Awaiting manna from heaven

La Nina is on the way out and the snowfalls of the past should be on the way back. STACEY BODGER says the skifields are well prepared after five bad seasons.

They have lured more than 20,000 punters with dirt-cheap deals and boosted their snowmaking capacities with flash new equipment. Now, all the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields need is snow.

That's not expected to be a problem this year after the retreat of the spoil-sport La Nina weather pattern.

The past five seasons have been dismal for both fields, beginning with the eruptions of Mt Ruapehu and continuing with warm winters and disappointing snowfalls during La Nina's reign.

But the weather pattern is finally on the way out - leaving Whakapapa and Turoa confident of a snow-filled winter. There have been several good snowfalls in the past month but also a steady rainfall. But a big dump is needed before skifields can open.

However, a return to the cooler temperatures and higher snowfalls of the mid-1990s is predicted this winter, which should give both fields a good base by the end of this month.

Turoa and Whakapapa are counting down to their scheduled openings on June 23 - a week out from the school holidays. Response has been overwhelming to the $199 season - pass deal, designed to kick - start the season and entice people back to the slopes.

The plan worked. Whakapapa has sold 17,000 season passes, including nearly 4000 for children, blitzing its previous season - pass record of 1000 in 1994. Turoa is still collating and posting out passes, and while it won't be releasing figures, they number several thousand.

Whakapapa marketing manager Mike Smith says the number of passes sold has astounded staff.

"People have gone nuts over it - a huge majority of those 17,000 would never have considered a season pass. The reason for such a cheap deal was to get people excited about skiing and boarding in the North Island again, and we've obviously done that."

Whakapapa and Turoa have suffered low visitor numbers over the past few years. Smith says the main reason has been slow starts to the season and poor snowfall.

"There's such a range of winter activities now that people have been opting for others. It's been a challenge to convince them to give the slopes another go but the mood out there is really positive this year."

Whakapapa has boosted its 10-year-old snowmaking machines with 2000-technology machines from the United States. The field has retained a Super Wizard machine that it tested last year, and invested in an extra two smaller machines which will allow it to make snow at minus 2 deg C rather than its current limit of minus 6 deg C.

Further good news is that snowmaking, previously done only on the Happy Valley beginners' slope, can now happen further up the mountain after staff developed a trailer and piping system to transport the machines.

Smith says the investment is part of an ambitious wider project which should extend the snowmaking capacity even further by next season.

Turoa has also invested in the technology and, for the first time, can boast snowmaking on its beginners' slope, Alpine Meadow. Marketing manager Vanessa Thomas says the purchase of six machines is a huge investment which staff are excited about.

Whakapapa, after realising the popularity of its Website during the $199 deal, is about to launch two Internet business ventures. @Whakapapa Holidays is a service which will organise package ski holidays - accommodation, rentals, lift passes - and has already signed up 10 accommodation providers around the region. The second is an online ticketing service. Skiers and boarders can avoid queues by booking and paying for lift passes in advance through the Internet. Both services should be in place by the end of the month.

Smith, who toured United States and Canadian ski resorts in January and February, says Whakapapa's Website is one of the field's biggest focuses.

"We are up with the play, with what's happening internationally. Ski Websites are getting so interactive and they're constantly updated - they're the future of ski resorts."

While Turoa's Website is minimal - it was revamped when receivers took over in March - Thomas says staff have big plans for it by next season.

The skifield has been busy concentrating on more tangible upgrades on and around the slopes, including the widening of the beginners' slope.

Turoa has sealed the top section of the Ohakune Mt Rd and the base/ticket office area of the mountain, which has also been redeveloped for better traffic flow.

And the Giant Cafe building at the top of the Giant Chairlift has been extended, with a new toilet block and larger deck.

"Things here are really positive - the facilities are looking good, there's a huge demand and the snow is on its way," says Thomas.

CASENOTES


WHAKAPAPA

Day lift passes: Adult $54, youth $27 (16 and under on June 1).

Season passes: $399.

Phone: 0508 942 527
Whakapapa

TUROA

Day lift passes: Adult $54, youth $29 (16 and under on day of purchase).

Season passes: $299 (until June 11).

Snowphone: 0900 99 444

Phone: 06 385 8456

Turoa