Daily Archive for August 19th, 2008

Snow conditions are pointing up for spring Kiwi season

Published
by
Mike Styles
on August 19, 2008
in Travel
. 0 Comments

A combination of great snow and weather conditions, world-class events and quieter slopes makes September the prime time to visit Lake Wanaka’s four ski areas.

With accommodation, gear rental and lift pass specials on offer throughout September, groups of friends and families will be enticed to the mountains with good value holidays. Trips do not need to be booked too far in advance with the ease of internet bookings and great last minute deals.

Longer and warmer sunshine hours in September allow for more action on the mountains, with crisp snow in the morning softening throughout the day. Natural snow fall and extensive snow making during Winter ensures great conditions until the end of the season in early October, with average September snow depths comparable to July.

The quieter slopes and minimal queues for lifts provide skiers and boarders a relaxed environment on the mountains. Lunch can be taken outdoors soaking up the warmth and spectacular scenery. As the sun starts to set high on the hills alternative après-ski activities can be enjoyed in Lake Wanaka’s attractive resort town.

Tiered ticket pricing for day passes at Treble Cone and Snow Park provides great value riding during the off-peak month of September with adult day passes as low as $65 at Snow Park and $89 at Treble Cone.

A good selection of ski and snowboard events will entertain visitors to the resorts throughout September. Elite snowboarders can be seen in action for the FIS World Cup at Cardrona (1-7 September) while the skiers will shine at Treble Cone’s ANC Tech Series (4-5 September). The action continues at Snow Park NZ for the Armadageddon ski competition in the halfpipe and slopestyle (12-13 September) and The Volcom Peanut Butter Rail Jam, for the snowboarding youth (27 September). Rounding off the events on the mountain the Kids Festival at Cardrona includes the Junior Freeski and Snowboard Nationals (28 September – 1 October).

John Alldred, CEO of Lake Wanaka Tourism believes September is a fantastic time to visit Lake Wanaka,

You get all the benefits of winter but at a quieter, warmer and cheaper time of year. The pleasures of spring conditions for skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in the morning with further pursuits such as mountain biking, wine tours or lake cruises available for the afternoon,”

he said.

Kicking Horse plans ski resort expansion and 18-hole course

Published
by
Mike Styles
on August 19, 2008
in Ski Canada and Ski Resorts
. 0 Comments

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) in British Columbia has unveiled a new Draft Master Plan during a series of Open House sessions in the local resort town of Golden.
The new Draft Master Plan proposes the expansion of the existing ski resort (KHMR) into a destination resort including a signature 18-hole golf course, a densification of the resort base and major improvements to the ski area.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort opened in the 2000/2001 ski season with the dramatic introduction of a gondola to the top of the mountain range, and it has now reached an important stage; the point when it has to look at the long term future. Following a rapid start and tremendous local support, KHMR captured the imagination of the riding public as unique place to ski/ride and enjoy the mountains,”

said a company spokesman.

“The time has come to re-think this project, taking a fresh look at the plans, the markets, the community and what we have learned in the past eight years” said Kicking Horse’s President Steve Paccagnan.

Ballast Nedam, the owners of KHMR, are enthusiastic about the opportunity to make the resort even more successful into the future. We see this as a uniquely appropriate time. Tourism is gaining positive momentum in the Kootenay’s, and KHMR is well positioned to participate in the process of drawing the attention of international clientele to the interior following the world wide exposure of the 2010 winter Olympics.”

After a year of planning with the development team at KHMR and resort industry consultants, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort’s management are pleased to submit an amended Draft Master Plan to update and expand the 1999 Master Plan for Kicking Horse Mountain resort by formally submitting the plan to the government of British Columbia (under the Commercial Alpine Ski Policy).
The full 200 page, 99MB plans can be viewed at: http://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/resort_development/resort_plans/proposed_resort_plans.htm