Heath Richmond skims over a pond during an adventure race yesterday on the last day of the ski season at Cardrona. Photo: Jen Houltham

Cardrona Alpine Resort is claiming a record-breaking 2017 winter following the last day of the snow sports season yesterday.

Cardrona general manager Bridget Legnavsky said "this year was significantly up on other years in terms of visitor numbers and revenue, so we’re very happy".

Ms Legnavsky said there were a number of factors contributing to the resort’s success starting with the new McDougall’s chondola which "has made the mountain far more accessible for everyone".

She said the July school holidays were "great" but August was "massive" with high numbers of Australian and Chinese visitors.

"Usually, after the July school holidays we get a bit of a lull but this year it just didn’t happen."

The Winter Games and the Jossi Wells Invitational also kept the snow message "really alive" in August through to September. A 90cm "multilayered" snowfall in early September added almost an extra metre to the existing 2m snow base. Ms Legnavsky said

base facilities would be upgraded over the summer months.

The total investment in the resort over the next three years was forecast to be over $20million.

Cardrona will remain open for high-performance New Zealand and international athletes for another week from today, and the resort’s annual Spring Camp training in Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Big Air would be held.

It reopens on December 1 for summer operations and for the first time will be open seven days a week until April 1 next year.

kerrie.waterworthodt.co.nz