Ski Area manager Ross Lawrence said Saturday would mark a milestone for The Remarkables, with the Stash officially opening.
The terrain park will be the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and just the third in the world after the Stash in Tahoe, which opened in 2006, and the Stash in Avoriaz, France, which opened last year.
The concept was developed by Jake Burton, of the Jake Burton Corporation, which manufactures Burton snowboards and equipment, who discovered the fun in using natural elements from a forest on which to freestyle-snowboard.
"The Stash is actually a terrain park using a lot more of the natural elements.
"Rather than bringing in steel and plastic and making man-made things, we use the natural elements."
The Stash run is just over 1km in length and includes 23 features, using a part of The Remarkables that was previously redundant, Mr Lawrence said.
Because the bulk of the terrain at The Remarkables was rock, logs have been transported to the site and concrete has been used to create "wall" rides.
Also featured within the Stash is an alpine hut with a roof designed to be used by riders and skiers.
At its highest point, the roof is about 3.5m, which was "going to be pretty cool".
Additionally, a Burton Group artist has painted a mural which is about 2.1m high by 4m wide on one side of the hut, featuring a flying kea and a snowboarder.
One of the most spectacular art features will be placed at the entrance to the Stash - three giant concrete keas, designed and made by Queenstown-based Irish artist Connor McNicholas.
"Keas are native to New Zealand and they're native to our environment. The kea is our icon."
The sculptures were flown in by helicopter earlier this week and placed on the site, the finishing touch to a project completed in just five months, Mr Lawrence said.
"We've been racing since we started in February and just tidying up now. The features were all in by the end of April."
Mr Lawrence would not comment on the total cost of the development, but said the earthworks alone had cost over $140,000.
Both Burton and NZSki had supported The Remarkables in its development, he said.
With the official opening of the new terrain park just around the corner, the excitement was building.
"There's quite a bit of hype. We've got international riders coming in from Europe, Japan, the States, Australia - all Burton-affiliated riders.
"There's also quite a large media contingent coming from Australia, New Zealand and the States."
The official opening is scheduled for noon on Saturday, with drinks and nibbles provided before New Zealand band Rhombus entertains the crowd at the base building.
