SLOPESTYLE COURSE IN TOP SHAPE FOR NZ FREE SKI OPEN
Internationally-renowned
terrain park designers at Snow Park NZ have been perfecting their slopestyle
course in the lead up to next week’s NZ Free Ski Open.
Under the
guidance and expertise of three of the world’s top park designers - Frank
Wells, Jeremiah Pebley and Jeremy Carpenter, all of US consultancy company Snow Park
Technologies – Snow Park NZ’s slopestyle course, which has been
altered since last weeks’ Burton NZ Open, will be a technical course to
test even the most skilled free skiers.
The course
begins with a quarterpipe-style drop-in, down to a custom Snow Park NZ stair
feature, then to a gap-to-snow box, before moving to a 14m jump, followed by an
18m jump. Skiers complete the course by hitting a flat-down rail and a jump-to-down
box, which is the latest craze in free skiing slopestyle and promises
spectacular tricks, such as 900 and 1080 rotations.
Wells, who is
Snow Park NZ’s slopes manager, said snow-making conditions have been excellent
over the last few days, which has enabled the park designers to put more snow
into the features. Extra snow has also helped the 150m halfpipe to be groomed
to perfection. “I think the skiers will be really excited about the
course,” Wells said.
The K2
Halfpipe event signals the beginning of the NZ Free Ski Open on August 15,
followed by the slopestyle on August 16. The Volkl Big Mountain prelims take place at Treble
Cone on Friday August 18 with the finals on the first following fine weather
day, between August 20 and 25.
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