Lake Wanaka, New Zealand – This season, Snow Park NZ will be the first and only ski resort surrounding New Zealand’s Lake Wanaka to offer night skiing and riding this winter, providing visitors with more time on the mountain and a unique experience on snow under floodlights.

Eight floodlights have been installed across the terrain park allowing skiers and riders full access to the east-side Box-run, with many intermediate and beginner boxes, rails and jumps on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. throughout July and August.

To coincide with the launch of night riding Mountain Dew Night Sessions, an amateur snowboard rail jam series, will be held on six nights throughout the season – culminating to an invitational finale. Cash prizes are up for grabs after each round with finale winners taking home grand prizes of NZD $6,000 for men and NZD $3,000 for women.

“For skiers and riders who are time short during the day, they can pop up to Snow Park in the evening to get their turns in,” says Sam Lee, Snow Park NZ manager. “Being on snow at night under flood lights is quite thrilling, and with relatively uncrowded slopes and a hot meal available in the Woolshed it will be a great alternative Friday night out.”

The Woolshed Restaurant and Bar offers an excellent viewing platform across the park for night sessions. Live music from local bands and DJs will keep the Woolshed buzzing on Tuesday and Friday nights throughout the season.

Night skiing/riding is available either as an add-on to a day pass or as an individual night riding pass. Individual night riding tickets will be priced at NZD $35 for adults and NZD $20 for youth. Night riding is included for all season pass holders.

Held on Thursday nights beginning at 5 p.m., the Mountain Dew Night Sessions will take a jam format for riders to earn points throughout the series. The Thursday competition nights include June 19, July 3 and 17, and August 7 and 28, with the invitational finale set for Friday, September 5.

Snow Park NZ is scheduled to open its ski and snowboard season on June 13.