Skills tested at Uni Snow Games
August 27, 2012 - Straight off the plane from Switzerland to the slopes of Treble Cone in Wanaka, there was no time for
jet lag for Otago University’s Marc Andri Riedi today as he carved up the competition at the 2012 Uni Snow Games.
The naturally talented snowboarder and Swiss native changed his flights back from Switzerland so he could compete in
this week’s Uni Snow Games in Wanaka – and it’s a move his team mates will be glad he made.
Riedi, who is attending his third consecutive Uni Snow Games, arrived in the country on Saturday after a 25 hour flight
from Switzerland. Today he dominated the skills-based slalom course at Treble Cone.
“I was pretty much born on a mountain – I started skiing when I was 2, snowboarding when I was 10. Everyone does it in
Switzerland, it’s like New Zealand and rugby,” he said.
“The Uni Snow Games is a good week, it’s good fun – snowboarding, partying and meeting people.”
Today’s event was scheduled to be a parallel slalom, but a lack of snow forced a change in plans and more than 60
students took on a skills-based slalom instead, which included a jump.
Riedi took out the male snowboard gold, with his combined time of two runs a massive 11seconds ahead of his nearest
competitor. Thomas Grant, of Auckland University took the silver, with Leon Thomason (AUT) the bronze.
The female snowboard category also had a clear winner, with Canterbury University’s Hannah Orchard comfortably taking
gold ahead of Otago University’s Katie Logan and AUT’s Loretta Hogg.
Auckland University took the double in the ski sections, with Gemma Jones winning the female section and Stefan Calder
taking his second gold of the games in the male category.
For the females Caitlin Feasey (Canterbury University) took silver and Courtney Tate (Victoria University) the bronze
and in the male category AUT’s Thomas Johanson took silver and Canterbury University’s Dominic Campbell claimed bronze.
Today’s results mean Auckland University is ahead on overall points. Only University Sport New Zealand members are
eligible to win the overall shield.
The Uni Snow Games moves to Cardrona tomorrow (Tuesday August 28) for the Gravity Cross and Halfpipe Jam.
SKILLS SLALOM: RESULTS
Male Snowboard: 1. Marc Andri Riedi (Otago University); 2. Thomas Grant (Auckland University); 3. Leon Thomason (AUT)
Female Snowboard: 1. Hannah Orchard (Canterbury University); 2. Katie Logan (Otago University); 3. Loretta Hogg (AUT)
Male Ski: 1. Stefan Calder (Auckland University); 2. Thomas Johanson (AUT); 3. Dominic Campbell (Canterbury University)
Female Ski: 1. Gemma Jones (Auckland University); 2. Caitlin Feasey (Canterbury University); 3. Courtney Tate (Victoria University)
ENDS