The Remarkables ski area in Queenstown will open for the season on Saturday (June 27) and unveil its brand new base building for the first time.
The striking new building will bring a whole new level of world-class facilities to the ski area, which makes getting onto the snow easier and faster than ever before.
While the new building and last year’s Curvey Basin chairlift are obvious drawcards, the main lure for skiers and snowboarders will be making first tracks on the “huge” amounts of snow the ski area’s received in recent weeks.
The mountain is blanketed in snow with over a metre on the upper half, and around 80cm at base. More snow is forecast for Friday with clear weather anticipated for Saturday’s opening.
Ski area manager Ross Lawrence said he “couldn’t be happier” seeing the hard work of the past nine months finally coming to fruition.
“We did it! We’re ready to go and can’t wait to welcome guests with open arms,” he said.
“We know people have been so keen to get up here and check it all out, and we know they won’t be disappointed even if they’ve had to wait a little longer than originally hoped.
Not only do we have a brand -new base building, with all services and our teams fully-cranked and raring to go, but conditions on the slopes are looking sensational. It’s going to be an epic opening day.”
The day will be packed to the brim with fun family activities including entertainment, face painting, yummy giveaways and balloons for the youngsters. Mascots Spike and Shred will entertain the crowds, as many local families are expected to head up the mountain and join in the festivities.
As the Curvey Basin lift roars into life at 9am, the first six skiers or boarders will receive coveted ‘First On The Lift’ 2015 T-shirts. They and others can celebrate opening day with bubbles from Amisfield. Back inside in warmth and comfort, the building is a destination in its own right for those who want to relax, drink in the panoramic views and enjoy the alpine ambience.
The top floor features a purpose-built coffee bar and café along with a separate restaurant and grill. A wide range of food options from healthy snacks to flame-grilled steak sandwiches and satisfying gastro-style meals will be on offer, with plenty of space for 700 people seated inside and an additional 500 out on the deck.
The lower floor is home to a seamless transition area for buying lift passes, booking lessons and renting equipment. Through use of innovative planning and technology, well-designed and properly managed public spaces mean a better flow of guests from individuals to families or larger groups.
The striking new building, designed by local architect Michael Wyatt, also opens out onto an expansive and flat new drop off area right at its doorstep, meaning a quicker, safer and more efficient turnaround for buses, shuttles and private car users. People can step out of their vehicle and onto the snow in less than a minute.
Over a hundred additional car parks at the 12km Homeward Turnaround point on the access road have also been added to cater for increased visitor numbers this season.
Mr Lawrence said the entire mountain would be open with wall-to-wall snow.
“That means all our lifts will be operating including Shadow Basin, so people can access the Homeward trails and our fantastic chutes. The Burton Stash, our signature freestyle park, will also be open so keen boarders and skiers can get in their first tricks of the season.”
The new base building is part of a $45m investment at the ski area that also includes the new high-speed Curvey Basin chairlift which opened last year.
Read more: Exclusive look at new base lodge
