CARDRONA GEARS UP FOR OPENING DAY

Posted on 22 June 2010 at 11:54 AM

An exciting season is ahead for Cardrona Alpine Resort as the ski area gears up for opening day on Friday (June 25).  Cardrona, near Queenstown, New Zealand, has put the finishing touches on phase 1 of its Valley View expansion.

A busy summer for the ski area has seen the Valley View Quad installed on the lower part of the mountain as well as a 40-metre tunnel for skiers and riders that will provide a unique access route across the ski area.

Cardrona Sales and Marketing Manager Nadia Ellis says the addition of the Valley View Quad means Cardrona now has the largest number of chairlifts in the South Island. 

“At this stage we are relying on mother nature to provide enough snow to open the new lift as snowmaking won’t be installed until next year,” she says.

“Because Valley View is located at lower elevations we can’t be exactly sure when skiers and riders will get to enjoy this new facility for the first time.  However, it’s fantastic to see this first phase complete as part of our ongoing plans to create more terrain for skiers and riders.”

Cardrona decided to run the lift in 2010, subject to snow/weather, to better evaluate snowfall and terrain aspects before installing an extensive snowmaking system in 2011. The Valley View Chairlift will be officially opened next season.

Opening day is shaping up to be a cracker with fantastic early snowfall and cold temperatures giving the mountain an upper base of 55cm.

Cardrona will open on Friday (June 25) with first lift at 9.00am.