Hard Charging Kiwis Finish on the Podium at The North Face Frontier 2*

A handful of Kiwis took advantage of home conditions to earn their way through to The North Face Frontier 4* to be held later this week after strong podium finishes in today’s 2* event at the Remarkables.

The Men’s Ski, the largest field in the competition with 31 athletes dropping in, set the tone early and after many top quality runs New Zealander Andrew Wylie took the top spot on the podium, followed by compatriot Craig Murray in 2ndplace, and rounding out the podium was USA’s Colter Hinchcliffe. Today’s victory a special day for Wylie “I’ve been skiing her for 22 years, and it’s always been a dream to win on my home mountain, and today that came true”

Next up to drop in was the Women’s Ski, and not to be out done, they laid down some huge runs. None more so than winner Laia Castellarnau Plaza from Spain who found the kiwi conditions a little challenging. “I had different lines in mind and just depended on the snow conditions, I can still do better I think, it was tough in the conditions”. Dropping in last, was New Zealander Jessica Hotter whose run was good enough for 2nd place, with Switzerland’s Martina Müller rounding out the top 3.

With the skiers setting the tone for the day it was over to the snowboarders to showcase their abilities to the crowd assembled at the finish. The women kicked things off and it was an international affair on the podium, with America’s Christina Bruno taking top spot followed by Australia’s Amber Arazny and Germany’s Melanie Wiese.

Wrapping up an awesome day up the Remarkables and concluding the 2017 2* event was the Men’s Snowboard. The crowd was rewarded for staying until the final few riders as the last two athletes both featured on the podium. Taking top spot was Stephen Denmark from America, followed by fellow American Cristopher Galvin, and rounding out both the podium and a fantastic day for the New Zealanders was Kiwi Sam Good. Sam was clearly happy with his run and the Audi Quattro Winter Games as a whole “I’m stoked with how it went, I planned my line yesterday and just wanted to stick to it………The Winter Games have been sick, with 4 out of 5 siblings competing across the games it’s a real family affair”.

The action isn’t over at the Remarkables by any stretch with many of these athletes joining a host of others in the 4* competition to be run later in the week.

 Men’s Ski

1st – Andrew Wylie (NZL) – Already Qualified for 4*

2nd – Craig Murray (NZL) – Already Qualified for 4*

3rd – Colten Hinchcliffe (USA) – Qualified for 4*

Jérôme Martel (FRA) – Qualified for 4*

Jamie Adams (NZL) – Qualified for 4* 

Women’s Ski

1st – Laia Castellarnau Plaza (ESP) – Already Qualified for 4*

2nd – Jessica Hotter (NZL) – Already Qualified for 4*

3rd – Martina Müller (SUI) – Qualified for 4*

Sophie Berçot (FRA) – Qualified for 4* 

Women’s Snowboard

1st – Christina Bruno (USA) – Already Qualified for 4*

2nd – Amber Arazny (AUS) – Qualified for 4*

3rd – Melanie Wiese (GER) 

Men’s Snowboard

1st – Stephen Denmark (USA) – Already Qualified for 4*

2nd – Cristopher Galvin (USA) – Already Qualified for 4*

3rd – Sam Good (NZL) – Qualified for 4*

Conrad Niven (USA) – Qualified for 4*