Major summer improvements at Turoa

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 7, 9 July 1985, Page 8

Major summer improvements at Turoa

The biggest improvements seen at Mt Ruapehu for years have been taking place at Turoa Skifields during the summer months. This is how Mt Ruapehu veteran, and Turoa Ski School director, John Ball describes the new beginners' basin, and a new ski trail carved out at the first chair level of the mountain. The beginners' Alpine Meadow Basin is virtually a whole new ski area, so extensive have been the developments. Turoa Skifields have spent $200,000 upgrading the beginners' area. As well as levelling out a larger area, they have installed a new poma lift. A snow-making machine will also be positioned there permanently throughout the season. Another improvement which will benefit all skiers, but particularly beginners, is the widening of a ski trail down below the first chairlift. "This area will need very little snow to make it skiable and we anticipate therefore, it should mean skiers will be able to ski down the mountain right through the season," John Ball says. The new trail should be flat enough for most beginners to handle he says. For the more advanced Continued on page 19

Maior summer improvements at Turoa

Continued from page 8 skiers, Turoa is installing an electronic timer for racing on the Vertigo Trail which is fed by the High Noon T-bar. This will be available for club and regional races and will be used from September 9-13 when the New Zealand National Ski Championships are held at Turoa. Recreational skiers who are also interested in racing will be able to use an

electronic timing device which will be used for the Coca Cola NZSTAR public racing programme. Off-trail facilities have also been improved. Seats have been provided outside the top chair lift station so people can eat their lunch outside and enjoy the mountain view. New flush lavatories have been installed midfield, the road up to the skifield has

been widened at the Ohakune end and an extra 100 carparks have been provided near the beginners Alpine Meadow Basin.

"As well as the 1985 improvements, we will continue to maintain and groom the slopes every morning during the season," Turoa Skifields manager, Tony Wright said. "We are expecting ski numbers to continue to rise, but we are confident we have the capacity to easily handle these skiers. "We are looking forward to a boom season."