Previously warned that it was going to be an especially cold day and to wear extra layers, still, no one was prepared for the straight to the bone winds. Psyched, they loaded onto the helicopters and flew through some of the most beautiful wilderness with snowy peaks and the glassy water of Lake Wanaka in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

On approaching the site, the smiles only got bigger. The deep and untouched powder at the Mt Arthur location provided steep faces to challenge the competitors in the Extreme competition. With loads of chutes, cornices and cliffs, the competitors and crew had to scope the hill and pick the best lines to ride, before being lifted to the peak.

Connie Danzl from Austria, was the first of the female competitors to descend. Connie ripped up with super impressive skiing and a solid run, but admitted at her finish: "I was so scared". Those watching would have never guessed.

The lines selected varied enormously. The riders and skiers abilities to look at the side of a mountain and gauge its degree of difficulty without ever riding it before were put to the test. With only one run to do their best work for the judges, it was difficult for the competitors to get the feel the mountain and try to impress the judges. The conditions were perfect, and the crew were ecstatic with what was offered. "It's sick terrain, and sick conditions, the best I've ever seen in New Zealand" was the call from Robin Soifer.