Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand’s largest commercial ski resort, has held a ‘Board Swap’ at Bondi Beach in Sydney to encourage Aussies to make the ultimate seasonal switch from surf to snow.
Timed with the opening of Cardrona’s 2025 winter season and a predicted surge in Australian travellers to Queenstown, the event celebrated what is shaping up to be a record-breaking winter for the resort.
The one-day only pop-up on 4 July took over Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club from 7am to 11am. They encouraged Sydneysiders to trade in their surfboards for a chance to win one of four grand prizes – including a brand-new Salomon snowboard and 3-day lift passes to Cardrona or Treble Cone for the 2025 or 2026 winter season.
To bring the Board Swap to life, Cardrona enlisted Aussie surf pro and two-time world champion, Tyler Wright, to help Aussies swap the surf for the snow and hand out thousands of dollars worth of on-the-spot prizes from Cardrona brand partners including GoPro, icebreaker, and Dragon Alliance.
“I grew up on the coast and I have travelled the world competing, but mixing things up and swapping the surf for the slopes has been something I’ve always enjoyed,” Wright said. “I’ve heard great things about Cardrona, and I can’t wait to get my boots on this winter at the end of my competitive season.”
The pop-up event followed the official opening of Cardrona’s 2025 winter season, marking a major milestone with the debut of 150 hectares of new terrain through the highly anticipated Soho Basin expansion. Over a decade in the making, the launch has increased Cardrona’s footprint to 615 hectares – cementing its position as the largest commercial ski area in New Zealand.
“We were stoked to bring a slice of the mountain to Bondi,” Cardrona and Treble Cone chief mountains officer, Laura Hedley, said. “With the season off to a great start, there’s never been a better time to ditch the sand for the snow. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned skier, we want Aussies to come and experience our mountains for themselves.”
With epic terrain, laid-back vibes, and world-class facilities just a short flight away, Cardrona and Treble Cone are the perfect winter escape for Aussies looking to switch things up. To find out how to swap the surf for snow, and go in to win even more prizes, Aussies can visit the official website.
