Season pass pricing announced

Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas are announcing their season pass programme for 2012, giving snowsports lovers plenty of time to budget and plan for their winter fun.

Prices for season passes have been frozen at 2011 levels, and skiers or snowboarders who held season passes in 2010 or 2011 will be rewarded with up to $100-worth of credit in the form of mypass money loaded onto their mypass to spend on services on the mountains.

And in a new move to help make paying for passes less of a one-off drain on the pocket, anyone who wants to commit to a pass at Early Bird pricing by October 31, whether they were a previous season pass holder or not, will be able to ‘drip-feed’ payments over eight months.

All snowsports lovers who want to pay for passes between mid-February and mid-March 2012, the traditional time pass prices are released, will still be able to do so at Early Bird prices and can choose a three-month payment plan at that time.

“We’ve been thinking about this throughout the season and now that we’ve made our decisions we wanted to let people know our plans as early as possible. The early release of our pricing also provides the opportunity for people to drip-feed payments throughout summer,” said NZSki Sales & Marketing GM, Craig Douglas.

“There’s no pressure to buy now, but because our decisions have been made early it gives everyone the chance to plan for their 2012 season. Anyone can take full advantage of paying off their passes over a longer period, or still buy them as normal next year, and then main season pricing will kick in from mid-March.”

Mr Douglas said NZSki was always listening to customer feedback and continually looking at ways to improve what it could offer.

“After introducing our new radio frequency mypass for the 2010 season, we’ve now developed the technology to a point where we can load credit, so we thought that involving our loyal season pass holders would be a great way to get it up and running,” he said.

“So now anyone who’s had a qualifying season pass for 2010 or 2011 who buys a Queenstown or Remarkables adult season pass at Early Bird prices will have it pre-loaded with $100 or $50-worth of mypass money respectively.

Purchasers of youth and senior passes will also have mypass money loaded at varying levels depending on the pass purchased.

“It’s our way of recognising returning season pass holders.”

Other exclusive deals on offer in 2012 for those buying at Early Bird season prices include discounted blocks of five group lessons or Kea Club sessions at The Remarkables, saving up to 37% on this year’s prices.

The popular local schools programme will be on offer again for 2012 in Queenstown with prices unchanged for students of Wakatipu schools, although their mypass will not qualify for mypass money.

Once again, all children aged six and under will receive a free day lift pass at Coronet Peak while all children aged 10 and under will receive a free day lift pass at The Remarkables.

Sales will be available on www.nzski.com from October 14 to October 31 for those that want to lock in the longer payment plan. Sales will start again in mid-February for the Early Bird pricing.

Full details including qualification criteria for Early Bird season pass pricing and mypass money are available on www.nzski.com

The Nitty Gritty

• mypass money can be spent on food and beverage, group lessons, lift passes, and equipment rental on any of its three mountains

• Early Bird pricing is:

o Queenstown Pass $889 adult, $589 youth (age 7 – 17 years) and senior (age 65 – 74 years)

o The Remarkables only pass $499, $399 student and $299 youth (age 11 – 17 years) and senior (age 65 – 74 years)

o NZSki pass $999, $699 youth (age 7 – 17 years) and senior (age 65 – 74 years)

o First Tracks add-on for Coronet Peak is available for $199