'88 Ruapehu skiing season prices set

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 3 May 1988, Page 5 (Supplement)

'88 Ruapehu skiing season prices set

A day's skiing for an adult at Whakapapa will cost $35 this season while at Turoa the price will be $39. Children's prices are $26 at Turoa and $15 at Whakapapa. The Whakapapa price covers the use of all Ruapehu Alpine Lifts facilities. The price increase on an adult day pass at

Whakapapa is approximately 16.5 per cent and at Turoa is approximately 8.5 per cent. A pass for all lifts all season for RAL lifts will cost $525 if purchased before June 6. After that date a season pass will be $580. For a child's pass the prices are $250 and $275 respectively. Whakapapa also has a special 'Youth' season pass, for secondary school pupils over 15 years of age. Prices

for this pass are $420 before June 6 and $465. RAL's Dave Mazey said there had been a reasonable demand for this type of pass. He said it hadn't been tried before because it is hard to manage. It would only be possible to offer the discount to college students for the season pass as they will need a letter from their school principal to confirm their attendance at a secondary school. Another new ski ticket offered by RAL is for all

lifts morning half day's skiing. A skier can ; purchase the ticket for $37 ' and receives a $12 if returned by 12.30pm the ] same day. At Turoa an adult season pass will cost $624 and a child pass $353. During the 1987 ski season Turoa discounted day passes on some days as compensatibn for the lack of facilities due to breakdowns. 1987 season pass holders are offered a

1988 season pass at last year's price of $575 if bought before June 30. Mr Mazey said the RAL price increases were mainly iue to inflation. "We've based our prices on getting a return on investment," he said. Mr Mazey said RAL had spent $4.5 million last year and were spending just under $1 million this year. He said the reason behind RAL's prices being lower than Turoa's was that Whakapapa had 30 year's

slow growth behind it while Turoa has been built up through a major development programme. He said RAL has tried to maintain its junior and beginner prices to encourage new skiers and families. Turoa season passes last year were not to expire on October 31 as was printed on the passes. A Turoa season pass is valid for the whole season. The printing of the October date on last year's passes was an error.