opening dates:
- Coronet Peak – 9 June
- Mt Hutt – 13 June
- The Remarkables – 20 June
- Cardrona – 26 June
- Treble Cone – 27 June
- Turoa – 20 June
- Whakapapa – 27 June