Cardrona Hosts NZ's Elite Winter Sports Events

Cardrona Hosts New Zealand’s Elite Winter Sports Events

Cardrona Alpine Resort has attracted four out of the five top sporting events in the New Zealand winter sports calendar for 2005 including three national skiing and snowboarding championships and one international snowboard event.

The annual Burton New Zealand Open returns to Cardrona for the third year running on 13-14 August. Recognised as one of the most important Southern Hemisphere competitions on the pro-snowboarding calendar, it attracts the biggest names in the sport from around the world, providing an astounding level of riding. Featuring superpipe and slopestyle events, it’s the highlight of the Australasian snowboarding calendar.

On 5-7 August New Zealand’s free skiing youngsters take part in the first ever New Zealand Free Ski Association National Grommets. The decision to separate the juniors from the open competition creates the opportunity to nurture and talent spot grass roots talent when competing against their own age groups. It also provides the youngsters with a goal in terms of the open competition.

September sees both the New Zealand Alpine Ski Nationals and the New Zealand Snowboard Nationals at Cardrona. The ski nationals will feature Olympic hopefuls such as Nicola Campbell, Erika McLeod and James Arnott competing in the slalom, giant slalom and super GS disciplines while the snowboard nationals will feature Juliane Bray who recently qualified for both the boarder-x and halfpipe Olympic events. Cardrona is hosting the giant slalom and boarder-x events.

Cardrona marketing manager, Bruce McGechan, said these high profile events were essential in progressing New Zealand’s winter sports athletes on the world competitive circuit.

“Cardona has always been committed to growing the winter sports competitive arena and helping our athletes get high quality competition time to help prepare them for international competition,” he said. “Cardrona’s reputation, not only in quality of competitive terrain, but also the efficiency and professionalism of the race department, continues to ensure our potential Olympians get quality competitive experience at home. Plus, having these events at Cardrona is a great opportunity for the public to watch the country’s best in action and ride the same slopes as their heroes.”

-ends- 8 April 2005

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