Snow Park NZ

In Lake Wanaka, Snow Park New Zealand will be the first and only resort offering night skiing and riding during winter 2008. The resort will give visitors ample time on the mountains and a unique chance to ride on snow under the floodlights.

Various installments have been made along the terrain park; eight floodlights giving skiers and riders complete access to the east-side Box-run. On Tuesday and Friday evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm, the beginner and intermediate boxes, rails and jumps, will be available for everyone all through July and August.

In collaboration with the Mountain Dew Night Sessions, Snow Park will host a six-night amateur snowboard rail jam series. This will eventually lead to a grand finale which will have $6,000 USD and $3,000 USD up for grabs for men and women respectively.

The manager of Snow Park NZ, Sam Lee, recently said, “For skiers and riders who are time short during the day, they can pop up to Snow Park in the evening to get their turns in. Being on snow at night under flood lights is quite thrilling, and with relatively un-crowded slopes and a hot meal available in the Woolshed it will be a great alternative Friday night out.” He seems extremely enthusiastic about being able to offer skiers and riders ample time on the mountain.

In order to add spice to the offer, the Woolshed Restaurant and Bar will serve hot food to all the riders, and local bands and DJ’s will provide heart-pumping music on Tuesday and Friday nights. This will be available throughout the entire season.

Night skiing and riding will be available as an add-on to the day pass to both kids and adults. The passes are priced at $35 for adults and $20 for kids. Night riding and skiing will be included in the all-season pass.

So for all the snow sports enthusiasts out there, keep July and August open for Snow Park New Zealand.

World Heli Challenge

It has been announced that New Zealand’s legendary World Heli Challenge will return on August 9^th through August 24^th, 2008, after a gap of six years. This challenge is considered on of the most legendary freeriding and freeskiing events to have ever been started.

The World Heli Challenge will bring New Zealand’s Mt. Cook National Park the best riders and skiers in the world along with seven top-notch snowboard brands and ski brands. Each brand will consist of two elite athletes that will compete against one another through the various events.

Three days of helicopter-accessed events will take place on Mt. Cook National Park’s ‘Big Mountain’. This portion of the mountain designed for snowboarding and skiing consists of 3000 feet of terrain and a 50-degree slope average over cliffs. The Backcountry Freestyle realm will allow riders to showcase their potential and talent. And the rules are simple- first one to reach the end of the 3000-foot terrain wins!

But the high-end athletes that will be taking part in the Challenge will not be spending their entire two weeks in snow; they will be treated to jet boating, bungee jumping, golfing, surfing and various other things New Zealand is famous for!

The World Heli Challenge trophy is considered one of the most prized trophies in the world. But winning the trophy is not easy either; one must be the overall winner in all three combined events. Winners from the past include skiers Chris Davenport, Kent Kreitler, Andrea Binning, Seb Michaud and Guerlain Checerit. Among the snowboarders, Matt Godwill, Karleen Jeffery, Gilles Voirol, Steve Graham and David Pujol have bagged prizes in the past. This year, a new World Heli Challenge title for the best overall ski brand and snowboarding brand will also be awarded.

Created by Tony “Harro” Harrington, let’s see if the World Heli Challenge can restore the fire after six years!