Cardrona Alpine Resort.

At Cardrona Alpine Resort, machinery plays an important role in preparing the mountain outside the winter season. Ethan Meyer-Budge, Terrain and Snow Manager, oversees earthworks and machinery used to maintain and expand the resort’s infrastructure.

During the offseason, the team focuses on projects that support winter operations. One current job is the Soho Stage Two snowmaking installation, which involves around 2.5 km of trenching up the side of the mountain to install water, power and communications services.

Earthworks are also carried out across the ski trails during summer. This includes removing tussocks, reshaping terrain and levelling areas before reinstating vegetation. The goal is to create smoother trails that require less snow to cover uneven ground during winter.

To support this work, Cardrona selected a CASE CX235C SR excavator. The short-radius design was a key factor, allowing the machine to operate safely and efficiently on narrow tracks and steep mountain terrain.

“We do a lot of work where we’re in tight areas, obviously on the side of the mountain. So we need to get down tight tracks and operate freely. That’s why we went for the short radius.”

The machine’s size also gives the team enough capacity to take on larger earthworks tasks when required, while still remaining manoeuvrable in restricted spaces.

For Cardrona, the combination of compact swing radius and capable digging performance helps the team maintain trails, install infrastructure and prepare the mountain for the winter season.