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Posted on Saturday September 5th at 3:22 p.m.
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The "Big Mountain Day" is all about testing the skill of skiers and boarders competing on some of the steepest mountains in New Zealand. "I simply can't believe this event, its incredible, the best ever and I've been competing for years in global competition" exclaimed the days best skier Ted Davenport from Aspen in Colorado, USA.
Athletes checking out the Big Mountain course of the World Heli Challenge on Mt Albert, near Wanaka in New Zealand
The start of the Big Mountain Day on top of Mt Albert near Wanaka in New Zealand
Russ Henshaw, Ingrid Backstrom and Quesntin Robbins in the helicopter at the World Heli Challenge
Australia's Chris Booth and Andrea Berchtold pretty stoked on the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge
Chris Booth launches off the start of the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge
Ingrid Backstrom also from Squaw Valley took out the women's division with Wanaka's Janina Kuzma 2nd and another Squaw Valley skier Jackie Passo in 3rd.
3 X veteran of the World Heli Challenge, Ryan McCune who hails from Alaska, took out the Men's Snowboard event closely followed by Andy Finch from the U.S. and New Zealand's Quentin Robbins in 3rd.
Maria Kuzma from Wanaka repeated her stellar performance in yesterdays event and came out in first place. Current World Champion Susan Mol came in 2nd and Australia's Rachael Sheidow in 3rd.
The event was held on Mt Albert, a daunting mountain peak standing 2000m above sea level overlooking the headwaters of Lake Wanaka. The course had a vertical drop of over 800m and was filled with steep couloirs, pristine powder snow and a mind boggling array of options that offered every athlete an opportunity to push their personal level and skill into a new realm in the big mountain arena.
Cheif Guide Murray Ball casting the helicopter off at the World Heli Challenge
Andrea Berchtold from Australia on the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge
1st Place woman on the Big Mountain Day Ingrid Backstrom from Squaw Valley California scorching the powder on a fast line down the mountain
Russ Henshaw from Australia on the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge
Tim Dutton from U.S. dropping a cliff in the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge being held near Wanaka in new zealand
Ted Davenport started his run on the Big Mountain Day with a 15m cliff drop and finished his his flawlessly to win the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge
Australia's Watkin McClennan leaping and bounding down the course of the Big Mountain Day of the World Heli Challenge
Video Highlights
Results
The final day of competition is the "VnC Downhill" and this will happen on the next suitable good weather day between now and the grand finale of the "Afterburner Party" at Hawea Hotel on 12th September.
For more info visit www.worldhelichallenge.com
Phone NZ: +61-226127897