NZsnowboard.com

22nd March 2007

Canterbury?s Ross Lawrence has been appointed Ski Area Manager for The Remarkables.  

Southern Alpine Recreation Limited Managing Director Duncan Smith said the company was delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Lawrence who is currently Mountain Operations Manager at The Remarkables sister ski area, Mt Hutt.

?Ross brings many years of snow industry experience to The Remarkables and following 10 seasons at Mt Hutt as Mountain Operations Manager is highly experienced in all aspects of ski area operation.  Over the past 10 years he has been heavily involved in development at Mt Hutt as the ski area introduced new snowmaking technology, doubled the size of its base building and then in 2005 underwent a major terrain and lift redevelopment.?   

Mr Lawrence began his career in the snow industry at Mt Ruapehu?s Whakapapa ski area in 1984.  Starting out as a lift operator and after spending a season on Ski Patrol there, he worked his way up through the ranks to become Field Operations Manager.  Following two years as Mountain Manager at Rainbow at St Arnaud, he moved to Mt Hutt in 1996 to take up his current role.  His career includes a stint overseas working at Heavenly Valley ski field near Tahoe in California.  

Mr Lawrence said he was looking forward to moving to Queenstown and the challenge of running The Remarkables.

?My focus at The Remarkables will be to build on the excellent reputation that Hamish and his team have established for the mountain over the past 10 years.  The ski area has a unique alpine character, a great team in place and still a huge amount of potential to develop the recreational experience for visitors, particularly among the family and youth markets.?
 
Mr Lawrence will move to Queenstown in mid May to take up the role.  He?ll be joined by his wife and two teenage children in July.


Further information:  
Managing director Duncan Smith duncan@nzski.com,   0274 769 881
Or
Media liaison Alexa Forbes, Southern Public Relations Limited, alexa@southernpr.co.nz, 03 441 1117