Treble Cone
| Treble Cone | |
|---|---|
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 Treble Cone base facilities in September 2006 |
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| Location | Otago, New Zealand |
| Nearest city | Wanaka |
| Top elevation | 2088m |
| Base elevation | 1250m |
| Lift capacity | 6200 skiers/hr[1] |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 2.7m |
| Snowmaking | yes |
| Night skiing | no |
| Web site | www.treblecone.com |
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/Tititea. The skifield is the off-season training ground for the national ski teams of Austria and Norway.[2]
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[edit] History
Founded by Murray Raffills (Raffills Ridge namesake) and Ralph Markby and started out as a small field being managed by many locals until it was sold.
[edit] Winter Activities
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. These include providing more expansive beginner and intermediate groomed trails for skiers and boarders.[1] There is also a small terrain park.
Guided tours are offered for advanced riders out to the Motatapu Chutes and for intermediate skiers/riders to see the new smoothed out terrain.
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
[edit] Treble Cone Race Academy
The Treble Cone Race Academy [1] is renowned for being one of the top ski race training grounds in the Southern Hemisphere. The programmes are designed to improve young athletes racing skills. The participation of skiers from around the world, provides a huge development opportunity to many of New Zealand's youth racers who train with the academy. Treble Cone holds many races up to Continental Cup level.
[edit] Season Pass Prices
Treble Cone controversially[citation needed] raised its season pass prices for the 2007 season. A season pass is now NZ$2200 after 31 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 and a general upset towards Treble Cone. Treble Cone management has released media statements
2008 was a fabulous season for the dedicated TC user, quiet slopes, no queues and awesome snow. As a result the company was required to raise extra capital from its shareholders to cover the loss. Season pass pricing was determined to be the problem, as a result pre-season passes for 2009 were dropped to $990. Locals have strongly supported the change.
[edit] Air access
For the 2011 season Queenstown-based Glenorchy Air is offering flights from Queenstown Airport to an airstrip at the bottom of the Treble cone access road. A free shuttle will then be provided to take people up the mountain.[3]
[edit] Summer Activities
Historically Treble Cone has opened the six seater 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 2.5 km downhill trail. Currently there are no plans to continue the summer field operations.
[edit] Proposed Gondola
The Gondola was approved late in 2008, with a 10 year building consent. Due to the current economic climate there appears to be no desire to install the lift in the short term.[citation needed]
On Friday 14 July 2006, The Press ran a story[4] 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 3.3 km in under 11 minutes, and be capable of carrying 2000 people an hour. It would rise 945 m.
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.[5] The access road is under regular criticism from patrons because of its corrugations, steep incline with tight switchbacks and lack of safety barriers.[citation needed] It also coincides with other objectives for the skifield, said Treble Cone director, Richard Hanson.[citation needed] A increase in ticket prices in 2006 seems to be to help the funding of the building project.[citation needed] On good days the field is always short of carparking, and cars may be parked up to a kilometre down the access road.[citation needed] Because of these reasons the gondola is a very popular proposal with locals except for the likelihood of more overcrowding at the resort.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Treble Cone Ski Area - The biggest and steepest ski field in the South Island NZ, Accessed 20/11/07
- ^ "Wanaka: The white stuff". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/7/story.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10457479&pnum=2. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
- ^ Haggart, Matthew (23 June 2010). "Snow forecast for Treble Cone opening". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/southern-snow/latest-skifield-news/111992/snow-forecast-treble-cone-opening. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ "Treble Cone eyes $20m gondola". The Press. 14 July 2006. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3731018a7693,00.html.
- ^ "Australians robbed of bright future in NZ crash". Fairfax. 19 July 2004. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/19/1090089046493.html.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Treble Cone |
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