Winter Games NZ Secures Five-Year New Zealand Major Events Funding Commitment
Winter Games
NZ has secured a five-year funding commitment from New
Zealand Major Events (MBIE) to support the event annually
through to 2027. Winter Games NZ CEO, Marty
Toomey said; “Securing a five-year funding commitment from
central government allows us to plan our future with
certainty. This funding support will allow us to showcase
Aotearoa New Zealand to the world through epic content
captured during the biggest snow sports programme we have
ever delivered.” Economic Development Minister
Barbara Edmonds “Proudly Kiwi, Winter Games NZ is a
homegrown event. It offers elite international sports
competition across New Zealand’s Southern Lakes District
in the northern hemisphere’s summer, Winter Games NZ is
the largest annual snow sports event in the Southern
Hemisphere. It attracts 500-600 athletes and generates
strong international broadcast and media
coverage.” Winter Games NZ 2023 will host 14
traditional events across alpine, freeride and freestyle
(park and pipe) disciplines between the 25th of August and
8th of September. The Australia New Zealand Cup
(ANC) alpine skiing Giant Slalom, Slalom and Super G races
will take place at Coronet Peak. The North Face Frontier
Freeride World Tour qualifying 2-star and 4-star events will
be held across the Wakatipu Basin at The Remarkables ski
area. The world’s best freeski and snowboard
athletes aged 14-18 will battle it out at Cardrona Alpine
Resort for the prestigious FIS Junior World Champion titles
in big air, halfpipe and slopestyle and the chance to secure
a nation spot for the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games being
held in Korea in January 2024. Despite being juniors, the
eligible athletes will include reigning junior and senior
World Champions and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympians.
In
addition to a stacked traditional schedule, Winter Games NZ
will also hold the inaugural International Obsidian
Challenge from 9th – 16th of September at Cardrona Alpine
Resort. The International Obsidian Challenge is an athlete
focused team event and will see teams made up of the best
freeski and snowboard athletes representing Asia-Pacific,
Europe and North America, battle it out for bragging rights
across custom built terrain park venues and extraordinary
freeride terrain. “We love showcasing
Aotearoa New Zealand to the world and encourage as many
people as possible to watch our events unfold on mountain.
For those who can’t be there in person we will be
producing amazing content for our digital and television
audiences,” commented Marty Toomey, CEO, Winter Games
NZ. “With so many events to choose from
across the Southern Lakes world class ski areas, the 2023
Winter Games NZ will be quite the
celebration.” ENDS