From exceptionally humble beginnings back in '95 in the car park of Barrows Tavern, the Wanaka Big Air now prides itself as the premiere Big Air event in the southern hemisphere. It has had to be moved to three different locations due to enormous growth of the spectators and the desire of the worlds best skiers and boarders to just get bigger air each time!!!

Slated as the Grande Finale of the World Heli Challenge, this is the event that everyone wants to be a part of, competitor wise and spectator wise. Over 8000 spectators drop in to witness the worlds premiere aerialists boost above town, Lake Wanaka and the Southern Lakes. Add together a fine feast of kiwi and international headline bands, a few After Burner Rave parties till dawn and the atmosphere of the whole show is nothing short of electrifying.

Hilight of the night had to be event winner Quentin Robbins throwing down massive 1080 play station style spins. Close behind him was the charasmatic Glen Legget stomping huge 720 rodeo flips. As the night went on both the riders, the skiers and the spectators were whipped into a frenzy. Kiwi Steve Ferguson was throwing down huge inverts and charging strraight into the massive 1/4 pipe at the end of the jump.

The format of the evening was rapid knock out with the riding progressing into the final cut. The semi final of ten and eventually into the final run of 4 riders. The atmosphere was intense with all moves stomped and the riders and skiers charging more with each run. The eventual results were...