snowboarders and mountaineers unlucky enough to be caught in an avalanche. Rookie Academy Based at Treble Cone, Rookie Academy is a world-class incubator of ski and snowboard instructor training. Rookie Academy runs instructor training courses from 2 weeks to 11 weeks in duration, aiming at preparing candidates for NZSIA, BASI, CSIA, (Canadian association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI)), PSIA instructor exams. Ski Patrol Certificate Run by Tai Poutini Polytechnic at Treble Cone, students train towards completing a Certificate Level 3 in Ski Patrol, providing them with the skills required for a role as a first year ski patroller. Many of the successful candidates go on to work as ski patrollers throughout the world as well as guiding, backcountry touring and emergency care and safety management. Season pass prices Treble Cone controversially raised its season pass prices for the 2007 season to NZ$2200 after 31 May, with “early bird” pre-season passes being NZ$1500. The early bird pass was a free upgrade from a 50-day season pass to a premium pass due to public and local community consultation. There have been many letters to newspapers and a general upset towards Treble Cone. Treble Cone management has released media statements In 2008, the company was required to raise extra capital from its shareholders to cover the loss. Season pass pricing was determined to be the problem. As a result, pre-season passes for 2009 were dropped to $990. Locals have strongly supported the change. Summer activities Historically, Treble Cone has opened the six seater chairlift for hiking and mountain biking. In 2007, this included hosting the first downhill event of the NZ Community Trust National Series in the weekend. 195 riders raced against the clock on the 2.5 km downhill trail. Currently, there are no plans to continue the summer field operations. Proposed gondola The gondola was approved late in 2008, with a 10-year building consent. Due to the current economic climate, there appears to be no desire to install the lift in the short term. On Friday 14 July 2006, The Press ran a story on Treble Cone Investments lodging resource consent applications regarding a proposed gondola from Cattle Flat (at the base of the ski field access road) to the ski field itself. The proposed gondola would travel 3.3 km in under 11 minutes, and be capable of carrying 2000 people an hour. It would rise 945 m. Talk of a gondola has