If you are planning on skiing on New Zealand’s Mount Ruapehu over the weekend, we suggest you bring your appetite because there will be free footlong sammies and you don’t even need to take off your skis to enjoy one.
Turoa Ski Area has teamed up with Subway New Zealand to create the country’s first Subway Ski-Thru, a temporary on-mountain food stop where skiers and snowboarders can slide in for a free sandwich before continuing down the mountain.
The pop-up will operate from Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20, with free pre-made Subway sandwiches, cookies and hot chocolate available from noon to 2 p.m. each day.
Everything is first come, first served and available only while supplies last. The activation is also dependent on weather, snow and mountain conditions.
Ski In, Grab a Sandwich and Keep Riding
The Subway Ski-Thru will be located at the top of Turoa’s Parklane Chairlift, just north of Snowflake Cafe
Skiers and snowboarders can reach the pop-up from the Movenpick side of the mountain and continue skiing after stopping for food. Visitors who are not skiing can ride the Parklane Chairlift and walk over to the temporary restaurant
Rather than building a restaurant from scratch, Subway and Pure Turoa are converting an existing alpine hut into the three-day outpost. The location will also have a DJ, and limited-edition Subway beanies and branded satchels will be given away while supplies last.
It is essentially the fast-food version of a slopeside pit stop, except there is no bill when you reach the window.
It Is Part of a Bigger Spring Weekend at Turoa
The Subway Ski-Thru arrives in the middle of Turoa’s six-day Spring Fling, which runs from Sept. 15-20.
The resort’s official Spring Fling schedule includes surprise giveaways and a family scavenger hunt around the Winter Garden, with Subway sponsoring the festivities. Visitors can pick up scavenger hunt forms at Snowflake Cafe and return completed forms for prizes.
The timing also follows fresh snow on Mount Ruapehu and comes just ahead of New Zealand’s school holidays.
Pure Turoa Brand Marketing Manager James Simpson said the recent snow is a reminder that winter on the volcano is not finished.
“Recent snowfall is a great reminder that there is still plenty of the season ahead”
Turoa officials say the ski area can sometimes continue operating into late October or even November when snow and weather allow.
Excellent collaboration, Enjoy the sandwiches ya’ll!
