Cardrona gears up for best start in a decade

Cardrona Alpine Resort is gearing up for the 2009 ski season, with the best pre-season snow base levels in over a decade, 120cm on the upper mountain and 80cm in the base area.

“We’ve had some pretty extreme weather in May bringing heavy snow falls, the mountain is looking amazing, from top to bottom. It’s been great to get such a solid snow base but I know our operations team is grateful this week has brought some settled weather to continue with pre-season preparations,” said Nadia Ellis, sales and marketing manager.

The fine and frosty conditions this week will provide perfect snowmaking conditions. Cardrona invested $1 million dollars on extending its snowmaking system for 2009 which now provides cover across all three of the resort’s main basins. The guns are scheduled to be switched on today to consolidate existing natural snowfall while snow groomers are working hard moving snow around, packing and building the runs to create a solid foundation for the season ahead.

“If these pre-season conditions are anything to go by then winter 2009 is going to be one for the record books. It certainly looks like we’re in for some great skiing and snowboarding from the outset, so long as the cold conditions hold,” said Ellis.

The next few weeks will be spent training the 400 staff and ensuring the on-mountain and base building facilities are ready to welcome the season’s first clients.

Cardrona Alpine Resort has expanded its terrain for the 2009 season creating a new trail down Arcadia Basin for more advanced skiers and boarders. The new trail is FIS certified allowing sanctioned slalom and GS races to be held and providing an early morning training area for international race teams.

Cardrona is scheduled to open Friday 26 June. For further information, visit the newly relaunched web site at www.cardrona.com.