Southern skifields preferred venues

Queenstown and Wanaka are the preferred venues for the 2010 snowboard and freestyle junior world championships, the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced yesterday.

It will be the first time an FIS world championship has been staged in New Zealand and the first time snowboarding and freestyle skiing will share the same stage at that level.

Snow Sports New Zealand chief executive Ross Palmer said it was an honour to win the hosting rights.

"It's a clear signal from the international sporting community that there is a high level of confidence in our ability to host major international winter sporting events."

Event venues were yet to be determined, but the FIS had indicated a preference for Queenstown and Wanaka skifields, Mr Palmer said.

"As the current season winds down, we'll have formal discussions with the ski area operators to gauge their interest in being a part of this event, and to ensure that we are able to fit comfortably into their schedules during a busy time of the season."

The under-20 championships could run for as many as 14 days in late August and early September.

A full slate of snowboard disciplines will be showcased, including halfpipe, snowboard-cross, parallel giant slalom, parallel slalom, big air and slopestyle.

The freestyle disciplines could include halfpipe and skier-cross, with slopestyle and big air also possibilities.

A final scheduled is expected to be be released in October.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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