Press Release, 14th June 2013 – Wanaka, New Zealand:
The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand is pleased to announce that the ninth edition of this world class event will take place between 27th August and 3rd September 2013 in the beautiful Southern Lakes district of New Zealand’s South Island. Registration has officially opened for slopestyle and halfpipe and can be completed at www.register-for-events.com.
As an Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Gold Level event for halfpipe and slopestyle, The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand has a history of attracting the world’s best freeskiers, with the likes of multiple X Games Gold Medalist Tanner Hall and AFP World Champion Gus Kenworthy gracing the podium in the past. The AFP World Tour is the official organisation that determines the overall ranking of all freeski athletes according to their results at each event, which are ranked from Bronze to Platinum according to prize money and standard of competition.
As a Gold level event, The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand is at the second highest level, just below X Games, with an attractive $NZ 42,000 prize purse, and is therefore viewed as an important competition by the international freeski community. This year’s competition is even more significant due to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia only months away. The world’s best freeski athletes view The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand as an invaluable part of their Olympic preparations and an opportunity to test their mettle against other Sochi 2014 hopefuls.
The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand also offers a unique draw card as the only event in the world that organises halfpipe, slopestyle and big mountain competitions in one. The big mountain competition is a 4 Star Freeride World Qualifying event and has aided New Zealand’s own Sam Smoothy, Charlie Lyons and Neil Williman in qualifying for the renown Freeride World Tour. This year many international upcoming freeriders will yet again use The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand as an opportunity to gain valuable FWQ points early in the season.
The big mountain competition venue will be determined by prevailing weather conditions with Treble Cone’s Motatapu Chutes and The Remarkables’ Alta Chutes and Shadow Basin all options. While the fate of Snowpark as a training and competition facility are being evaluated, the NZ Open has bookings at both Cardrona and Snowpark from the 27-31st of August for the halfpipe and slopestyle events.
The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand competition schedule is as follows:
27th of August: Slopestyle Qualifiers
28th of August: Halfpipe Qualifiers
29th of August: Slopestyle Finals
30th of August: Halfpipe Finals
31st of August: Weather Day
2nd of September: Big Mountain Qualifiers
3rd of September: Big Mountain Finals
4th – 7th September: Weather Days
Competitors can register at www.register-for-events.com.
While the standard of competition across all disciplines will be exceptionally high, participants can still expect to enjoy the traditionally relaxed nature of The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand as well as an exciting social schedule.
