2010 BURTON NEW ZEALAND OPEN GEARS UP
LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (July 15, 2010) – With just four weeks to go, the eighth annual Burton NZ Open, which has become the most prestigious snow sports event in the country, is gearing up to take Wanaka by storm.
The invites are out, and those confirmed to attend so far include defending women’s Slopestyle Champion Jamie Anderson, and women’s defending Halfpipe Champion Kelly Clark, both of the USA.
Other top international riders on their way include Seppe Smits (BEL), Christian Haller (SUI), Marco Grilc (SLO), Norwegians Tore Holvik, Stale Sandbech and Gjermund Braaten; Canadians Charles Reid, Mark Sollors, Mark McMorris and Matts Kulisek; Americans Chas Guldemond, Sage Kotsenburg, Jack Mitrani and Louie Vito; as well as Japanese rippers Kazuhiro Kokubo, Ryo Aono, Daisuke Murakami and Kohei Kudo. Some of the women to confirm include Kjersti Buaas and Lin Haug (NOR), Sina Candrian (SUI), Enni Rukajärvi (FIN), Rana Okada (JPN), and Elizabeth Beerman (USA). Kiwis Stef Zeestraten and Shelly Gotlieb, both strong contenders in the Slopestyle, have also confirmed their attendance.
The field is growing daily, and all will converge on Cardrona Alpine Resort from 10-14th August to compete for a chunk of the NZ$50,000 prize purse, which is spread equally for both men and women in Slopestyle and Halfpipe. Official training starts on Tuesday August 10th, followed by an opening party at Lonestar Wanaka. Pre-qualifiers and Qualifiers start on Wednesday the 11th. Invited riders are seeded directly to the Semifinal stages, which start on Friday 13th. The event culminates with the Halfpipe Semifinals and Finals on Saturday 14th August.
This event marks the first stop of the Burton Global Open Series for the 2010/2011 season and is also a 5 Star event on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour. Full event details including a comprehensive gig and party line up will be published soon. All updates will be available via www.opensnowboarding.com
2010 BURTON NZ OPEN – THE OPEN SESSIONS
Not all the action at the 2010 Burton NZ Open will be taking place on the mountain. Bringing it to the streets of Wanaka, the “Open Sessions” consist of a comprehensive line up of gigs and parties – the first of which will be the official Burton NZ Open Launch Party at Lonestar Wanaka on Tuesday 10th August. Tunes for the evening will be provided by the Peacekeepers, featuring the unmistakable vocals of P Digsss, along with the refined DJ skills of Sambora.
The Opium Bar in Wanaka becomes the focus for the next two nights, with an Open Sessions Afterparty on both Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th August. Queenstown musical icon Downtown Brown, whose roots are implanted deeply in reggae, soul, and hiphop, will be on hand to get the groove happening during the first Afterparty, while DJ Reno takes the stage on the second evening with his mix of hiphop, soul, jazz, house, funk and broken beat.
On Friday 13th August the Sessions step it up with the first of two Shapeshifter gigs. In past years the final Saturday night show has always sold out, so securing tickets to the Friday show could be a good way to make sure you don’t miss out on seeing one of New Zealand’s most dynamic and high powered live acts.
Saturday 14th August sees the culmination of the Sessions, and a second Shapeshifter concert at the Lake Wanaka Centre. With the Burton NZ Open scheduled to be completed on this day, the gig is sure to be wall-to-wall with pretty much anyone and everyone involved, and a great conclusion to the event.
There’ll be 1000 free tickets available through local Burton retailers, and the first 650 of these to show up at the door will be allowed entry.
Protect Our Winters (POW)
Protect Our Winters (POW) the US based non-profit setup in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones is pleased to announce the establishment of a new satellite office in New Zealand. POW will be working hard to raise awareness and create grassroots sustainability initiatives to unite and engage the New Zealand snow sports community to lead the fight against climate change. So get involved this season so we can all continue to enjoy the snow. For more information check out www.protectourwinters.org or contact Nick Stevenson the NZ co-ordinator at nickstevenson@hotmail.com
Protect Our Winters trailer
Red Bull Illume
The 2010 North Island Longboard Champs
The 2010 North Island Longboard Champs is a one day event (with a maximum of 60 competitors – entries allocated on first in first serve basis), being held on Saturday 4th September at a location between Forestry and Waipu Cove on the north east coast of the North Island. The backup date is the 11th of September.
A strong team of SNZ accredited judges has been procured for this year, to ensure the validity of the overall results.
Registration: 7.30am Saturday 4th September at contest location.
(Contestants will be notified of exact location via email on Wednesday 1st September. This will be confirmed via both text and email on Friday 3rd September. Any postponement will made known to contestants by Wednesday 1st September)
Heats: Surfing will commence at 8am. Contest arena will be decided upon at the discretion of the Head Judge and Contest Director.
Food: Larry Chapman will be present throughout the day, selling drinks, hot sammies, pizzas etc.
Morris Surfboard Charity Raffle: In an effort to benefit the community through the running of this event, Morris Surfboards has kindly donated a 9ft surfboard that will be raffled among contestants and spectators. Raffle tickets will cost $5 with the proceeds being donated to Westpac Rescue Helicopter (Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust). The board will be displayed throughout the duration of the event with raffle tickets being sold by our volunteer team. The Raffle will be drawn at the official prize giving at the Smashed Pipi – winner must be at the prize giving to take home their
brand new board.
Smashed Pipi Restaurant and Bar Official Prize Giving / After Party: After a long day at the beach, what better way to unwind than with a couple of drinks at the Mangawhai local haven – the Smashed Pipi. The function will start from 7.30pm, with the official prize giving commencing there at 8.30pm. Contestants will be given an entry ticket at registration that morning (may also have a ‘plus one’ ticket upon request).
Cardiff surfer swallowed by massive great white shark
Sharks swallows the Cardiff Kook : photo
The statue named ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, created by artist Matthew Antichevich sits located on Coast Highway 101. This morning it was surrounded by a sculpture of a great white shark. The often-abused statue of a surfer in Encinitas was turned into a Jaws-dropping artwork early Saturday morning by a group of unknown pranksters.
Nearby campers at San Elijo State Beach said they heard a ruckus near the statue about 4 a.m., but didn’t see or hear how the pranksters were able to put the giant shark around the surfer. The shark didn’t appear without warning. Large sharklike fins had been placed on the other side of the highway earlier this week then, over the course of the past two days, the fins moved closer to the statue, as if the shark was circling in on its prey.
A large seam along the shark’s jaw indicates it was transported in two large pieces and then stuck together with a foamlike sealer that also made it look like the beast was bursting through the surface of the ocean.
The statue, called “Magic Carpet Ride,” was made by artist Matthew Antichevich and erected in 2007 at a cost of $120,000 paid. It was said to be the first to honor surfing in San Diego County. But the reaction from local surfers was cool at best, and heated at worst, as they found the surfer to fall short of the image they thought their sport should project.
Original statue & various incarnations since 2007
Criticism since before it was unveiled back in July of 2007 ranged from; “I’m not impressed with it,” in a 2007 interview, to “It looks more like a dancer than a surfer to me.” For years, many have seen the statue as an unrealistic depiction of a surfer. “Sometimes he’s called the ‘Cardiff Kook.’ Sometimes ‘Fairy Mary.’ He’s little ‘fem’ and the surfers don’t really care for him,” said a Cardiff resident.
The “Cardiff Kook,” has routinely been dressed in different costumes by snarky locals. At various times, the statue of the young male surfer has been adorned with a ballerina’s tutu and luche libre wrestler’s mask, a woman’s bikini and other costumes, most recently a tennis outfit with racket. But the shark attack took pranks on the statue to a new level.
That may be why so many have already signed a petition taped to the side of the display to keep the shark up.
Selection of Videos
Quiksilver Pro Puerto Escondido 2010
Billabong Pro Junior Asia – Day 3
O’Neill – Cold Water Classic 2010 – South Africa Trailer
Sessions2 | NEW RELEASE SURFING DVD
Final Day Highlights – 2010 Billabong Pro JBay
Red Nose Tow In Championship
Modern Collective – OFFICIAL Surf Teaser
Greatest Moments – 2010 Billabong Pro JBay
Tony Hawk injured at Disney skate jam….
Tony Hawk performing at Barcelona during the Quiksilver Tony Hawk Tour
Skateboard legend Tony Hawk, who retired from pro skate contests in 2002, was injured this Saturday during a vert ramp demo during Quiksilver’s Action Sports Weekend held at Downtown Disney. Hawk fell while performing a 540, a staple trick for the “Birdman”. The bail resulted in Hawk having to pull out of the one day event, after injuring his pelvis.
Hawk had just completed a hugely successful Eurpean demo tour & show in Rome Italy, Barcelona Spain, and Brighton England.
Hawk updated his condition via Twitter this morning where he tweeted, “Pelvic vertical shear injury” & a hematoma in a pear tree is the semi-official diagnosis. All I know is: I can’t lift my legs & it sucks.” Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Hawk, who is also great snowboarder
Say My Name Teaser 2010
Say My Name follows female professional skier Grete Eliassen as she travels the globe with the goal to inspire and evolve women’s skiing. Stacked with a handful of skiing’s elite female lineup, this high definition film features Lynsey Dyer, Sarah Burke, Keri Herman, Ana Segal, Kaya Turski and Suz Graham. See the world this international ski superstar roams, from a world record hip jump in 2010 to her exploration of the rugged backcountry.
More info here: www.saymynameski.com
**full story next print issue**
Tarp Surfing is BLOWING UP!
When you feel the need to surf, but you’re too far away from the ocean, simply call a friend, get a hold on a giant blue tarp, grab your skateboard and start surfing. Tarp surfing is the new action sports trend born between the California surfers and skateboarders. It all started in the mid-90s, but the ‘technology’ has evolved in the last years.
The easiest way to score a barrel is by tarp surfing. All you need is a skateboard, some IKEA bags and a couple of friends. Some tarp surfers are more creative than others. They even paddle for the each wave… er… tarp. Tarp surfing is the great alternative to the small summer waves.
World Heli Challenge
Lake Wanaka, NZ (20 July 2010) – In less than two weeks, many of the world’s top skiers and snowboarders will converge on Wanaka, New Zealand to participate in the return of the legendary World Heli Challenge.
Athletes from eight countries will be represented including Travis Rice, arguably one if not the rider leading the charge as snowboarding’s progression continues to skyrocket. Click here for a recent interview by Monarch Post with Travis where he discusses his recent film “That’s It, That’s All” which featured NZ in its opening scenes. Monarch Post will be doing post production work for the 2010 WHC including a trailer that will feature highlights from the entire week of events, parties and off snow adventures.
Photo: Travis Rice on his way to winning King of the Hill Credit: Tony Harrington
Several Olympians, including Julia Mancuso (Ski Racer, USA), Andy Finch (Snowboard Halfpipe, USA), Mitchell Brown (Snowboard Halfpipe, NZL), and Juliane Bray (Snowboard Halfpipe, NZL) will be on hand to show that they also have what it takes to rip it up in the backcountry.
Last year’s winners, Ted Davenport (overall men’s skier), Janina Kuzma (overall woman’s skier), Andy Finch (overall men’s snowboarder) and Janina’s twin sister, Maria Kuzma (overall woman’s snowboarder), will all be back to defend their titles.
Photos: 2009 World Heli Challenge Winners (Top left – Ted Davenport, Top right – Janina Kuzma, Bottom left – Andy Finch, Bottom right – Maria Kuzma) Credit: Tony Harrington
The world’s top ranked female big mountain skier, Ane Enderud (NOR) and snowboarder, Aline Bock (GER) will both be competing this year giving Maria and Janina some competition on their home soil.
Following is the full list of competitors. Further details on each can be found by logging on to www.worldhelichallenge.com and clicking on “Athletes.” Profiles of the above athletes are included below.
Male Snowboarders
Adam DeVargas, USA
Andy Bergin Sperry, USA
Andy Finch , USA
Ben Wooster, NZL
Jayson Hayle, USA
Johannes Scharl, DEU
Mitch Brown, NZL
Quentin Robbins, NZL
Ralph Backstrom, USA
Ratty Sheidow, AUS
Rydor McCune, USA
Shin Biyajima, JPN
Travis Rice, USA
Will Jackways, NZL
Male Skiers
Bernie Rosow, USA
Boen Ferguson, AUS
Charlie Timmins, AUS
Chris Booth, AUS
Christian Sirianni, AUS
Eric Zeller, GER
Laylor Lee, AUS
Leo Taillefer, FRA
Luke Potts, GBR
Mat Jackson, USA
Mike Wilson, USA
Mitch Reeves, AUS
Raphael Beazley, NZL
Sam Smoothy, NZL
Ted Davenport, USA
Tim Dutton, USA
Tom Costa, AUS
William Tressider, AUS
Female Snowboarders
Aline Bock, GER
Juliane Bray, NZL
Maria Kuzma, NZL
Shannan Yates, USA
Sunny Prather, USA
Female Skiers
Ane Enderud, NOR
Jackie Passo, USA
Janina Kuzma, NZL
Julia Mancuso, USA
Sarah Mancuso, USA
About Travis Rice
Jackson, Wyoming’s favorite son has come a long way was since first strapping in on the steep mountain slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Any rider with as many accolades, medals, and game changing video parts under their belt as Travis has could easily out themselves on top, a la Seinfeld—but that’s just not Travis’ style. He continues to fight the good fight, and progress snowboarding in its entirety. Whether it be continually raising the bar with mind blowing “first ever” tricks; experimenting with new board technology; producing and starring in mega-budget snowboarding films; or pioneering next-level contests, Travis settles for nothing short of exceptional. And this year being no exception Travis has been on quite the tear, putting down a slew of mind blowing first ever tricks.
In 2008 Rice co-produced one of the biggest budget blockbuster snowboard films of its time “Thats It Thats All.” NZ not only featured in the opening section but also hosted the World Premier in Wanaka. It took film making in the mountains to another level.
For an exclusive interview with Travis Rice produced by Monarch Post for the Red Bull NZ chronicles, log on to www.monarchpost.com.
Monarch Post is helping out with the World Heli Challenge’s post production and will produce a trailer at the end of event.
About Julia Mancuso
Two-time Olympian, Julia Mancuso, took gold in Giant Slalom at the 2006 Torino Winter Games and silvers in both Downhill and Combined at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
Mancuso was born in Reno, Nevada and grew up in Lake Tahoe, California.
“I’m a California girl, born and raised in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I am the middle of three sisters, April and Sara. My parents spread their love of sports and nature to us girls and that is how we spent our time, outdoors! We split our time between Kauai, HI, and Squaw Valley until I was six. Growing up in two very diverse climates taught me to love it all!”
“A brief history of my sporting antics includes begging my parents to put me out on water skis after watching April behind the boat when I was 18 months. From there it was basically anything April could do, I needed to try it! I was on to snow skiing at age three and at five was dropped off at the ski hill for Squaw Valley’s Mighty Might program every weekend.”
Julia has recently become a Volkl Rider. Volkl is a sponsor of this year’s World Heli Challenge.
About Andy Finch
Originally from Fresno, California, Andy now resides in Truckee, California. He started riding at age 12 and hasn’t looked back.
Finch represented the USA on the halfpipe snowboard Olympic team at the 2006 Torino Olympics. He was winner of the overall men’s snowboarder at last year’s World Heli Challenge.
Go big or go home. That’s the motto of Andy Finch. Take a look at any footage of Finch riding pipe or big air and you’ll understand. He’s willing and able to push himself as far as he can go to the point just before injury.
And he does this simply for the love of going big and progressing his riding.
“Surfing is my passion and snowboarding is my job.”
“You might say my job has benefits like having the best ‘pow’ day ever on Mt. Albert at last year’s World Heli Challenge.”
“After racing boardercross and earning a 99′ Junior World title, followed by a 10-year career competing in snowboard halfpipe, I am ready to put some runs down in the back country and NZ has some of the most playful mountains around.”
“I am always stoked to go to NZ because I imagine it as California 40 years ago.”
Andy rides for Rip Curl, a sponsor of this year’s World Heli Challenge.
About Mitchell Brown
Two-time Olympian,Mitch Brown is a fighter and an all-round kiwi who loves hunting, fishing and surfing.
He first competed at an Olympic Games in 2006 at Torino and rates mixing up his runs in the half pipe as one of his core strengths.
He won the Burton Open in New Zealand in 2007 and then after battling ongoing injuries that kept him off the snow for much of the build up the the 2010 Games, he was successful in his bid to make the Vancouver 2010 team. Just prior to the Olympics Mitch won two Nor Am halfpipe events in Calgary followed by an eighth place finish at the Stoneham World Cup.
Notably, he admires anyone who has overcome a challenge to succeed.
Mitch rates his sport as progressive, exciting and enjoyable and looks forward to competing in his first World Heli Challenge.
About Juliane Bray
Two time World Heli Challenge runner up, Juliane (“Ju”) Bray’s depth of experience helps her perform in variable snow and weather conditions giving her a distinct advantage over other competitors.
The two-time Olympian wore the silver fern at the Torino Winter Games in 2006 where she finished a very strong 16th in the half pipe and 22nd in boarder cross and then again in Vancouver where she carried the flag for NZ and had she not taken a fall would have made the semi-finals with a chance to progress further, she later went on to land that run and placed fourth at a World Cup.
She has been on the podium numerous times at World Cup Boarder Cross and Halfpipe events and at both the NZ Burton Open and Australian Burton Open in Halfpipe, Quarterpipe and Slopestyle.
Ju was named Snowboard Athlete Representative on the FIS Athlete Commission and represents New Zealand at an International Level.
About Ted Davenport
29 year old Ted Davenport from USA is “an East coast racer turned freeskier” and was winner of the overall men’s skier at last year’s heli-challenge.
In addition to big mountain skiing, Davenport is a passionate B.A.S.E. jumper and dabbles in pretty much everything “extreme.”
Davenport has spent lots of time on podiums at big mountain competitions beginning in 2004 when he moved to Boulder, Colorado. He’s also featured in several films.
About Janina Kuzma
Ranked number five on the Freeride World Tour, five-time Volkl NZ Open Freeski Champion. two-time Canadian Ledcor freeski Champion and to top it off, the 2009 World Heli Challenge Champion, what more does one need to say? How about one of the greatest professional female skiers of all time?
Born in Brisbane, Australia and now residing in Wanaka, New Zealand with her twin sister Maria (see below), Janina, or ‘G’ as she is known to friends, grew up all over the world, from Papua New Guinea to Borneo and Australia.
Ripping around Fernie, BC as a kid, Janina saw all the guys tearing up the mountain and didn’t let intimidation on the ski field stand in her way…instead, she used the pressure and fear as motivation to rise up and dominate the women’s competitive scene.
Janina made her first appearance in 2005 competing on the Canadian Freeski tour and winning both the Lake Louise and Fernie stops. Not only does this girl compete in the Big Mountain scene but also can shred in the park having many podiums in slopestyle and pipe.
In 2009 Janina became the first woman to win a Big Mountain and Pipe title in the NZ open.
Janina rides for Volkl, a sponsor of this year’s World Heli Challenge.
About Maria Kuzma
NZ’s top big mountain snowboarder and winner of the overall women’s snowboarder at the 2009 World Heli Challenge, Maria Kuzma is no stranger to the podium.
Born in Brisbane, Australia and Maria now resides in Wanaka, New Zealand with her twin sister, Janina (see above).
Maria grew up all over the world, from Papua New Guinea to Borneo and Australia.
She spent her childhood skiing the legendary snow of Fernie, BC.
Maria shreds. When she sets herself a goal, she strives to conquer it at any cost. In her first year on the World Freeride Tour competition circuit she made it to the prestigious final event on the intimidating Bec De Ross in Verbier and found herself up against career hardened veterans.
Maria looks forward to defending her title at her “favourite competition,” the World Heli Challenge.
About Ane Enderud
Number one ranked women’s skier on the Freeride World Tour, Ane has been skiing since she could walk.
Born in Oslo, Norway, her family spent weekends and holidays in Hemsedal.
Her roots are in ski racing but she’s always had a passion for skiing the trees. After a season in Chamonix, Enderud became a passionate about big mountain skiing. The passion has taken her around the world and led to two years as the top woman skier on the Freeride World Tour.
“My passion has also become my job and I try to make the most of it. I am looking forward to many more years of skiing, travelling and meeting interesting people. I love what I do and will continue working hard to reach my goal. Keep on playing, follow your dreams, take care of the people around you and of our planet…”
“To have the chance to travel to NZ for my first time is super cool! I’ve been thinking about going there for a long time so to get it together this year with a good friend is amazing! I have always heard it’s a beautiful country and the footage I have seen looks great! Only a week to go…I’m excited to check out the event for sure!”
Ane rides for Volkl, a sponsor of the World Heli Challenge.
About Aline Bock
Number one ranked women’s snowboarder on the Freeride World Tour, 27-year-old Aline Bock’s passion for snowboarding began 14 years ago.
Hailing from Lake Constance in southern Germany but now based out of Innsbruck, Aline is making a huge impact on the freeride circuit.
“I started off with freestyle in the half pipe and later changed to slopestyle before looking for new challenges free riding in the mountains.”
“I have always loved moving with nature, and visiting the best freeride spots in the world. I love meeting like minded people with the same passion for the mountains and nature.”
The 2010 World Heli Challenge is sponsored by Volkl, Marker, Corona Australia, Points North Heli, Dakine, MountainWatch.com, Haka Tours and Rip Curl
Loading ...
