CARDRONA OPEN FOR 2016 WITH BLUE SKIES AND ALL CHAIRLIFTS RUNNING

Cardrona Alpine Resort is open for the 2016 winter, with a bluebird day to welcome skiers and snowboarders to the season. All four chairlifts, two surface conveyors including the new conveyor tunnel, and main trails opened to the public at 8.30am this morning with around 1500 skiers and snowboarders on the mountain today.

The resort opened today with blue skies and a calm breeze after a few days of stormy weather. A southerly change is forecast to bring more snow over the rest of the weekend, down to low levels.

Last week Cardrona ran a Facebook competition to win a night in the Cardrona Alpine Apartments, lift passes & rental equipment, Mons Royale gear and First Chair rights for four people. The winner, Kelly Mackenzie, was nominated by a friend after she lost almost everything in a house fire last Tuesday night. Kelly, her son Luke, and two of their friends were the first to ride Whitestar Express.

“A lovely friend, Flora, nominated us because she hoped it would put a smile on my face,” says Kelly. “It’s great to be up here experiencing this with Luke and my friends.”

Kids of all ages flocked to downtown Wanaka yesterday evening for Cardrona and Light Up Wanaka’s Welcome to Winter party. Cardrona set up a Burton Riglet Park and Junior Rail Jam to get youngsters of all levels a taste of snow before Opening Day. Light Up Wanaka added to the fun with a bouncy castle and stalls from the Wanaka Farmers Market.

“We’re so stoked to be open with all four chairlifts and all main trails for 2016,” says Cardrona’s General Manager Bridget Legnavsky. “We’ve got an exciting season coming up so to open the whole mountain on Opening Day is absolute gold for us.”

Cardrona has a raft of events lined up for the 2016 winter, including the new Cardrona Games FIS event where some of the world’s best freestyle skiers and snowboarders will be competing. The first major event of the season is the July 20 Cardrona Kids’ Cup slopestyle competition.

For more information about Cardrona’s event schedule: http://www.cardrona.com/events

ENDS

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