Stars on Ice ‘Dazzle’ in Queenstown

New Zealand champion figure skaters were joined by Ice Blacks hockey players today (Tuesday 28 June) for a show-stopping ‘Stars on Ice’ performance on the Wonderland Ice Rink as part of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

Queenstown local and 2010 Junior Men National Champion Chris Boyd (18) graced the rink first, followed by solo performances from Queenstown Primary pupil Jessica Staples, 2010 Senior Ladies National Champion Samantha Waugh and Wakatipu High’s India Haworth. Dressed in glittering black the country’s 2010 Senior Pairs National Champions Ariel Nadas and Grant Howie then executed seamless jumps, lifts and twirls together drawing gasps from hundreds of enthralled spectators.

Bringing gnarly clashes to the rink were five Southern Stampede players, four from the New Zealand Ice Blacks squad, Brett Speirs, Mitchell Frear (U18) Aston Brookes (U18) and Connor Harrison (U18), cheered on by Ice Blacks Captain Simon Glass.

Last night six of New Zealand’s funniest comedians, hosted by Brendhan Lovegrove, had festival-goers in stitches with individual stand-ups and a rendition of TV3’s 7 Days digressing over everything from bodily functions to politics to making a mockery of New Zealand’s infamous townships.

The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival continues tonight with the Air New Zealand Holidays Mardi Gras then tomorrow with the More FM Downtown Day where business men don heels and dresses for a madcap race around the park, the Speight’s Summit Avalanche Awareness Seminar, Skyline Murder Mystery and finally, more comedy with Late Night Laughs at the American Express Icebox.

To see the full programme line up and individual event details check out the complete American Express Queenstown Winter Festival calendar online at www.winterfestival.co.nz or pick up a programme at information outlets throughout the region.

Tickets for all events can be bought from TicketDirect online at www.ticketdirect.co.nz, by phone 0800 224 224 (03 450 9110), or in person at the Queenstown Events Centre or Queenstown i-Site (corner of Shotover and Camp streets)*.

Winter Starts Here! From 24 June to 3 July the 2011 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival celebrates 37 years of winter fun and festivities with 10 days of totally outrageous and uniquely Queenstown events. Join us on Facebook, become a Friend of Festival and keep an eye on www.winterfestival.co.nz to be first with the latest news and hot updates. For more information about Queenstown visit www.queenstown-nz.co.nz.

Ticket service fees apply.

ENDS

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