When the Cresta luge closed at Coronet Peak in 1987, Uan Spiijkerbosch was the last paying customer to make the run.

On Saturday (August 5), Uan and his daughter Neava were the first riders on the new Naseby summer luge, built from the old Cresta run, joking that he was finally redeeming a free ticket he was given after his final Coronet run had an unhappy ending.

“I was the last paying customer on the Cresta luge but the guy at the top followed me down, not expecting anyone else to be there,” Uan said.

He was standing on the sled about to step off when the staff member’s sled hit Uan’s, tossing him from the run and resulting in whiplash.

“I got a coke and a free pass that I only got to use today,” Uan said.

Uan Spiijkerbosch and daughter Neava are the first to ride the new Goldrush Luge at Naseby on Saturday.

Uan’s parents Erna and the late Tonnie Spijkerbosh donated the steel luge to Naseby, with further funding provided by David and Jennie Proctor, and the luge was built over a four-year period by community volunteers.

Tonnie died in March this year, but his presence was strongly felt at the opening on Saturday, with a photo of him on the luge attached to the structure, next to an old saw from the former plumber’s vast collection, with cut out lettering naming the run Spike’s Drop.

The opening of the luge was only the first part of festivities attended by about 100 people on Saturday, with the day also marking the opening of the Maniototo Adventure Park, encompassing the summer luge; the ice luge; the outdoor ice rink that caters for skating, curling and ice hockey; the indoor curling rink, and Jubilee Pond, which is used as a natural rink when the weather is cold enough for it to freeze. 

The summer luge received its official name of The Goldrush Luge at the opening.

Maniototo Adventure Park Charitable Trust chair Dave Brady said combining all the facilities into a single governance and operations structure made good sense financially and in promotional terms.

“It’s taken a while to get everybody in agreement that this is the best way forward,” he said.

“Part of the event was about celebrating all the workers and the volunteers and all the community hours that went into getting us here.