Up to thirty specially-invited freestyle skiers and riders will bust out their best tricks at Queenstown’s Earnslaw Park this Friday (August 12) in the ‘Parklife Invitational’ rail jam.
The Remarks terrain park crew will be bringing rails from The Remarkables ski area to downtown Queenstown where freestylers will go head to head on a purpose-built stair feature, covered by snow trucked down from the mountain, in front of thousands of spectators.
This year’s event is being held as part of the opening ceremony of New Zealand’s ‘100% Pure Winter Games’.
The Remarkables Ski Area Manager Ross Lawrence said the count-down was on for the iconic downtown event.
“Everyone up the mountain, from our Parklife team riders to members of the terrain park crew, are buzzing as they prepare for this,” he said.
“This is one of Queenstown’s major downtown events. The atmosphere’s always epic as onlookers enjoy a winter spectacular in the heart of the resort, while skiers and riders play up to the crowds and put on a fantastic show.”
The invitational athletes are well-known faces on the freestyle scene and compete for prize money from a $5000 cash prize pool, and product from The Remarkables, Parklife, Red Bull, St Goliath, Thirtytwo and etnies.
In the men’s snowboarding division, well-known names to look out for include riders Nick Brown, Nick Hyne, Mahi Mains and Hamish Bagley, while skiers Byron Wells, Matt Soundy and women’s skier Adie Lawrence are also guaranteed to put on a good show.
Fans will also be able to get up close and personal with some of the world’s best snowboarders from the ‘Thirtytwo’ team who are on a New Zealand tour and will be attending the event.
Food and drink stalls and tunes from DJ Turbohag will keep the crowds pumping while the Parklife Team strut their stuff alongside some of New Zealand’s top skiers and riders.
The event starts at 5.30pm with the first riding from 6pm onwards. The official Winter Games opening ceremony, giving crowds the chance to see Winter Games athletes and the parade of international flags, will be held at 7.15pm.
The event will wrap at 9.30pm after finals rounds and prizegiving. It is free to all spectators with the afterparty continuing at Subculture.
“The Parklife Invitational is a great event for all the family,” said Mr Lawrence.
“It brings some of the country’s best freestyle talent into town where everyone can see what they do. A fantastic effort from The Remarks Terrain Park Crew brings it all together, from building the jump to organising the snow and every other part of the event.”
* The ThirtyTwo New Zealand Tour Team is made up of JP Walker, Chris Grenier, Simon Chamberlain, Joe Sexton, Scott Stevens, Ben Bilocq and Jake Kuzyk.
