Wanaka, New Zealand - Treble Cone ski area in Wanaka is preparing on-mountain enhancements worth NZ$1.5 million for the 2006 ski and snowboard season. Area Manager, Jackie Van der Voort, says that Treble Cone has been completing major trail enhancements for the coming ski season along with increased snowmaking facilities.
“We are transforming beginner and intermediate skiing and snowboarding at Treble Cone and providing new and improved expansive groomed trails,” Van der Voort says. She explains that after several seasons enhancing their advanced and expert terrain, Treble Cone is now focused on offering wider groomed trails to ensure novice and intermediate skiers and snowboarders are even more comfortable. Guests will now enjoy three new extra-wide trails ready for winter that are 80 to 100 meters wide in many areas, named Easy Rider, Big Skite and Raffills Run.
The new and improved Easy Rider beginner trail (previously Triple Treat) has been significantly widened in three sections and has had some corners removed, now ensuring New Zealand’s longest groomed beginner trail at 3.5km is more comfortable and spacious than ever before.
Intermediate skiers and boarders will now enjoy cruising the expansive new Big Skite trail, which has been broadened out to 100 meters in areas and 200 meters long on the Home Basin. Likened to a super highway, the big Skite trail can be easily accessed from the top of the six-seater Express Chairlift. This replaces an old T-Bar and will vastly change intermediate skiing on the upper mountain, where trails in the past were once more confined and technical.
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In the Saddle Basin, the new and improved Raffills Run, named after founder Murray Raffills, and Pete’s Treat has also been widened up to 40 meters. With possibly the most scenic views on the mountain, this trail will now offer a more spacious and comfortable groomed 2km ski or ride to the bottom of the new Saddle Quad chairlift.
More snowmaking plant will be installed this winter, increasing capacity by 50%, with a total of 30 snow guns producing man made snow on the Home Basin when conditions allow.
“More snowmaking facilities will help ensure the ski area opens 27 June with a good snow base ready for July School holidays”, says Van der Voort.
The ski area owner, Treble Cone Investments Ltd., has invested over NZ$12 million in Treble Cone over the past 4 years, including NZ$1.5 million this winter. Last winter the company invested in a new Quad Chairlift in the Saddle Basin. The new lift doubled the ski area's lift accessed terrain and reaches the highest lift-served altitude in the South Island.
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