Mt Ruahehu Confirms Season Open Til Labour Day

29 September 2009

MT RUAPEHU CONFIRMS SEASON OPEN UNTIL LABOUR DAY

-Outstanding Spring snow and conditions also brings hot Spring lift pass deal-

 
Mt Ruapehu’s record season gets even better with the ski area announcing it will be open until Labour Day (Monday 26 October).

After an exceptional start to the season with heavy snow falls in May and Turoa opening on 7 June, the earliest ever on record, Mt Ruapehu’s ideal snow conditions are ensuring quality Spring skiing and boarding right through the school holidays until the end of October.

“This has been a great year for Mt Ruapehu and we’ve certainly emerged from the global recession in a strong position,” says Mr Mike Smith, Mt Ruapehu Marketing Manager.

“We sold a record 25,000 season passes for 2009, which is an increase of almost 30 percent on last year. We also broke our previous July school holidays record. Not surprisingly, there’s been an increase in the number of Kiwis visiting the mountain who have preferred to holiday at home rather than take a trip overseas.

“Turoa is heading for its biggest-ever record season and, despite February’s arson attack and resulting temporary conditions, Whakapapa has also had a good season.

Mr Smith says as well as having favourable snow conditions throughout the season, much of the success of the season is due to the recent facility upgrades, in particular the snow making development at both Turoa and Whakapapa.

“This year we conducted more than 1,500 hours of snowmaking, and this equates to making enough to cover 100 rugby fields with a metre of snow.”

To make the most of the top Spring conditions, Mt Ruapehu is offering a hot deal for Spring skiing and the upcoming school holidays. For those who don’t have a 2009 season pass, Mt Ruapehu is offering Spring Lift Passes from 1 October for only $175 (adult) and $115 (18 years and under). The lift passes provide unlimited skiing on Mt Ruapehu from 1 – 26 October 2009, and are on sale from both Whakapapa and Turoa Customer Services Centres on the mountain.

ENDS

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