Cool 100% Pure action in New Zealand
09 May 2011
100% Pure NZ Winter Games
12 - 28 August, 2011
The world’s top snow and ice sports athletes are due to descend on New Zealand’s Southern Alps again this winter, for 16 days of cool action in the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.
The southern hemisphere’s biggest winter sports event will involve more than 1000 athletes from 30 nations who’ll compete in 38 events representing 22 different winter sports.
The event will be broadcast to a global audience of millions - showcasing New Zealand’s world-class alpine playground which includes the top fields of the picturesque Southern Alps.
2011 Winter Games
The New Zealand winter games have become significant in the build up to the Winter Olympics, and this year’s programme includes World Cup and Continental Cup level competition, giving athletes a starting point on their journey to the 2014 event.
In 2009, the inaugural 100% Pure New Zealand Games made global snow sports history by becoming the first event of its kind to be staged outside the Winter Olympics. It was also the first time adaptive and able-bodied athletes had competed together in the same elite events.
The 2011 games will again bring the world’s best snow and ice sports athletes to New Zealand to compete in all major disciplines from ski racing to curling, snowboarding to skating, as well as adaptive snow sports.
2011 programme additions
This year the programme will include two new sports, and a new location.
Mt Hutt Ski Area - in the Christchurch - Canterbury region - will host the Super G and Adaptive Super G alpine skiing events. The remaining alpine skiing events will stay at Coronet Peak, in Queenstown.
Dunedin’s ice sports centre will see an increase in events with the inclusion of speed skating as well as figure skating, and an ice hockey tournament with four international teams in a round robin play-off.
The ice programme will be rounded out by the curling competitions in Naseby - in the Central Otago Maniototo district - which has been extended to include mixed pairs.
Snow Farm
At Snow Farm, near Wanaka, the Winter triathlon - a demonstration event at the 2009 Winter Games - becomes a new fixture on the 2011 programme, in addition to adaptive and able-bodied cross-country events.
Cardrona Alpine Resort near Lake Wanaka will host the free ski and snowboard halfpipe and big air events, together with the snowboard cross and ski cross racing.
The resort has recently developed a platter tow to service the Olympic and international halfpipes which will increase lap times. Ski halfpipe will be included as an event for the first time at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, and Cardona now has one of the best training facilities in the world.
Freeski and snowboard slopestyle events will take place across the valley at Snow Park NZ.
Confirmed teams
Entries for the Winter Games opened in the last week of April, and many of the ice sports teams have already confirmed their places.
Korea is sending eight speed skaters, and Australia will field a 16-person figure skating team. China has confirmed the national ice hockey team will compete.
Switzerland’s world champion curling duo will compete in the mixed doubles, and Sweden is sending its Olympic gold-winning women’s curling team. Curling also has confirmed entries from Australia, China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Latvia and New Zealand.
The quality of entries already received showed the importance of 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games on the world circuit, Winter Games NZ chief executive Arthur Klap said.
"It’s really good to see countries sending significant numbers of their top athletes indicating Winter Games is a valuable competition platform for both the northern and southern hemispheres," Klap says.
Snow festival
The 16-day event also includes a full, off-snow festival programme featuring an adventure film festival, live music and entertainment, and adventure expo.
Arthur Klap says the mountain will be brought downtown in a series of big air and rail jam extravaganzas in Queenstown, Lake Wanaka, Dunedin and Methven.
More information
Piste-positive 2011 ski forecast for New Zealand
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