Largest groomer takes RAL fleet to nine

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 585, 9 May 1995, Page 14 (Supplement)

Largest groomer takes RAL fleet to nine

Skiers and boarders can expect better fun at Whakapapa this season with the help of a new 330hp snowgroomer. The $300,000 Austrian made Kassbohrer snowgroomer is expected to arrive at Mt Ruapehu in late May in preparation for the season opening in June. It will be the biggest snowgroomer in the Ru-

apehu Alpine Lifts fleet, capable of doing almost double the workload of the other 240hp groomers. The most advanced machine on the market, it will be one of only two in New Zealand. It is made up of the latest componentry and gives the snow a flat, smooth surface which is easy to ski on. Purchased for its capabilities of pushing large

amounts of snow, the machine will primarily be used on the Far West T-Bar and West Ridge Quad chairlift areas which have suffered serious overdumping of snow in recent seasons. Problems past Ruapehu Alpine Lifts General Manager Dave Mazey says there have been problems in the past

pushing snow around after big snowfalls, so this new snowgroomer is expected to ease the problem. The addition of the 4.2m wide groomer, will bring Ruapehu Alpine Lifts current fleet of snowgrooming machines to nine. Six will be used as the main grooming machines, while the others will be used for other tasks like collecting rubbish.