Yesterday, Whakapapa Ski Area saw two great snow competitions take place in which New Zealand skiers and snowboarders dominated the game.

The Mother Snowboard Challenge and Export 33 Xtreme both took place at Whakapapa Ski Area with New Zealand’s best alpine athletes and top international skiers and snowboarders competing for the titles. In the Mother Snowboard Challenge New Zealand managed to take out both the women’s and men’s top spots. Maria Kuzma won in the women’s section, with Malin Lindroos from Finland and Adeline Gervais from France coming second and third. In the men’s competition New Zealand owned the entire podium with Callum Goodwin coming first, Jordan Decker second and Scotty Heale third.

New Zealand also featured strongly in the opening rounds of the Export 33 Xtreme skiing event. At the moment Austrian Fabian Lentsch is followed by Kiwis Sam Smoothy and Geoff Small. In the women’s competitions, Mt Ruapehu local Nicola Evans is in the lead, followed by Sophia Mitteregger from Austria and Caroline Jeandet from Switzerland. The finals of the Export 33 Xtreme will be held tomorrow, and of course Brown Bear keeps his paws crossed for all competing Kiwi skiers and snowboarders!