Free skiing on Ruapehu not likely

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 599, 15 August 1995, Page 4 (Supplement)

Free skiing on Ruapehu not likely

At the ski resort of Crested Butte, Colorado, USA, punters enjoy free skiing at the beginning and end of the season. This is not a generous gesture towards cash-strapped snow worshipers, but a bid to milk the last drop out of the market as the ski resort takes a percentage of the profits from businesses such as hotels, restaurants and retailers. Last year New Zealand Skier magazine speculated that Ohakune, being a similar town to Crested Butte, should explore the possibilities of adopting a similar scheme. Turoa general manager Angus Grimwadewas less than enthusiastic about free skiing at Turoa at the end of the season. He said that Crested Butte was a destination resort whereas skiing at Turoa is often a day trip and people would travel long distances and possibly not spend any money in Ohakune. Turoa Ski Resort would not be able to recoup money from businesses in town.

Secondly, he was not convinced that the • business community of Ohakune would co-operate. Attracting people to Turoa is not a problem at the beginning of the season as the opening coincides with school holidays. Mr Grimwade admits things are slow by Labour Weekend but for market reasons he believes free skiing would not pay for itself at that time of year. He said after Labour Weekend people are into "summer mode". Students, who make up a fair percentage of the market, are busy with exams. Nicole Bayes at Whakapapa says Whakapapa already has a form of free skiing at the end of the season. Free spring skiing weekends are paid for by a big sponsor, so Whakapapa gets paid by the sponsor and the sponsor gets exposure to the thousands who flock for a free ski. Nicole said she thought a scheme simi lar to Crested Butte could work for Whakapapa but would have to be carefully designed and managed.