"That was what I wanted and that's what I got," Arthur said yesterday.
About 16 family members - including some of his children and grandchildren - travelled from throughout the South Island to celebrate his 80th birthday on the snow.
Raffills Run in the Saddle Basin was named after Mr Raffills' brother Murray (81), also of Albert Town, who "laid the first tracks" at Treble Cone and was one of the founding directors of the skifield, general manager Jackie van der Voort said.
Murray had to give up skiing a couple of years ago after operations on his hips, but he and other non-skiing members of the family were delivered to the top of Raffills Run by skidoo on Saturday where they enjoyed peach schnapps in a birthday toast for Arthur.
Most of the group, including Arthur's wife, Noelene, and Treble Cone mascot TC Cat, then skied down the run to the base facilities for birthday cake and bubbly. The youngest on skis in the entourage was Arthur's 5-year-old grandchild.
"My wife was very good to organise it and Jackie was marvellous," Arthur said.
He and Noelene still ski regularly at Treble Cone, when they are not busy playing golf.
"We're joined at the hip when we ski . . . we've got a similar style and we enjoy that."
Ms van der Voort said it was "quite the thing" to have the family celebrate the day at Treble Cone on their namesake ski run.
"They've had a long association with the skifield," she said.
"Noelene and Arthur are both skiing really well."
