Turoa in chains

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 593, 4 July 1995, Page 6 (Supplement)

Turoa in chains

Snow chains — one of those hastles that get in the way of a good day ' s skiing. But if y ou' re heading up the Ohakune Mountain Road this is one hastle that will be a little less now, with Turoa' s new chain fitting service. Now, if you don't own your own chains, you don't need to hire them until you really need them," says Turoa marketing manager Joanna Savage. "Our chain hire will be set up at the chain barrier for the day." Staff not only sort out the right chains but fit them as well. "You don't even have to get out of the car," said Joanna. If you have chains but want to enjoy this luxury you can still do so by paying $10. If Turoa runs out of chains they promise to transport you up the mountain themselves. The change from private contractors comes about after the

Ruapehu District Council agreed to limiting the licence to just one operator. Over the summer Turoa has invested $100,000 in a new chain fitting bay at the 1 1km mark so as to reduce the previous congestion and hassle when it comes to putting the chains on. The new bay is between the 9km and 12.5km bays and can accomodate 70 - 80 parks. Turoa intend having two bays operational for chain fitting at any one time when chains are required. "This new co-ordinated approach will mean that if the 9km bay is full, traffic can be waved on to the next bay, and so the amount of parked vehicles at any one bay will be effectively halfed" says Graham McMaster of Turoa. Eleven extra staff have been hired and two new trailers of chains have been purchased for the new revamped chain fitting operation. On non-chain days or closed mountain days these staff will shovel snow off decks or be assigned other tasks as they arise.