After a mixed - but ultimately successful - winter on the slopes, the South Island’s 2023 ski season was seen out at Cardrona Alpine Resort’s annual closing day on Sunday (October 15).

Snow was slow to arrive, but when it eventually did Wānaka welcomed thousands of skiers and snowboarders from around the world.

This year was the first time Cardrona and Treble Cone used ticketing systems to manage capacity and improve the guest experience. 

“Over the last few winters our experience wasn’t quite where we wanted it to be, without the ability to moderate the number of guests we welcomed onto our mountains,” Cardrona and Treble Cone Experiences general manager Laura Hedley said.

Snow was slow to arrive. PHOTO: Wānaka App 

“Implementing a system used by many of the world’s biggest ski resorts allowed us to limit the number of passes sold on any given day, to keep the number of skiers and snowboarders at a manageable level.”

She said the skifields didn’t always get it right, but they continued to learn through the season.

Laura said the early-season snow “led to some challenges”, but feedback from guests was that their experience at Cardrona and Treble Cone had been much better than in previous years.

Highlights of the winter included hosting world-class events where Kiwi snow sports stars took on their international counterparts on home soil, like the Winter Games NZ Junior World Championships.

US Olympian Jessie Diggins at the Snow Farm with a young fan at the Merino Muster last month. PHOTO: Wānaka App

“Seeing Lucia Georgalli, Rocco Jamieson and Mischa Thomas all on the Junior World Champs podium at home was really special – it’s incredible to watch the next generation of New Zealand snow sports athletes step up, and exciting to see how that has inspired kids who will take their turn in a few years’ time,” Laura said.

The Snow Farm also experienced challenges this season, with delays to its base building project meaning temporary facilities, such as containers and portaloos, had to be transported to the Pisa Conservation Area.

The Waiorau Nordic Ski Club said the season’s challenges brought the club closer together, providing a sense of community and momentum for the future.

The Snow Farm’s annual Merino Muster (part of the Worldloppet International cross country circuit) in September welcomed a sizable field of international competitors and featured “the world’s fastest course”, according to three time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins (USA).