2013 Freeski & Snowboard Junior Nationals Wraps Up

2013 Freeski & Snowboard Junior Nationals Wraps Up with Big-Hitting Action in the Park

Lake Wanaka, 4 October 2013 – The final day of competition for the Snow Sports NZ 2013 Freeski & Snowboard Junior Nationals took place at Cardrona Alpine Resort today. Skiers in the Shredder boys’ (born 2001 - 2000) and Youth and Junior boys’ and girls’ categories contested the slopestyle on the Upper Heavy Metal Park.

The competition was originally scheduled to take place earlier in the week but had to be postponed due to high winds. Today’s weather was far from perfect with rain and flat light, but good enough to allow each skier to complete two judged runs.

Nico Porteous nailed the Shredder boys’ category, sliding the top rail with a back 2 out, followed by a 270 on to the second rail feature. From there he slid the cannon with a little shifty thrown in, followed by a cleanly-landed right cork 7 and left 9 safety to finish.

Olivia Jones finished off her successful week with a win in Junior girls’ slopestyle.

The standard of competition in Youth boys was impressive, Jackson Wells emerging as the winner ahead of Finn Bilous in second and Miguel Porteous in third. For his winning run Jackson slid the elbow rail, with a front 4 out, followed by a back 2. He took care of the rainbow rail with a blunt side with truck driver grab, following up with a right 7 safety, left 9 tail and left 7 double Japan.

Natasha Drury was the only girl competing in the Juniors and although assured of a win, still decided to give it her all by attempting a couple of backflips.

Beau-James Wells won Junior boys hands down, displaying “style that outshone everyone else”, according to Head Judge, Dion Newport. Beau’s run featured a 270 onto the elbow rail and back 2 off, a 450 onto the down rail, switch onto the cannon and 270 out with a mute grab, switch left dub 9 with a safety, right 9 tail grab and, for the finale, a huge switch left dub 10 safety.

Click here for results from ski slopestyle: http://snowsports.co.nz/race-results/2013/

The Junior Nationals is a long-running competition which, every year, attracts entries from all over New Zealand as well as internationally. The 2013 event has seen over 200 skiers and snowboarders between the ages of five and 18 compete in a range of disciplines including dual giant slalom, ski and boarder cross, big mountain, halfpipe and slopestyle.

The overall winners of the Snow Sports NZ 2013 Freeski & Snowboard Junior Nationals will be presented with their awards at a prize giving ceremony at 5pm tonight (Friday) at the Lake Wanaka Centre. This year’s prize giving will take place alongside the Snow Sports NZ Annual Awards Night which will follow at 6.45pm.

Videos of the week’s competition are available to view on vimeo. Day One edit available here: http://vimeo.com/75747385. Day two edit available here: http://vimeo.com/75836939. Day three edit here: http://vimeo.com/76007396. Day four edit available here: http://vimeo.com/76070268

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ENDS

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