Ski merger the right way to go

By COLIN MOORE

It just gets better. First, an early dump of snow. Next, along comes George Speight to deliver a coup for the New Zealand ski industry. Thanks to Speight and his goon show, a lot of people who put away their skis and snowboards for snorkels and fins in recent years are busy buying new ski gear and booking a winter holiday in the snow.

But possibly the best news of all is that Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) is to buy the Turoa skifield - Commerce Commission willing. If the commission dumps on the application, as it did last year, may its members all freeze in a blizzard.

A merger of Ruapehu's two ski areas under one management umbrella would be a windfall for North Island skiers and boarders and a boost for the industry as a whole. Merging the two fields would not create a monopoly in the real sense because the South Island provides effective competition for the Ruapehu region.

Such a merger has the potential to turn Mt Ruapehu into a ski area of international standard. The commission - and perhaps RAL management, too - should check out Colorado's Aspen-Snowmass where four skifields, each with a distinct character, are under one ownership and grouped around the town of Aspen.

If RAL follows the Aspen formula it would make multi-day lift passes interchangeable between Turoa and Whakapapa. The two fields would be connected by free or modestly priced shuttles morning and afternoon. The different characteristics of the two fields would be maximised with various special facilities not always duplicated. For instance, moguls may be allowed to develop more on one field than the other, boarders may be encouraged onto certain slopes with the provision of half-pipes. In good snow years a cat track could be cut between the two fields.

Lack of a nearby airport will always limit Ruapehu's international appeal but the area could still be promoted in Australia as Ski the Volcano - Mt Ruapehu, with Whakapapa Magic Mountain and Turoa the Giant as the secondary focus.

Ohakune should blossom as the logical centre for the mountain's commercial activities, and if Turangi could shake off its penchant for crime and welfare dependency, it too could capitalise on a bigger and better Ruapehu ski area.

National Park would likely remain as bleak as it is.

Accommodation will always be a problem for Ruapehu because of conflicts with the philosophies of the national park. In recent years Whakapapa and various ski clubs have cooperated to provide on-field accommodation to non-club skiers.

Most clubs are suffering a declining membership, and if any do fold the park policy is to dismantle the buildings. Given that the clubs already exist it would seem more logical if the buildings around Iwikau village at the Top of the Bruce could be retained and sold as commercial on-field lodges.

Such a policy might even encourage some clubs to amalgamate and become the stronger for it. A strong ski area company may give commerce the clout needed to fight for such concessions.

Wheels in demand


A rejuvenated ski industry is driving the rental car business. Avis, which has more than 200 four-wheel-drive vehicles in its fleet, has had a big jump in business since the early snowfalls.

The rental car industry relies heavily on the domestic market in the early winter, before the tourism market kicks in around mid-July, says Avis marketing manager Ginny Douglas-Clifford. The early winter bite, she says, is terrific for business.

Pipe groomer


The mark II version of an award-winning, New Zealand-designed halfpipe groomer is being used to shape the snowboard pipe at Mt Hutt this season.

The prototype was designed and built by the head groomer at Coronet Peak, Gary Steedman, and was a major factor in Coronet Peak being awarded Resort of the Year by the national snowboard organisation last year.

The Mt Hutt terrain park will be bigger and better than ever, the resort promises.