Skyline takes luge to South Korea

The view overlooking Tongyeong City from the Hallyeosudo Landscape Cable Car. The Skyline Tongyeong Luge will be located immediately below the cable car. Photo/Supplied

New Zealand tourism company Skyline Enterprises has unveiled a $20 million luge investment in South Korea.

A"ground-breaking" ceremony with more than 600 dignitaries, local and national government officials, and residents took place in Tongyeong, South Korea on Monday to mark the beginning of construction of the Skyline Luge Tongyeong.

It will be located directly below the coastal city's iconic Hallyeosudo Landscape Cable Car which takes visitors to the summit of Mt Mireuksan.

Tongyeong is a domestic tourism hotspot and the cable car attracts more than 1 million visitors each year.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mayor Kim-Dong Jin thanked Skyline for its commitment and significant investment in Tongyeong City, adding that the economic value and employment will be a welcomed boost to the city.

Skyline Enterprises chairman Mark Quickfall said the company has been working closely with Teongyeng City since identifying its next luge destination several years ago.

"This is an important New Zealand and Korean partnership and Skyline Enterprises is proud to be committing to the city of Tongyeong for this venture. We are confident it's going to be a success and provide benefits for all involved."

Skyline Enterprises team members join Tongyeong City councillors, government officials including head of police and military at the ground-breaking ceremony. Photo/Supplied

"Skyline Enterprises has received huge support from Tongyeong mayor Kim-Dong Jin, the city council, and the Geong-Nam province throughout the entire planning and development process," he said.

Officials from South Korea travelled to New Zealand to visit luge operations at Skyline Queenstown and Skyline Rotorua. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise had also been involved throughout the process.

At the ceremony New Zealand Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Clare Fearnley, congratulated Tongyeong City and Skyline on this important Korean and New Zealand partnership.

Skyline Enterprises has consent to build up to six luge tracks at the site. Two tracks will be built at first along with a detachable five-seater chairlift and terminals at the top and bottom of the tracks.

Once complete, Skyline Luge Tongyeong will be Skyline's second longest luge track at 1.7km. The longest is the 1.8km-long luge track at Skyline Calgary.

Skyline Luge Tongyeong is expected to open by the end of 2016.

Skyline General Manager International Luge Neville Nicholson will manage the construction phase of the Tongyeong Luge and will live in Tongyeong during the process.

"Neville has more than 30 years' experience with the luge operations and development so is ideal to manage this project with Sang Yong Ahn assisting in his role as Skyline's Korean Manager," said Mr Quickfall.
Queenstown's James Dudfield takes up the role of Skyline Luge Tongyeong General Manager after managing sites at Tremblant and Calgary.

Skyline has been operating the luge for more than 30 years in New Zealand with sites operating in New Zealand, Canada and Singapore.

Skyline Luge Tongyeong will be Skyline's 6th site.