New Zealand is seen as one of the big players in the snow world and they’re making their claim to be the top dog as the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games will feature dual sanctioning between Swatch TTR and FIS (Federation International de Ski). Not only that but it’s set to feature the first ever FIS Freeski Big Air events!The event will also feature the first ever! New Zealand was a big player in getting the freeski halfpipe and ski cross events added to the bill for the 2014 Winter Olympics following the FIS Snowboard & Freestyle Junior World Championships in 2010 in Lake Wanaka. It was the first time that freeski and snowboarding had been combined at a World Championship level so the future is definitely bright!?New Zealand punches way above its weight in terms of the influence it has had on global competitive snow sports over the last few years,? said Winter Games NZ CEO, Arthur Klap. ?What we produced at the junior world championships essentially secured the inclusion of freeskiing into the Winter Olympics and now we?re proud to deliver another influential competition with the first ever FIS freeski big air. This is huge for the sport as it receives official recognition from FIS and is also great for New Zealand given our strong history in freeskiing with such athletes as the Wells brothers.?More info, head to http://www.wintergamesnz.comRelated posts:UA MTN: Dew Tour & Winter X Games 2011 I'm turning the clock back a little bit here with...Winter X Games Europe 2011: Check the course Russ Henshaw was good enough to upload this little...Winter X Games Europe 2011: Livestream Not wanting to withhold the Winter X Games Europe...