It's all go at RAL

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 290, 13 June 1989, Page 3 (Supplement)

It's all go at RAL

New Zealand's oldest and biggest skifield has just had its busiest ever summer.

Whakapapa marketing manager Scott Lee says Ruapehu Alpine Lifts has completed some "mammoth redevelopments" over the last few months. The big news and real boom for intermediate and expert skiers, he says, is the opening up of 25 per cent more skiing terrain above the National Downhill slopes. A new fixed-grip quad chairlift has been installed from the top of the Loop Access Tow and the West Ridge T Bar has been moved to a new position above its previous alignment. Renamed the Far West T Bar, this high capacity lift opens up long, undulating slopes for intermediate skiers and gives access to a few really challenging shutes and gullies for the experts. "It's the first time since the 1960s that new terrain has been opened up on Whakapapa," says Scott Lee. RAL has spent $250,000 on a new Kassbohrer 240 snowgroomer to groom the new terrain. At the top of the Waterfall Express, a new trail has been developed into the Valley. Skiers will now be able to ski off the top of the Express, ski around to the right, go under the lift and in

front of the toilets where the new trail now leads down into the Valley. The exit from the Valley has also been widened to allow easier access to the Knoll Ridge T Bar and Chalet. Smallest liff The company's purchase of Happy Valley in the 1987-88 summer has also been followedup with further investment. A new, slow-moving double chairlift is been built to give access to these slopes and give beginners the chance to familiarise themselves with chairlifts before moving further up the mountain. The lift is thought to be the shortest chairlift in the world, according to RAL. At the Top O' the Bruce, entrances and exits into the building have been altered to improve traffic flow and the ski shop has been enlarged. Refurbishing has been carried out to brighten up the interior and a huge food preparation area has been added. Getting to the skifield will be easier this year with the realigning and sealing of the Bruce Road. Skiers are now able to drive on a twolane, sealed highway to the Top O' the Bruce where 200 more

carparking spaces have been added, bringing the total to 1500. The RAL Courtesy Coach will run continuously when the bottom carparks are in use. RAL has also taken over ownership of the Top O' the Bruce ski hire facility from THC. This year, $140,000 has been spent on new equipment. At 1500 sets of skis, boots and poles, the Whakapapa Ski Hire is the largest • in the southern hemisphere. RAL now owns all six cafeterias on the mountain. Food will be prepared at the Top O' the Bruce and distributed to the other cafeterias ensuring freshness. The food itself has been upgraded to include light meals such as beef stroganoff, chilli con-carne and lamb curry on rice with a greater emphasis on health food, sandwiches and snacks. Prices RAL this year is keeping Junior lift

prices the same. At $15 for an all-day Junior pass, Whakapapa remains the cheapest commercial skifield in New Zealand. Adult day passes will be $38 with substantial discounts on midweek packages. A 5day midweek pass, offpeak (i.e. outside school holidays) will cost $114, a $6 reduction on last year. Juniors will pay $45. For the first time this year, RAL will introduce a Student Rate. These rates are substantially lower than the adult rate and offer secondary and tertiary students the chance to stretch those budgets. New skiers RAL is aiming to attract new skiers to the sport with its First Timers' Package. This package has been developed to reduce the costs and make it easier for those who haven't been to the mountain before. First time- skiers will be met by Customer Service $taff who will host the beginners

through their system, first issuing their lift passes, familiarising them with facilities and showing them to the Happy Valley Access Lift. The package includes a Happy Valley Beginner's Pass, ski equipment rental for the day and a one-hour beginner's lesson all for $24 for children and $42 for , adults. Regular skiers RAL aims to reward regular skiers with an innovative package of discounts and benefits for Whakapapa Card holders, These cards are pre-purchased for $30 and give the holder: $4 per day discount on midweek adult life passes. $5 discount on midweek ski lessons. 15 per cent discount on purchases over $100 in value for the Whakapapa Ski Shop. A free day's skiing on 14th October and an invite to the party of the year at The Chateau that night.