Passes sell out

The first passes for Christchurch’s new adventure park sold out in three days. Christchurch Adventure Park released a $759 nine-month lift pass on Saturday afternoon and 1000 were snapped up within 24 hours. All 1500 were gone by Tuesday evening. The cost of the pass attracted some criticism from people saying it was too expensive for the average Christchurch resident. Spokeswoman Anne Newman said the cost was about $20 a week and the pass was aimed at serious mountainbikers who would use the park weekly. More passes and prices aimed at families and casual users would be announced next month. The facility is on track to open on December 16 with 50 kilometres of downhill mountainbike routes. Another 50km will be progressively added. The park will feature a 1.8km chairlift – the tallest of its kind in New Zealand – capable of taking up to 1200 riders and their bikes up 435 vertical metres each hour.