Coronet Peak Pulls 3000 on Opening DayNew Zealand's ski season had a big opening day on Saturday. The Southland Times reports that more than 3000 people flocked to Coronet Peak's first day of operations, with the first person to queue for the chairlifts there almost 20 hours ahead. He kept warm in a Cookie Monster costume with a wetsuit underneath. The opening of Coronet Peak was celebrated by NZSki with the first few hundred people in the chairlift queue on Saturday morning given champagne. NZSki had plenty to celebrate. It also began using its world-first RF technology system which is set to streamline and improve access to all NZSki mountains and services. The new RF (Radio Frequency) system is a fully integrated online platform which allows users to pre-purchase product online before arriving on the mountain. Products like lift passes, ski lessons and rental equipment are loaded to individual passes (called the ‘mypass'). Each and every time a user passes through the RF gates, their movements are recorded by the system so that by the end of their day, they can visit the ‘mypass' website and view information such as runs completed, lifts used and vertical metres descended. The concept has been three years in the planning and has been rolled out across Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and The Remarkables in time for the start of the 2010 winter season. Skiers and riders will collect an individual ‘mypass' with their first purchase this season. Their details, including a photo, will be loaded into the system to appear at the gates or at a point of sale every time the card is used. NZSki CEO James Coddington explains that the system is based on European and American systems which normally run off line, but the NZSki system takes the technology to a whole new level. “It is online and offers many benefits to our guests and partners. Just one visit to any of our guest services counters or snow centres and you will be set up with a mypass that you can then load up with any of our services through online purchase. At the end of the day or week you can either recycle the mypass with us, or have fun with profiles and social media networks.” 20100608 P a g e 2 www.travelmemo.co.nz |
Get Skype and Phone us for free