Free-Riders Join K2 in the Playground of the God's

Comment Share Posted on Thursday September 3rd at 12:24 p.m. Tweet

Free-skiers and snowboarders from around Aotearoa and the world came together in the Craigieburn Range of Canterbury for the annual K2 Big Mountain Chill Series over the past week.

With serious weather out of the Tasman Sea battering the Southern Alps of New Zealand, athletes were forced to wait out the conditions in the alps before a break in the weather allowed competition to get underway.

Cabin fever aside, the snow safety team at Craigieburn Valley gave competition organisers the green light to get competitors onto the mountain late last week. With good visibility, but limited access with lifts, the decision was made for athletes to continue free-riding the middle tow at CV accessing ‘the guts' (1st to 4th guts) for a jam format ‘expression session'.

As conditions continually worsened throughout the 90 minute long K2 Expression Session, athletes lapped the tow and rode the terrain, with judges looking on and taking notes on the skiing and riding that ensued. Making the most of the difficult and limiting snow conditions, we saw some spectacular skiing and riding, with athletes billy-goating the tussock lines, strait-lining the bowl, and getting technical on the boney entries to the airs on offer.

Following a debrief and prize giving back in the bar at Koroheke Lodge for their efforts, athletes, event crew and judges made their way from Craigieburn to Mt Olympus for the second leg of the series.

After being looked after so well by the Craigieburn Valley crew in light of conditions, we were greeted once again with open arms by the Olympus team. Following a satisfying Olympus lodge meal, we had quiet beer and a yarn with the Olympus snow safety crew about what was on the cards for Saturday, and set a solid plan for the next morning.

Awaking to clear and calm conditions, we were in luck for the day ahead. All hands on deck as the crew began early, laying a boot pack up Little Alaska and transporting the necessary safety gear to the zone. The nature of the ridge-line meant that we had two zones in which to ski, allowing us to push for 2 runs per competitor, one in each comp zone.

Snow conditions looked good from below through the binoculars as athletes inspected the two zones, and sussed out the lines they intended to ski. A variable 10 to 15 cms of fresh snow lay upon a firm base, with a fair scattering of ice cookies on the run-out. As competitors began flowing through the first zone, it soon became clear that the snow conditions were just that - variable. Athletes chased the good snow, found it, and skied hard.

The level of skiing was awesome - a solid crew of riders from all over the globe, tearing the two zones to pieces. After the two runs in separate zones, it was Lorraine Huber, based in Austria, who took out the K2 Women's open division, with strong skiing particularly on her second run. "Today was just awesome - bluebird, good conditions, good vibe, yeah it was awesome," said Huber at prize giving at the Olympus lodge. (Click here to check out Lori's blog for an athletes perspective on the series). In the female Sessions Grom division, local skier Tamika Green took out the honours, with fellow BR skier Rose Sutherland close behind.

In the men's category, the youngsters were stepping up to become the Sessions top grom. Pushed hard by fellow local skiers Jeremy Gardner and Ollie Hunt, it was the Windwhistle Ski Club member and local toy boy Tom Brownlee who took the honours, skiing especially strong in his second line after locking in ‘a keeper' on the first zone.

Not to be outshone by their younger rivals, the 26 members of the K2 men's open field slayed the terrain on offer, with a mix of technical skiing, large airs, and fast solid lines. NZ skiers Roy Schott and Cam McDermid were neck and neck after two runs, with Cam just edging Roy out for 2nd place honours. After a solid first run score, and finishing strongly in his second line with a gnarly chute entry, and strait line to air, local boy Neil Williman claimed his first big mountain podium, along with $1000 of goodness courtesy of K2 Skis and Snowboards NZ.

Video Highlights Craigieburn

Video Highlights Mt Olympus

Thanks for the event must firstly go to the mountain and snow safety teams at both Craigieburn Valley and Mt Olympus, who offer a welcoming atmosphere and work tirelessly to get us competing. Furthermore, long-time CHILL series sponsors and supporters of the CHILL crew K2 Skis and Snowboards, Sessions outerwear and their sponsorship of the Grom division, along with Smith Optics, Snowflick, Helipark NZ, Cactus Climbing, Absolut Vodka, and CHILL.

Mt Olympus Results

The crew now look forward to the next event big mountain event at Temple Basin this coming weekend, the Black Diamond Big Mountain. Athletes are urged to pre-register through CHILL HQ in Springfield by filling in a rego form online, and/or emailing or contacting direct on 03 318 4830.