2 Snowboarders Rescued After Getting Lost Beyond Resort Boundaries at Treble Cone Ski Area, New Zealand

Two snowboarders were rescued Thursday, July 30, after becoming lost in the backcountry beyond the boundaries of Treble Cone Ski Area, one of New Zealand’s premier ski resorts, following a six-hour search in severe alpine weather.

The pair had ventured outside the ski area’s designated boundaries Thursday afternoon to explore the backcountry before heavy snowfall, strong winds, and near-zero visibility left them unable to find their way back. Police were notified of the incident at approximately 1:45 p.m., launching a large-scale search involving multiple rescue agencies.

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Located near the resort town of Wānaka on New Zealand’s South Island, Treble Cone is renowned for its advanced terrain, steep bowls, and extensive off-piste skiing. While the resort offers some of the country’s best expert terrain, the surrounding mountains quickly transition into uncontrolled alpine backcountry where avalanche hazards, whiteout conditions, and complex terrain can rapidly become life-threatening.

The search was coordinated by Wānaka Police and involved the Wānaka Alpine Cliff Rescue Team, multiple ski patrol units, and an aerial search team. Helicopters from Aspiring Helicopters operated in extremely challenging flying conditions to deploy rescuers into the mountains. “The search required the expertise of the Wānaka Alpine Cliff Rescue Team, multiple ski patrol units, and an aerial search team,” Sergeant Darren Cranfield said. “Helicopters operated in very difficult flying conditions, and it was only through the pilot’s extensive local knowledge, experience, and exceptional flying skills that search teams could be safely deployed into the alpine environment.” The snowboarders were eventually located approximately one hour before nightfall. “Had they not been found before darkness, the outcome could have been significantly more serious,” Cranfield said.

The rescue marked the second major alpine search and rescue operation coordinated by Wānaka Police in the span of just three days. Earlier in the week, rescuers carried out a dramatic overnight operation on nearby Mount Aspiring after a climber survived an approximately 650-foot (200-meter) fall into a crevasse. Initially feared dead, the climber was eventually rescued alongside a companion after an arduous nighttime operation.

Cranfield thanked the volunteer and professional rescuers involved in Thursday’s mission and said the incident serves as another reminder that leaving ski area boundaries should never be taken lightly. “Anyone planning to enter the alpine environment must have the necessary experience, understand the current weather and avalanche conditions, carry appropriate emergency equipment, and have the skills to use it,” he said. “Even a minor mistake can quickly develop into a life-threatening situation in alpine terrain.”

Treble Cone, which receives an average of around 16 feet (5 meters) of annual snowfall, is popular with expert skiers and snowboarders for its expansive off-piste terrain. However, once riders pass beyond the ski area’s boundaries, they leave the controlled environment of the resort and enter unmanaged backcountry where there are no avalanche controls, marked trails, or routine ski patrol response.