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NZ Vs World’s Best At Burton NZ Open
1 August 2005
NZ Vs World’s Best At Burton Nz Open
In the countdown to the highest profile snowboard competition New Zealand has ever seen, Kiwi competitors are preparing to take on the world’s best in Cardrona Alpine Resort’s super pipe and terrain park during the Burton New Zealand Open from 11-13 August.
New Zealand Olympic qualifier, Juliane Bray, said it was exciting to see this level of competition taking place in New Zealand.
“Having an international competition of this calibre will raise public awareness of professional snowboarding and show just how seriously the athletes take it,” she said. “It also gives New Zealand athletes a chance to see where they stand on a world level and provides them international competition experience without the expense of overseas travel.”
Other top New Zealand riders such as Mitch Brown and current world youth champion, Kendall Brown, will join Juliane in the competition against a strong international field. Overseas riders include world number one, Keir Dillon, Olympic gold medallists Ross Powers and Kelly Clark, all from the USA, Canadian number one, Crispin Lipscomb, Swedish Olympian Stefan Karlsson and Soko Yamaoka from Japan who is currently ranked 1st on the World Cup circuit.
Juliane also said she saw the Burton Open as an essential training exercise for the World Cup circuit and ultimately the Olympics.
“Competing against the likes of Olympic gold medallist, Kelly Clark, makes me even more determined to win and I feel proud to be representing New Zealand against the best in the world. Competing on home turf makes you a lot more relaxed and you have a lot of support around you. This means you can really focus on your riding, something that’s harder to do when you’re out of your comfort zone in a foreign country.”
The Burton New Zealand Open will provide spectators with an outstanding display of riding as they compete for a share of the $50,000 prize pool in the specially designed terrain park on 11 August and super pipe on 13 August. For further information visit www.cardrona.com or www.opensnowboarding.com.
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