12.05.12 Wanaka, New Zealand – Now in itʼs 8th year, the North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand, presented by Völkl, is proud to announce that it is officially an AFP World Tour Gold level event. The competition will yet again attract the world best freeskiers to the Southern Lakes area of the South Island between the 28th of August and the 4th of September.

For many years The Freeski Open of New Zealand has been the first major competition of the season on the fierce international Freeski competition circuit. The AFP World Tour is the official organization that for the last five years has created a points system to determine the overall ranking of all freeski athletes according to their results at each event. Different events are ranked from Bronze to Platinum level and this ranking essentially determines the importance of the event for the athletes. This is the first year that the Freeski Open of New Zealand is a Gold Level event, the second highest level, and that, in combination with a total prize purse of $NZ42,000, will certainly attract the best of the best to compete at the world class event.

The Freeski Open of New Zealand is also the only event in the world that organizes Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Mountain competitions in one event. The Halfpipe and Slopestyle events to be held at Snow Park NZ are both AFP Gold Level events and the Big Mountain, to be held at a mystery venue outside of the Remarkables Alta Basin, is a 3 Star Freeride World Tour Qualifying event. Alongside the Chill series, Temple Basin Freeride and Export Xtreme, it is going to be a busy winter in New Zealand. With so many FWQ events, it has become clear that skiers hungry to qualify for the world renowned Freeride World Tour shouldnʼt miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable points early in the season.
All potential competitors should be aware that registration fills up quickly, so get in early from the 1st of June at www.register-for-events.com. The North Face Freeski Open of NewZealand schedule is as follows:

28th of August: Accreditation & Slopestyle Practice at Snow Park NZ
29th of August: Slopestyle Qualifiers at Snow Park NZ
39th of August: Halfpipe Qualifiers at Snow Park NZ
31st of August: Slopestyle Semis and Finals at Snow Park NZ
1st of September: Halfpipe Semis and Finals at Snowpark NZ
3rd of September: Big Mountain Qualifiers, Mystery Venue
4th of September: Big Mountain Finals, Mystery Venue

For all the information you need on the event as well as registration details please
visit the website: www.nzfreeskiopen.com

Check out our other events at Snow Park NZ here!

Early Bird Passes Available Until April 20, 2012

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (March 22, 2012) – Snow Park NZ, on approaching a decade of operation has launched its Early Bird Season Pass Campaign for 2012 and scheduled opening day for June 15 – the earliest of any Wanaka ski field.

The Early Bird Season Pass, available until April 20, includes unlimited day skiing and snowboarding at Snow Park NZ. Prices range from $579 for an Adult to $479 Student, $149 for Youth or $1399 for a Family.

Customers have the choice to ‘AddON’ unlimited night skiing/riding to their Season Pass at the time of purchase. Adults can include the AddON for $199, while the Student and Youth AddON is $99. Night skiing/riding AddON for a Family is $199.

Early Bird Season Passes are pre-loaded with value added goodness including store credit to spend at Snow Park NZ and Quest in Wanaka. Adults are given $100, while Student and Family receive $50 and Youth $25.

All Season Pass holders also receive a range of discounts for activities, products and services at Snow Park NZ and from Quest Wanaka including 10% off Accommodation, Park School, Food & Beverage, Retail and more.

New to 2012, Snow Park are offering more flexability to customers with the launch of a new payment plan option for Adult, Student and Family Early Bird season passes.

Snow Park is scheduled to open on June 15 and will be opened 7 days a week, plus night skiing/riding on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

All 2012 season passes are available for purchase on-line  HERE

Starring Mons Royale team riders Jossi Wells, Will Jackways, Jake Koia, Stef Zeestraten shredding New Zealand with the Mons model explaining the prize in her underwear, well kind of.

Also starring Air New Zealand, Harris Mountain Heli Skiing, Oak Ridge Resort, a 4×4 Jucy rental car, Snow Park NZ and some animals.

http://www.facebook.com/monsroyale

The NZ Women’s Slopestyle Team put in a commanding performance today at the Burton Canadian Open where Stefi Luxton achieved her first major event podium finishing in third place in women’s slopestyle.  Christy Prior and Shelly Gotlieb finished hot on her heels in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Stefi had a fantastic momentum building performance this week qualifying in fifth place, making it through semis in fourth, and ending her week on the podium in third place.

NZ coach, Jody Blatchley, was extremely happy with Luxton’s consistency which he puts down to her hard work and focus in training.

After landing a safe run, Luxton went to town on her second run scoring the highest “trick” score of the day on the first feature with a 50-50 to Frontside 360 out.  Luxton’s jump combo included a Cab 540 melon to Back 360 to Frontside 540.

“The work ethic from the girls and the way they competed this week was outstanding,” said Blatchley.   “Conditions and the great weather have meant it has been a level playing field for everyone.  The kiwis have had to work hard to get through all of the rounds in a strong field.  All of our girls are riding strong and are ready for the upcoming World Championships in Norway.”

This was Prior’s first competition at this level and she came out with a career best result.  She was under pressure in run three after struggling to land cleanly in her first two runs, but took it all in her stride to land her best run of the week which blended technical rail riding with a Cab 540 to Back 3 to Frontside rodeo 540 combo.  “This was Prior’s first 5-Star TTR event, and bodes well for a promising future in the sport,” said NZ’s Head Park and Pipe Coach, Tom Willmott.

Shelly Gotlieb was gunning for the top spot having placed first in the semi-finals, and stepped her riding up landing her first ever switch backside 540 in competition.  Unfortunately, Shelly could not pull the run that she wanted together and had to settle for fifth.

The scoring was so tight that only 1.28 points out of 100 separated the second to fifth ranked riders.  Recent X-Games champion Jamie Anderson (USA) took the top spot with Sina Candrian from Switzerland finishing second.

“We are all extremely proud of the recent performances from members of the NZ team,” said Willmott.   “These results demonstrate our depth in the women’s slopestyle discipline.  We look forward to seeing the crew continue to push each other towards the top.  Our preparation for the upcoming TTR World Champs in Oslo, Norway is well on track both in the halfpipe and slopestyle disciplines, and we are looking forward to getting stuck in out there in the next two weeks.”

Eight athletes will represent New Zealand at the Six-star TTR World Championships which will be held in Oslo, Norway from 12 to 19 February.

World Championships Team:
Mitchell Brown – men’s halfpipe
Shelly Gotlieb – women’s slopestyle
Abby Lockhart – women’s slopestyle
Stefi Luxton – women’s slopestyle
Milu Multhaup-Appleton – men’s slopestyle
Rebecca Sinclair – women’s halfpipe
Ben Stewart – men’s halfpipe
Rebecca Torr – women’s slopestyle

Rebecca Torr competes this week at the third stop of the Winter Dew Tour with freeskiers Jossi Wells and Rose Battersby before heading over for the World Championships.  Teammate Christy Prior will stay on in Canada where she will compete in the TTR four-star Billabong Flaunt It.

For more information, full results and images of the Burton Canadian Open, click here.

Abby secured 1st place at the “La Clusaz Radikal Mountain” Comp, the first 4 star qualifier for Freeride World Tour.

Sunday, October 9th, at Snow Park NZ  in Wanaka, New Zealand Olympian and top competitive snowboarder, Iouri “I-Pod” Podladtchikov landed the first ever documented Switch Backside Double Cork 1260 / Switch Double McTwist.

While Training with the Coach Marco Bruni in New Zealand Iouri shows us what’s happening as we head into the Sochi 2014 Olympics. Let’s hope the judges know he’s goofy!

Louri would like to thank all of his sponsors: Red Bull Energy Drink (Redbull.com), Quiksilver (Quiksilver.com) and Vans (Vans.com)

FULL STORY VISIT ESPN HERE

Scotty James’ Spring Session

http://www.redbull.com.au/cs/Satellite/en_AU/Video/Spring-session–Scotty-James-021243139335978

Join Aussie snowboarder, Scotty James, for a spring session at Snow Park together with his coach, Ben Bright, and fellow snowboarder, Torah Bright, Scotty hones his skills in preparation for a successful 2012 and, ultimately, the 2014 Olympic Games in Russia. Check out Scotty’s incredible ‘air awareness’ as he displays his form on the half pipe.

Torah Bright NZ Spring Edit

MIKE NIXON WITH WANAKRAZY EXPOSED!

It’s simple.

Make a 2-4 minute edit showing us what you love about Snow Park in spring time.

(aka shredding the park, spraying the innocent, tranny finders, pond skimming, front country… basically whatever floats your boat)

Post it on our Facebook page.

Rally the troops, and let the FB audience decide.

Edits will also feature on the Snow Park NZ website.

THE EDIT WITH THE MOST FACEBOOK ‘LIKES’ AS AT 12PM OCTOBER 1st (CLOSING DAY) WINS A 2012 SNOW PARK NZ SEASON PASS!!

Peter Adam ‘Earl’ Crook showing us what spring is all about at Snow Park NZ. Credit Ananda Van Welij.

AND NOW FOR THE EDITS…

EDIT NUMBER ONE: MICHAEL MCMILLAN LAPPING SNOW PARK – CREATED BY TOBY WILSON.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR TOBY’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER TWO: A DAY AT SNOW PARK NZ – CREATED BY GEORGE PENGELLY.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR GEORGE’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER THREE: CHASE AND LANI GO TO SNOW PARK.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR LANI’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER FOUR: THE FIRM PRESENTS WANAKRAZY.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR MIKE’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER FIVE: GUIDO AT SNOW PARK. CREATED BY – LIAM HALL.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR LIAM’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER SIX: BLAH BLAH BLAH NZ. CREATED BY – SIMON MCSHERRY.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR SIMON’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER SEVEN: SNOW PARK 2010. CREATED BY – KYLE RILEY WATSON.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR KYLE’S EDIT

EDIT NUMBER EIGHT: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF GRADY. CREATED BY – DARCY ROSZELL.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR DARCY’S EDIT

SWITCH PERSONALISED COACHING

One on one coaching with a focus on training specifically for competitive skiing and snowboarding. This option is available for all ages and abilities. Each participant’s training programmes will be customized to their needs and be podium focused – all with an element of fun.

SWITCH – High Performance Programme

Back by popular demand Switch Academy has returned renamed as Switch – High Performance Programme. Switch will also be focused on competitive skiing and riding and the training will be in a group situation. Groups will aim to be small (around 4) in order to tailor make the content. The schedule will be season long with possible intensive camp options. The programme will incorporate race, park, pipe, free-ride aspects of skiing and snowboarding and aim to get our athletes on the podium and having fun while they are learning and competing.

SWITCH – High Performance Boot Camps

There will be one, four day high intensity boot camps – specifically race, park or pipe focus -available for both local, regional and national teams or individuals. The option will be available to use our internal coaches, bring your own for coach development or work with our specialised coaches. There will be one race and one freestyle camp scheduled per month for July, August and September. Full camp facilities can be provided – accommodation, food and chaperones.

NIGHT n DAY

A truly successful start to the 2011 Night n Day programme will see that it continues in 2012. All of this seasons participants earned an award within the Snow Sports New Zealand FUNdamentals grades. We are keen to see this programme grow and see the skiers and snowboarders going through to our Switch programme in the future.

PARK RATS

We will be having sessions for the little ones also. A mini programme for 3-5 year old skiers and 5-7 year old snowboarders will be available on weekends. Park Rats will be an intro session to snow aimed at giving the small kids a great first snow experience that ensures that they will want to come back.

Our intention is to create a training ground where it is all about progression, whether you are training for the Olympics or having your first day on snow you can learn together here at Snow Park.

We invite your feedback and ideas, let us know what you need at school@snowparknz.com.