Whakapapa - Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand
Freeriding
Freeriders who know what's what, will be aware of the awesome area known as the Pinnacles. Simply put, if you're not a damn good advanced rider, then stay away. The Pinnacles are a series of colouirs and cliff lines, accessible with a short hike up a ridge known as Skyline, that will wipe the lights out for good if any rider mucks up. For the more mellow freerider try the areas and runs named Amphitheatre, Black Magic and Broken Leg Gully.
Freestylers
Freestylers of the beginner and intermediate variety will be pleased to know that Whakapapa hosts the Moro Terrain Park typically built on the upper-section of the Waterfall Express. They offer a range of fairly easy ride-on boxes and rails and a few slightly more advanced gap-on options too. The jump features leave a little to be desired and are not regularly shaped. Whakapapa also claim to have a halfpipe, which only seems to opperate for certain parts of the season - this isn't the place for pipe riders to let rip!
Pistes
Carvers can carve away for days on the groomed trails and take a week to do them all a few times over. Runs like the Gut are good for a few cranking euro-carves.
Beginners
Whakapapa is the perfect place for absolute beginner boarders to learn. Happy Valley is an area that is found right at the base and is physically separated from the main runs so beginners can learn in a safe environment without having to fear the faster riders wizzing past. Check out the Discover Snowboarding packages that include lift ticket, lesson and board hire.
Resort Statistics
Resort Type:
Alpine
Winter: June to Oct
Lifts
Total Lifts: 14
Chair lifts: 7
Drag lifts: 6
Other lifts: 1 learner rope
Max people per hour: 15,000
Board Leashes required: No
Mountain
Total pistes/trails: 67
Total ride area: 550 hectares
Longest run: over 3.5km
Top lift: 2300m
Vertical drop: 670m
First lift: 1630m
Piste suitability
Green runs: 25%
Red runs: 50%
Black runs: 25%
Lift Passes
| Low Season | High Season | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZD | GBP | NZD | GBP | |
| Day Pass | 83.00 | 37.73 | 83.00 | 37.73 |
| 6-Day Pass | - | - | - | - |
| 6-Day Linked area Pass | - | - | - | - |
| NZD | GBP | |
|---|---|---|
| Season Pass: | 719.00 | 326.84 |
Lift Passes:
2008 Lift Pass Prices:
1-day Adult All Mountain: NZ$83
5-day Anytime Adult All Mountain: NZ$391
Adult Season Pass: NZ$719
Mt Ruapehu lift passes are valid at both Turoa and Whakapapa skifields. Mt Ruapehu Season Passes are on sale throughout the winter season. For a real bargain, buy an Earlybird Season Pass - reduced rate season passes only on sale in April every year (NZ$419 in 2008).
Lift times:8.30am to 4.00pm
Snowfall
Artificial snowmaking coverage: 20%
Facilities
| NZD | GBP | |
|---|---|---|
| Days Rental of Board & Boots: | 45.00 | 20.46 |
| 4hr Group Lesson (full day): | 39.00 | 17.73 |
| 4hr Private Lesson (full day): | - | - |
Snowboard Schools:
Mt Ruapehu's Snow School offers a huge range of products to cater for everybody's needs, from beginners' group lessons to private tuition, as well as our specialist Adaptive Programme. Our team of friendly, internationally qualified instructors will make your time on the mountain enjoyable and memorable. At Whakapapa we have Happy Valley, New Zealand's premier learning facility with separate rental facilities.
Beginners' lesson package, Discover Snowboard: NZ$90 (2008) - includes Snowboard/Boot rental, 1hr 50min group lesson, beginners' area lift pass and a complimentary sightseeing ride (weather permitting).
Snowboard Hire:
Adult Snowboard & Boots 1 day: NZ$45 (2008)
Night Riding: :
No
Other activities
Heliboarding: :
Not available
Snowmobiles:
Not available
Further information
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Summary
Amazing terrain but inconsistent weather
MONEY WISE: Average, but cheap season passes
Terrain & parks
HALFPIPE:
Yes - 1
TERRAIN PARK:
Yes - 1 beginner-intermediate
BACKCOUNTRY/OFF-PISTE:Yes
TREE RUNS:No
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