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Cardrona What's On: Opening Day 2020 - All the Details!

We're very excited to be opening for our 40th birthday season tomorrow - here's all you need to know!

This is our first Cardrona What's On blog for 2020 and if we're honest, we're pretty stoked to be here. The last couple of months have been a rollercoaster for everyone, and we can't wait to share some turns with you all tomorrow!!

This blog will be published every Friday (this week's one is the only Thursday edition), and it'll have all the information about the week ahead - the weather forecast, any events that are on, what the park is looking like, and anything else you need to know.

Remember this season - if you're sick, stay at home. Use the contact tracer app, and/or make a Cardrona profile linked to your lift pass. Please be kind to each other! This is a really different season for all of us and the most important thing is that we all get to share the slopes together. 

Facilities

For Opening Day we will have the Main Basin open – the learner conveyors, McDougall's Chondola and Whitestar Express. Trail conditions are looking great on McDougall's, Racecourse and the Beginners' Area. Down towards the bottom of Whitestar it's a wee bit thinner so please take care and give each other plenty of room.

We're working on Captain's, and we'll let you know on our social media channels when it's ready to open.

For food and drink, head to Base Café, Base Bar, Mezz, Noodle Bar or Vista (top of McDougall's). The Lounge will be closed for a private function.

The Snow Sports School will be running as per normal!

Weather

The team at Snow-Forecast are showing a mix of sun and cloud for Friday and Saturday, with some snow setting in on Sunday night.

Terrain Parks

For Opening Day the Cardrona Parks crew are putting in four entry-level park features in the Beginners' Area, and have set up McPark v.2 at the bottom of McDougall's for intermediate+ features. Once snow conditions allow they'll head to Lil' Bucks, then Stag Lane and Antlers Alley. 

Meet the crew for 2020! Gus, Matt, Fin, Hayden, Doug, Osci and Jack.

Events

Here's the run of events for tomorrow's Opening Day:

  • 8.30am: First Chair (McDougall's)
  • 11.30am: Mihi Whakatau - we will be welcoming Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Cardrona and all are welcome to join at the Base Area
  • 4pm: Last chair for the day

Treble Cone

Treble Cone will be open on Saturday! The team will have Triple Treat open (accessed by the Home Basin Express), and whatever they'll be able to get for the Platter. The Summit Slopes will be open for hiking if weather allows. It will be thin and narrow in places but you'll be able to get out for a slide up there.

Things to look out for

We've got First Chair tees ready to hand out for both mountains – there are a couple of kids who've claimed two of them every year for the last few years... it could be you this year!


We can't wait to see you all up here tomorrow and this weekend. Let's get out there and ski/snowboard together!

About the Author

Jen Houltham

Communications

Jen is Cardrona's resident word nerd. She's out & about on the mountain most days; a big fan of carving groomed runs, powder hunting & laps through Lil' Bucks!