Shimmering high on the Queenstown horizon, an expansive off-map ski basin that, for years, existed only in whispers and long-term plans is finally ready to be revealed.
Skiers and snowboards were praying the snow gods delivered in time for Cardrona Alpine Resort's planned opening of Soho Basin on 28 June, marking the culmination of years of painstaking planning and tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure investment.
Cardrona and Treble Cone chief mountains officer Laura Hedley said the project had involved technical backcountry building work, helicopter missions and meticulous tussock replanting.
"We don't often get to open up new terrain in New Zealand, so we are so excited about being able to open this up to our guests, let them explore a bit more of these beautiful mountains," she said.
Chief mountains officer for Cardrona and Treble Cone Laura Hedley. Photo: Supplied
The basin was tucked over the ridge from Cardrona's main slopes, high on the Queenstown horizon on a south-facing aspect.
Punctuated by rocks and ridgelines, Soho Basin expanded Cardrona's total footprint by a quarter, making it the biggest ski area in the country.
Hedley said it would mostly cater to intermediate and advanced riders.
"It's really rolly and playful," she said. "We tried to keep it as natural as possible, because the terrain itself is amazing.
"People will have this experience where they go basin to basin. You can get from Soho Basin to Captain's Basin, then across to the main basin.
"You'll be able to ski in different places, eat in different places - it's going to feel like a whole different resort."
Soho Basin's new high-speed, six-seater, 1.2 km chairlift. Photo: Supplied
Planning for Soho Basin began in 2015, followed by a 2018 agreement to use land owned by Land Information New Zealand.
A new high-speed, six-seater, 1.2km chairlift called Soho Express took two years to build, with towers brought in by a Black Hawk helicopter, because there was no road access.
As the area was landscaped, Hedley said staff tried to leave the smallest possible mark on the environment.
"We made sure that every time we took out a tussock, we replanted it," she said.
Soho Basin's new high-speed, six-seater, 1.2 km chairlift. Photo: Supplied
The project had driven development across the rest of the mountain, including a new T-bar ski lift, retail store and noodle bar, Hedley said.
"We needed to make sure we had enough carparks, enough food and beverage seating, that our rentals [facility] was upgraded, that our infrastructure was upgraded," she said.
"We've had some challenges. We didn't get every consent we wanted in time and that's okay.
"It's a multi-year project, so things like the water reservoir for snowmaking, we'll do next year, but we do have the infrastructure in place already and we do have snow guns on.
"We haven't quite finished yet, but this is definitely the big one."
Cardrona's main slopes opened on 14 June. Photo: Supplied
Along with snow guns, signage and a new ski patrol hut, staff had settled on eight names for new runs, including Sunny Side, Snow Farmer and Showtime.
Ski patroller Shane Adams said staff started preparing the area for public access last year.
"The snow safety specialists got to come in, and did quite a lot of work to look for avalanche paths and build their avalanche atlas, and all those sorts of things, which is really cool," he said.
Adams said he recalled a lot of talk about the ski area one day expanding over the mountain, when he worked at Cardrona in 2015.
"To be back here again and actually have that happen is pretty cool. I'm pretty excited," he said.
Soho Basin could open at the start of school holidays, if snow coverage improved.
Skier Sam Redwood was already eyeing up the possibilities.
"I don't want to give away too many secrets, but I know some spots," he said. "My mate's been scoping out some really good lines down it and I'm really keen to hit those."
Long-time Cardrona skier Will Murrell was also looking forward to trying out Soho's slopes.
"The thought of a bunch of new stuff here is just awesome," he said.
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