Cardrona today announced the purchase of a high speed detachable quad chairlift in Captains Basin. The new Poma chairlift will be ready to ride at the start of the 2008 season. The Captains Express chairlift’s speed will be two and a half times quicker than the existing quad with a journey only taking 3 ½ minutes versus the existing 9 minutes. Assuming no queue, a person who skied 11 runs at Captains Basin would ski them one hour faster due to faster chairlifts.

“This chairlift is one of the fastest chairlifts on the market and will mean an average Cardrona family will get lots more skiing and snowboarding on an average day”, say Gary Husband, Field Manager.

“The chairs are also more comfortable with padded seats and footrests, and the stations are covered just like our other high speed chairlift, the Whitestar”, says Husband.

Chairlift Details

• Run time: 3.5 minutes; Speed 5.08 m/sec
• Capacity: 2400 people / hour
• Towers: 15; Chairs: 75
• Length: 1069m; Vertical: 262m; 25% average grade

Additional Quotes

“The Captains Basin is the top intermediate basin in New Zealand with kilometres of blue runs across varied terrain. The new high speed chairlift means less time on a chair and more time building confidence on the slopes”, says Bruce McGechan, Sales and Marketing Manager.
“By the time the 2008 season starts Cardrona would have invested over $12 million in new developments over the last four years. This new chairlift is part of a steady improvement of the field that will continue for many years to come”, says Duncan Veall, General Manager.