Freestyle Skiing & Snowboard World Cups to draw big names

Sports programme confirmed

FIS Freestyle Skiing & Snowboard World Cups to draw big names

Audi quattro Winter Games NZ 2015 will feature a packed 10-day programme of world class sporting action this August, including two 'super weekends' with either a FIS Freestyle Skiing or Snowboard World Cup at Cardrona Alpine Resort near Wanaka every Saturday and Sunday.

The Games begin with a gala opening ceremony in Queenstown on Friday 21st August. The FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup Halfpipe finals the following day should see New Zealand's Janina Kuzma, currently ranked world number one woman in freeski halfpipe, and Wanaka's four Wells brothers Jossi (fourth at last year's Sochi Winter Olympics), Byron, Beau-James and Jackson competing for glory.

On Sunday 23rd the action switches from pipe to park with the FIS Snowboard World Cup Slopestyle. Kaukapakapa's Christy Prior will be hoping to continue her recent great form and keep a strong US team, likely to include reigning Winter Games NZ and Olympic champion Jamie Anderson, off top spot.

The second weekend features FIS World Cups in Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle on Saturday 29th and Snowboard Halfpipe - considered by many the blue riband freestyle event - on Sunday 30th before music and fireworks light up a glittering closing ceremony in Wanaka that evening.

In between, the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ mixed doubles curling tournament runs in Naseby, Central Otago from Monday 24th to Thursday 27th. There are three FIS ANC (Australia New Zealand Cup) races up at Snow Farm NZ near Wanaka fromFriday 28th to Sunday 30th while Queenstown's Coronet Peak hosts FIS Alpine Skiing ANC Slalom and Giant Slalom races on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th respectively.

All ten days of the Games feature an exciting downtown festival programme of live music, film and entertainment in Queenstown and Wanaka.

Keep following us on social media as we release more details on the festival and the remainder of the sports programme, including IPC adaptive ski races and spectator events. The full schedule will be available on our website soon.

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