Fewer lifts, higher prices at ski areas

Numerous lifts will not be operating on Mt Ruapehu this season, but the price of a day on the slopes looks set to be $20 more than last season.

Whakapapa and Tu¯ roa ski areas will open on July 1, provided there is enough snow, of course.

But Covid-19 has made for some big changes, and it’s not just that you’re unlikely to get a foreign instructor.

On Whakapapa, the Far West T-Bar, Valley T-Bar, Double Happy chairlift and West Ridge chairlift will not be operating, and the Rangatira Express chairlift will only operate on weekends and in poor weather.

On Tu¯ roa, the Nga¯ Wai Heke and Parklane chairlifts won’t be operating and nor will any of the learner lifts (Alpine Meadow platter, Winter Garden platter and the magic carpet).

Despite this, the cost of a day pass jumps to $149 from $129 last season.

Diana Fay, the booking officer of Pinnacle Ski Club, which operates lodges on both ski areas, said the impact of the lifts not operating would be ‘‘huge’’, and would ‘‘absolutely deter people’’.

‘‘From the social media stuff I’m reading it looks like people are choosing to head south, but I don’t know whether there are any answers down there either. We’re all caught in the same boat of trying to get people up the hill, getting them to spend money and then not offering enough lifts for them to ski,’’ she said.

‘‘Unless you’re really desperate to go skiing you will be asking if you’re happy to spend the money on a day pass for not the full number of lifts,’’ Fay said.

Liz Lum, manager of Wellington’s Board Factory snowboard shop, said it was not surprising that some lifts would not be opening.

‘‘It’s expensive to operate lifts, and there’s uncertainty around how much money the mountains will make,’’ she said.

On the positive side, the slopes may be less busy than usual, making it an ideal season for anyone wanting to learn how to snowboard or ski.

‘‘It’s going to be a very interesting season, with no overseas staff coming to any of the ski fields,’’ Lim said.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief operating officer Jon Dean said it was too early in the season to be planning to offer discounted ski passes and ‘‘the focus at the moment is on getting both Whakapapa and Tu¯ roa ski areas ready to open’’.

‘‘Even by offering slightly less facilities it doesn’t cost any less to open and operate a ski field.’’

Leigh Berry from Ruapehu Mountain Motel and Lodge said Ohakune needed something to happen for the ski season.

‘‘At the moment there will be businesses that are struggling. If we don’t get a reasonable season I can’t see them surviving.’’

But there wasn’t much they could do about it, she said. ‘‘Any ski season’s going to be better than no ski season.’’