Cardrona Alpine Resort
The recent snow fall has seen around 30cm accumulate in the base area at Cardrona. The team started snowmaking on Monday
18th May with over 800,000 litres of water to kick things off. The forecasted temperatures are looking good for further
snowmaking this week to keep the base which has formed. Cardrona’s approximately 2 million dollar investment has arrived
in the form of four new Kassbohrer Pisten Bully Groomers. The groomers are equipped with an integrated GPS snow and
fleet management ‘Snow Sat’ system. Cardrona will be the only ski area in the Southern Hemisphere to use the innovative
system which will provide:
• Premium slope quality
• More environmentally friendly operating from reducing fuel consumption by 8% and operating time by 5%
• A 15% reduction in the need to make snow
• Improved slope management technology and snow depth measurement for increased accuracy in guest communications
relating to snow base depth.
“This technology is a game changer for NZ skiing. We will be able to better manage our snow coverage to give our guests
that perfect day out on the mountains,” says Erik Barnes, Manager Infrastructure and Operations. “We were looking for
ways to become more sustainable in our operations and reduce our impact on the environment while providing better
quality snow. The new groomers and SnowSat system will reduce our need for snowmaking and provide us with the ability to
create that perfect base and surface.”
Cardrona have a range of new improvements for the 2015 winter season to entertain all levels of skiers and snowboarders.
For the beginners, a new learner conveyor has been constructed which runs parallel to the existing conveyor to help
decrease lift queues. The beginner terrain park ‘Lil Bucks’ has been moved to the skiers left side of McDougall’s
chairlift to give beginner freestylers more space and a larger variety of features which completes Cardrona’s terrain
park offering that caters to first-timers, through to world class athletes. The move will also increase the available
space for beginners down McDougall’s green run.
The groomers have been on snow packing down trails in preparations for opening day in just over 3 weeks. Cardrona’s
trail network now includes a new intermediate trail along the ridge line
connecting Valley View and Tail Race trails. This will provide 10 extra hectares of on-piste terrain and make it
considerably easier to access terrain off the Valley View Quad lift. Several main trails have been widened over summer
to give even more space to beginner/intermediate skiers and snowboarders this season.
Earthworks have also been underway in the 22ft Olympic Halfpipe to make the transition from each wall longer and to make
the pipe easier to maintain. Cardrona’s terrain park crew have over 50 years combined experience and have a new addition
to the park groomer crew: X Games and Winter Olympic Halfpipe builder John Melville. John has over 15 years’ experience
building and maintaining features which will significantly contribute to upholding Cardrona’s world class terrain park
facilities. Cardrona are confident that they can continue to provide high quality freestyle facilities for not only
everyday guests, but for large events such as the Audi Quattro Winter Games, The Northface NZ Freeski Open and the
Cardrona Junior Nationals.
Cardrona is scheduled to open on Saturday June 13. The first week of the season will see limited beginner’s terrain on
offer with additional terrain opening as snowfall allows. Cardrona will open more facilities in the initial opening week
if snowfall allows. The resort now holds the longest scheduled season in the South Island with two extra weeks added in
the 2015 winter season.
ENDS