New Zealand's quality terrain parks, extensive freeriding terrain and accessible backcountry breed world-class Kiwi snowboarders. NZ athletes emerge from the NZ beginner slopes to go on to compete in high profile global events such as the Winter X-Games, Winter Dew Tour, Paralympics and the Olympics. Snow Sports NZ work on turning snowboard groms into world champions, here’s how…
Competitive snowboarding includes alpine racing, snowboard cross, halfpipe, slopestyle and freeride. New Zealand athletes were there when snowboarding became an official event at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan in 1998 and today we have some of the best park, pipe and freeride snowboarders in the world wearing the silver fern.
Snowboarding evolved from sports like surfing and skateboarding in the sixties. The core style and culture of these expressive sports significantly influenced the development of snowboarding but also shaped the innovation and rekindling of freeskiing globally. Equipment, tricks and skill level have seen a steep learning curve and the boundaries of riding steep natural terrain and huge technical man-made features are pushed every season.
Snowboarders in NZ enjoy world-class park and pipe facilities and full support from Cardrona Alpine Resort. The resort gets behind youth competition by hosting the Cardrona NZ Freeski & Snowboard Junior Nationals each year and they support freeskiing and snowboarding as the naming sponsor of the New Zealand Park and Pipe team.
Adaptive snow sports is about adapting equipment and lessons to allow people with a wide range of disabilities to experience the freedom of snow sports.
Alpine ski racing is one of the most popular competitive snow sports in NZ and we have had a rich history in the sport since the first ski races were held here in the 1920s.
Cross country is the oldest skiing sport. It is a low impact sport perfect for the whole family to enjoy. At the competitive level it is an endurance sport.
Freeskiing embraces the spirit of innovation. It encompasses the whole mountain from the ski cross course to the terrain parks and the backcountry.
Snowboarding is about riding the whole mountain, whether it’s the natural mountain terrain, the race course or in the halfpipe or terrain parks.
In freeride skiing & snowboarding, riders go over natural, unmonitored terrain without a set goal or trail to follow. Freeriding is for skiers who have a thirst for adventure and enjoy exploring new areas.
