NZsnowboard.com

15th January 2008

Snowmaking will be expanded into the Captain?s Basin at Cardrona Alpine Resort. Eleven new snow guns in addition to the thirteen guns in the Main Basin will supplement Cardrona?s renowned natural snow base.

It will give skiers and snowboarders peace of mind for a good start early in the season on the new Captains high speed detachable quad chairlift.


October Powder at Cardrona

The snowmaking expansion will cost $1.4 million and will be completed before 1 June 2008 ? the time the Resort starts making snow for a season opening date of 27 June.

The Captain?s snowmaking will be part of a fully automated snowmaking system. This means that should the right temperature and humidity levels be reached then snowmaking will start (without any human intervention), ensuring Cardrona maximizes snowmaking conditions at the start of the season.

?This will give skiers and boarders coming in June and July more peace of mind that snow conditions will be adequate to open chairlifts, even if there has been very little natural snow?, says Gary Husband, Field Manager at Cardrona.

Captain?s Snowmaking Facts:
Snow coverage in a night of snowmaking: 5500 m2 at 30cm depth
Length of Pipe from pump house to top of Captains: 2.46 km
Snow gun manufacturer: SMI Super PoleCat
Area 55,000 m2
Snow 21,000 m3

Main Basin Snowmaking Facts: Area 134,000 m2, Snow 40,200 m3



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For further information, please contact:
Bruce McGechan, Sales & Marketing Manager, Cardrona Alpine Resort
T: 03 443 7341 M: 021 501 488 E: bruce@cardrona.com