NZsnowboard.com

10th February 2008

Skiers and boarders planning to winter in Queenstown are encouraged to get a head start on the 2008 snow season by logging on to www.nzski.com for Early Bird season pass deals for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt.  

The range of discounted Early Bird passes goes on sale from today, Thursday 7 February until midnight 5 March and offers the best possible prices for those who buy on-line.  

Price increases this year reflect the ongoing investment programme in the ski areas, but have been kept to the bare minimum says David Ovendale, Southern Alpine Recreation Ltd (SARL) General Manager - Sales and Marketing.

?An adult pass for unlimited skiing or riding at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Ohau Snow Fields has increased $50 to $699 this year.  While economic reality has driven increases, the Board of Directors and management team has worked to ensure snow sports stay accessible to New Zealand families.

Mr Ovendale says increases have been mitigated with added value.

?For the first time, our season passes will include discounts at Whakapapa, Turoa and SnowPark NZ, as well as discounts at several other South Island ski areas.

?Almost all of our season pass holders can enjoy unlimited skiing and riding across not only their chosen ski areas from our group ? but also at Ohau for no extra cost.  International discounts are delivered on passes that include Queenstown ski areas through Queenstown?s participation in Leading Mountain Resorts of the World ?Endless Winter? programme and its sister city relationship with Aspen, Colorado."

New for this year?s pass line-up is the Tubing Season Pass at The Remarkables designed for those who are neither skiers nor boarders but want to regularly experience the true alpine environment at The Remarkables.  At $199 for a family of five (two adults and up to three youths aged 17 or under). Mr Ovendale believes the Tubing Pass offers fantastic value for families.

?The Tubing Park has its own dedicated slope, its own drag lift and specially designed inner tubes. It?s great fun for all ages and provides an excellent introduction to snow and the alpine environment.?

SARL CEO James Coddington says the company believes the passes provide New Zealand?s best value for the broadest possible range of skiers and riders.  

?Prices and increases are low in terms of the development programme that began in 2005 and the added value has significantly increased.?

SARL?s investment programme this year focused on Coronet Peak where $30 million is being invested into the transformation of Coronet Peak?s base building and a world-leading snow making system.  A still-secret project is already underway at The Remarkables as is the installation of more snowmaking.

Introduced last year, the Early Bird time payment option allows people to pay for their passes in three installments.  This option is only available online and is designed to help people manage their cash flow more easily.

?It has been specifically designed for local families, many of whom need to buy multiple passes,? says Mr Coddington.  

People are strongly encouraged to purchase online at www.nzski.com to obtain the best possible prices and to take advantage of the Early Bird time payment option. Application forms can be downloaded from the website and are also available from the Snow Centres in Queenstown and Methven and at leading ski retailers around the county. Physical applications will incur a $35 administration fee.

The Early Bird offers are only available until 5 March 2008, after which prices will increase to a pre-shoulder (6 March ? 16 April 2008), shoulder (17 April ? 6 June 2008) and then a main season rate.

The Queenstown Pass, for those who ski or ride mostly in Queenstown, is on offer at $699 for an adult, $599 student, $399 youth and senior.  It offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Ohau Snow Fields plus a 50% discount on day passes at Mt Hutt. It also includes 50% discounts at numerous ski areas in the other Leading Mountain Resorts regions of Val Gardena and Bariloche as part of the Endless Winter programme. A range of additional benefits* including discounts at other ski areas in New Zealand and the USA are also covered by the pass.

All children aged six and under will receive a free day lift pass at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt.

The First Tracks extension for Coronet Peak is available for $195. The extension offers an early morning experience between 8 and 9am when the Coronet Express chair will open as conditions and operational requirements allow.  The extension is designed for those who want the earliest possible access to untracked powder or freshly groomed runs, and is perfect for Queenstown people who are able to ski or board outside office hours.

The Tubing Pass offers all season access to the Ozone Tubing Park at The Remarkables and is designed for those who neither ski nor snowboard but love to get into the mountains for snow fun.  It is available at $99 adult, $49 youth and $199 family pass (two adults and up to three children within the same family). Reservations for tubing are required.   


* Additional benefits include discounts on day lift passes at Whakapapa and Turoa in the North Island and at Snow Park NZ, Mt Dobson, Mt Lyford, Mt Olympus, Porters, Rainbow and Temple Basin in the South Island. Through a Sister City relationship with Aspen a discount of 25% on day lift tickets is available to holders of the nzskipass and Queenstown Pass types. All season pass holders are entitled to the following discounts at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt: 25% discount on afternoon Group Lessons (subject to availability), 10% discount at the on mountain retail outlets, (does not apply to sale items or other special offers) and 10% discount off workshop/repairs.



Further information: www.nzski.com

David Ovendale, Southern Alpine Recreation Limited General Manager - Sales and Marketing. Tel: 03 409 0816, email: david@nzski.com

James Coddington, Southern Alpine Recreation Limited CEO. Tel: 03 409 2920, email: james@nzski.com