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29th July: Day 1. Rip Curl Freeride Event:
Under perfect blue skies yesterday, and on a variable cover of wind blown powder snow, day one of three competition days - Backcountry Heli Freeride Day - of the Rip Curl World Heli Challenge saw some of the newest cutting edge freestyle mountain riding ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere as the worlds best snowboarders and skiers showcased their skills.
Held on a remote and seldom ridden mountain face, deep in the heart of New Zealand's mighty Southern Alps and accessible only via helicopter, the world class field of ex-Olympians, current world champions and local hero's consistently brought onlookers to their feet as they performed amazing aerial tricks, flying up to 25 meters in distance, at heights of up to 5 meters above the ground. All this while charging at high speed down 3,000 vertical feet of steep, rolling and undulating terrain.
Competitors were given two runs and were judged on difficulty of jumps and moves, how well they were completed and the number of moves executed in each run. Points were also awarded for overall impression, taking into account fluidity, control and the 'x-factor' - the amount of style and flair displayed. Two international panels consisting of five judges each ruled over the skiing and snow boarding. The judges were split into two groups in order to cover the length of the long, steep and twisting course.
Stay tuned as the event continues:
Watch this space for News as the Kiwi season unfolds
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