Winter Games NZ will take place at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Farm, Naseby and Dunedin from 21-30 August 2009. It will feature disciplines of alpine skiing, free skiing, x-country skiing, snowboarding, curling, ice skating and adaptive snow sports as well as the demonstration sports of winter triathlon and natural luge.

The only event of its kind outside the Winter Olympics, Winter Games NZ will feature more than 800 of the world’s top athletes competing in over 30 events ranging from ski racing to curling, snowboarding to skating as well as a full adaptive skiing programme.

Snow Sports NZ and Winter Games NZ announced that they will combine resources to host the first stop of the 2009/10 LG FIS Snowboard World Cup Halfpipe tour by scheduling the competition as one of the signature events of Winter Games NZ 2009.

As one of the final qualifiers leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the event is expected to showcase what may be the strongest field of riders ever assembled for a non-Olympic halfpipe competition.

The event is scheduled to take place in the Southern Hemisphere’s only Olympic-size, 22-foot halfpipe at Cardrona Alpine Resort near Wanaka. Qualifying heats are scheduled for 25 August, with the finals set for the 26th.

For further information visit www.wintergamesnz.com.