NZsnowboard.com

29th February 2008

Skiers and snowboarders only have until midnight on Wednesday (5 March) to snap up the very best deals for this year?s winter season passes to New Zealand?s premier ski areas.  

The Early Bird range of passes for Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt offer discounts for those who buy on-line at www.nzski.com and have been on sale since early February.

Significant development and improvements across all ski areas mean skiers and boarders have a lot to look forward to this season.

As part of a $30million redevelopment, Coronet Peak?s snowmaking system is set to become one of the most sophisticated in the world by 2008?s season opening.

An extra 141 fixed positioning TechnoAlpin Italian snow guns will be installed, bringing the total to 203 fully automated snow guns. This will effectively mean more skiable terrain from opening day and vastly improve the quality of skiing and riding surfaces throughout the season.

?This is a massive automated snowmaking system like no-one has seen here before and allows for every window of possible snowmaking to be maximized,? said Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager Hamish McCrostie. ?It?s as close as it?s technologically possible to guarantee snow.?

Mr McCrostie says Queenstown?s cold stable weather conditions generally make it ideal for snowmaking.

?We?re really getting the best of both worlds this year ? there will be a lot more opportunity to experience better and more consistent snow in perfect conditions throughout the season and for extremely good value.?

While Coronet Peak is undergoing a major redevelopment programme which will also see customers enjoy a new world class base building, Mt Hutt and The Remarkables are benefiting from significant investment too. This includes additional snow guns, improvements to facilities and the introduction of new terrain features at both ski areas.

Parent company Southern Alpine Recreation CEO James Coddington believes the passes provide New Zealand?s best value for the broadest possible range of skiers and riders.

?Our management team has worked hard to balance the need to generate returns with the need to ensure snow sports stay accessible to New Zealand families.?

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 at www.nzski.com and is designed to help people manage their cash flow more easily.
 
People are 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.

Ends

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  




About Season Passes

For those likely to ski or board at Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables the nzskipass is just the ticket.  At $899 for an adult, $799 student, $599 youth (7-17) and senior (65 ? 74), the nzskipass offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt and Ohau Snow Fields.  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.  

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.

The Mt Hutt pass at $579 for an adult, $479 student, $329 youth and senior offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season at Mt Hutt and Ohau Snow Fields.  It also includes a 50% discount on day passes at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables and a range of additional benefits* including discounts at other ski areas in both New Zealand and the USA.

The Mt Hutt Midweek pass prices remain unchanged from 2007 at $299 for an adult and $199 student, $179 youth and senior offers unlimited skiing and riding for the 2008 season Monday to Friday only at Mt Hutt.  On weekends at Mt Hutt and at any time at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables the pass holder is entitled to a Frequent Card discount on day lift tickets.  This pass offers midweek day pass discounts at Ohau Snow Fields, Snow Park NZ, Turoa and Whakapapa.  On weekends full day pass rates are charged at all these areas.

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.   

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.

* Additional benefits include discounts on day lift passes at Mt Dobson, Mt Lyford, Mt Olympus, Porters, Rainbow, Temple Basin, SnowPark NZ, Turoa and Whakapapa and (for passes which include Coronet Peak and The Remarkables) Aspen, Colorado.  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.