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Treble Cone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Treble Cone | |
|---|---|
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| Location: | Otago, New Zealand |
| Nearest city: | Wanaka |
| Top elevation: | 2088m |
| Base elevation: | 1250m |
| Terrain parks: | 1 |
| Snowfall: | 2.7m |
| Snowmaking: | yes |
| Night skiing: | no |
| Web site: | [1] |
Treble Cone is a commercial skifield near Wanaka, New Zealand
Treble Cone boasts the longest vertical rise in the Southern Lakes and spectacular views over Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring. Treble Cone has a strong loyal Kiwi, and now Australian following, with visitors coming back year after year for the stunning views and huge terrain.
Fans of the field tend to be attracted there for the fairly steep and challenging terrain which they claim is some of the best in the country however recent initiatives ensure that intermediate and beginner skiers and boarders are fully catered to. Adding to the 2006 changes, the 2007 winter season finishes off three super wide groomed runs, providing more expansive beginner and intermediate groomed trails for skiers and boarders. The terrain park will also be back this year ensuring permanent terrain park features are available from early season.
Further web developments involve three new web functions; an interactive trail map, an MVP player and an online travel planner.
New guided tours are to be offered for advanced skiers/riders out to the Motatapu Chutes and for intermediate skiers/riders to see the new smoothed out terrain. This adds to the Snow Sport guarantees from 2006 that offers a money back guarantee when learning to ski or ride.
Treble Cone uses the controversial weather predictions of Ken Ring, based in Auckland, to forecast snowfalls. Mr. Ring calculates weather patterns, ranging from average snowfalls to the exact wind directions on certain days of the year, up and sometimes exceeding three months in advance, using the orbit of the moon. There is no proof that his technique works, save the fact that he is nearly always correct. Several other ski resorts in the Queenstown area use Mr. Ring's predictions. Mr. Ring is an outspoken critic of the Global Warming theory.
Elevations
- Base Buildings: 1250m
- Top of Volkswagen 6 Seater Express: 1760m
- Top of Saddle Quad Chairlift: 1960m
- Summit: 2088m
Lifts
- High Speed Detachable Six Seater Chairlift
- Quad Chairlift
- Platter Lift
- Magic Carpet
Contents |
The Treble Cone Race Academy is renowned for being one of the top ski racing training grounds in the Southern Hemishphere. Coordinated by an internationally qualified coaching team, programs are designed to improve young athletes racing skills. With participation in many of New Zealand racers of all levels, this gives a great advantage to athletes from the Northern Hemisphere who come to Treble Cone to train. Treble Cone holds many races up to Continental Cup level, giving a home advantage to athletes training with the Treble Cone Race Academy. For more info. visit www.wanakaski.co.nz
In summer Treble Cone opens the six seater high speed chairlift for hiking and mountain biking. In 2007 this included hosting the first downhill event of the NZ Community Trust National Series in the weekend. 195 riders raced against the clock on the 2.5km downhill trail
On Friday 14th July, The Press ran a story[1] on Treble Cone Investments lodging resource consent applications regarding a proposed gondola from Cattle Flat (at the base of the skifield access road) to the skifield itself. The proposed gondola would travel 3.3km in under 11 minutes, and be capable of carrying 2000 people an hour. It would rise 945m.
Talk of a gondola has been around for some time, but has been re-ignited recently due to the deaths of three young Australian skiers when they drove off the access road in 2004.[2] The access road is under regurlar criticism from patrons because of it's corrugations, steep inclince with tight switchbacks and lack of safety barriers. It also coincides with other objectives for the skifield, said Treble Cone director, Richard Hanson. A increase in ticket prices in 2006 seems to be to help the funding of the building project. On good days the field is always short of carparking, and cars may be parked up to a kilometre down the access road. Because of these reasons the gondola is a very popular proposal with locals except for the likelyhood of more overcrowding at the resort.
It is expected the building process should take 10-months, with an opening at the start of the 2008 season at the earliest.
Treble Cone has controversially raised its season pass prices for the 2007 season. A season pass is now NZ$2000 after 31st May, with “early bird” pre-season passes being NZ$1500. The early bird pass is a free upgrade from a 50 day season pass to a premium pass due to public and local community consultation. Many locals believe the Treble Cone season pass is the most expensive in the world. There have been many letters to newspapers[3] and a general upset towards Treble Cone. Treble Cone management has released media statements though time will tell if the damage has been done.
- ^ "Treble Cone eyes $20m gondola", The Press, 14th July, 2006.
- ^ "Australians robbed of bright future in NZ crash", Fairfax, 19th July 2004.
- ^ "TC refutes claims of over-pricing", The Wanaka Sun, 22nd February, 2006.