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English rugby team management Zip into Queenstown

Tuesday 13 September 2011, 8:10PM

By Southern Public Relations

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English Rugby Team watching their team mates zipping down the steepest zipline in the world at Ziptrek Ecotours
English Rugby Team watching their team mates zipping down the steepest zipline in the world at Ziptrek Ecotours Credit: Ziptrek Ecotours
Management & Coaches from the England Rugby Team at Ziptrek Ecotours
Management & Coaches from the England Rugby Team at Ziptrek Ecotours Credit: Southern Public Relations
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager gearing up for Ziptrek Ecotours
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager gearing up for Ziptrek Ecotours Credit: Southern Public Relations
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager zipping through the trees at Ziptrek Ecotours (1)
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager zipping through the trees at Ziptrek Ecotours (1) Credit: Southern Public Relations
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager zipping through the trees at Ziptrek Ecotours (2)
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager zipping through the trees at Ziptrek Ecotours (2) Credit: Southern Public Relations
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager zipping through the trees at Ziptrek Ecotours (3)
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager zipping through the trees at Ziptrek Ecotours (3) Credit: Southern Public Relations
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager, zipping down the steepest zipline in the world at Ziptrek Ecotours
Martin Johnson, England Rugby Team Manager, zipping down the steepest zipline in the world at Ziptrek Ecotours Credit: Southern Public Relations
Team photo of the England Rugby Team about to zip away at Ziptrek Ecotours
Team photo of the England Rugby Team about to zip away at Ziptrek Ecotours Credit: Southern Public Relations

QUEENSTOWN

Coaches and managers of the English rugby team took to the trees yesterday (Monday September 12) to take in magnificent views of Queenstown as they soared from tree hut to tree hut by zipline, including tackling the world’s steepest tree to tree flying fox.

Team Manager, Martin Johnson was one of six who donned helmets and harness to experience Ziptrek Ecotours Kea-6 high above Queenstown.

The team is calling Queenstown home this week and are thoroughly enjoying a week of ‘R&R’ in the resort.

The six are:
Brian Smith - Attack Coach
Dave Barton - Corporate Communications Manager
Tom Stokes - Player Development Manager
Will Chignell - Head of Media
David Robert Tennison - Kit Manager
Martin Johnson - England Manager

More about Ziptrek Ecotours
Ziptrek Ecotours was founded in 2001 in Whistler, Canada by Charles Steele and David Udow. Their goal was to provide a unique experience combining nature-based learning with a rush of adrenaline.

Ziptrek has now become a must-do, award-winning adventure ecotourism business renowned for delivering awareness and appreciation of the natural environment along with a good dose of adventure.

Trent Yeo joined the company as an employee and soon committed to a partnership to open the first global Ziptrek operation in Queenstown, New Zealand in December 2009. His background in sustainable architecture with outdoor education was a perfect fit for the business. Due to its success and growth Ziptrek appointed Stu Cordelle 15 months later as General Manager to assist with the day to day running of the operation. Stu bought a wealth of knowledge to the business having been involved in a number of tourism operations in New Zealand over the past two decades.

When the business was first established on Bobs Peak they launched a four line tour later to be called the Moa tour. This tour incorporated four flying foxes/ziplines through the forest canopy connecting aerial tree top platforms (tree houses) that descended one third of the way down the mountain. In November 2010, Ziptrek launched the Kea 6 line Tour which saw guests travelling all the way to the bottom of the mountain, including a beautiful walk through native beech forest. This tour can now claim the steepest tree to tree zipline ride in the world.

Ziptrek's eco-credentials are rapidly developing momentum and within 18 months of opening they won the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Award and received the Qualmark Enviro Gold award. They also work closely with the local community and are a patron of the Wakatipu Trails Trust, in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes Biodiesel Consortium and working with Otago Polytechnic on their Sustainable 360 business program. They run a remote solar panel power system to run all the operational systems including a wireless network in the trees and have extensive native tree planting program, which has seen over 2000 saplings planted on Bobs Peak to date. Ziptrek also contributes to various sustainable and social charities, locally and internationally.

Since launching Ziptrek Ecotours has caught the attention of national and international television and print media which has put them in front of millions across countries such as Brazil, Australia, UK, New Zealand and USA.