New Zealand’s largest commercial ski resort, Cardrona Alpine Resort, brought a slice of the slopes to Sydney this morning, challenging Aussies to make the ultimate seasonal switch – from surf to snow – with a one-day-only pop-up activation next to the iconic Bondi Beach.
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.
On Friday 4 July, the ‘Board Swap’ took over Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club from 7am to 11am, encouraging Sydneysiders to trade in their surfboards for a chance to win one of four epic 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. Any donated surfboards were gifted back to the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club.
To help bring the experience to life, Cardrona teamed up with Aussie surf icon and two-time world champion Tyler Wright, who surprised beachgoers with snow-themed trivia and handed out thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes from Cardrona’s brand partners, including The North Face, GoPro, icebreaker, and Dragon Alliance.
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.
Professional surfer, Tyler Wright, said: “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. 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.”
Laura Hedley, Cardrona and Treble Cone Chief Mountains Officer, adds: “We were stoked to bring a slice of the mountain to Bondi. 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 from Cardrona and their partners, Aussies can visit cardrona.com/boardswap.
