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Newsletter 28/10/2008

CHEESEMAN WINS AWARD

30th June, 2008

Cheeseman Ski Area has been awarded the 2007 Snowco New Zealand Small Ski Area Service Award.

 PRESS RELEASE

BIG IN A SMALL WORLD

The smiles have got bigger as opening day for Cheeseman Ski Area has come closer.

Why?  Because members of this hard-working Canterbury ski club, the closest club to Christchurch, know they have things right for all the skiers and snow boarders who are heading to the mountains this winter. Their confidence in their facilities has been endorsed by the club scooping five categories in the Small Ski Area Awards.  In Wanaka recently the club was presented with the 2007 Snowco New Zealand Small Ski Area Service Awards for Supreme Award, Best Access Road, Best Ticket Department, Best Toilets and Best Café.

As all ski areas know, great snow will bring skiers and snowboarders, but if the facilities aren't up to scratch the users will soon go into meltdown.

"We continue to put much emphasis and effort into maintaining and upgrading our facilities and equipment" says Cheeseman President Cam Lill".  "Our aim is to provide visitors with a fun filled alpine experience when they visit our mountain and the facilities, whether it be groomed slopes or good coffee, play a big part in providing a great experience". "Cheeseman is not only a club field, it is a fully commercial ski area which welcomes all skiers and snowboarders to visit and try its fantastic snow, service and facilities".

The awards are a great comeback for the Mt Cheeseman Ski Club that has, like others, struggled to hold its own in bad snow years and after a major blow when its day lodge burned down in 2003.  But it has bounced back and it is easy to see why the Cockayne Café in the new purpose built Day Lodge took out the Best Café award.  It's a stunning location in the Craigieburn Range and facilities are so good it is even hosting weddings and group functions in the off season.

"We believe our Daylodge and Café facility is one of the best out there and compliments what we can offer clients both during the summer and winter months" says Mr Lill. "This building and other Lodges are ideal for large groups to utilise for a range of activities and functions".  "The Castle Hill Basin and Craigieburn range are the gateway to many outdoor activities all year round and although skiing is our main focus during the winter we are happy to make our facilities available during the off-season too".

Cheeseman, about one and a half hours west of Christchurch, like other club areas, is a non-profit ski club and relies on the hard work of members and some paid staff to keep operating. Luckily for the club the working bee mentality is still alive and well in New Zealand.

Activity on this ski area is not exclusive to winter.  While the cold season may see the area abuzz with skiers, boarders and other snow users there is often intense activity in the summer, especially the weekends, when members are busy working to maintain facilities, do upgrades and generally tidy up ready for another season.

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