Janina Kuzma

The Volkl NZ Freeski Open came to a spectacular close at Treble Cone Ski Area today with New Zealanders Alex Lynden (Auckland) and Janina Kuzma (Wanaka) crowned champions of The North Face Big Mountain Event.

This is Lynden’s first win in The North Face Big Mountain, while Kuzma, of Wanaka made it her sixth straight victory in a row.

As the wind whistled over the razor-sharp rock spires of Kirkwood’s Cirque, skiers readied their gear and nerves for the fifth stop of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour. This is one of the most-respected steep skiing contests in the world and the venue at Kirkwood Mountain Resort has become notorious due to its steep, technical slopes and because it is permanently closed to the public.

Riding with confidence on his home mountain, Wanaka’s Jossi Wells captured the pinnacle event of the season Thursday, winning the Men’s halfpipe competition at the Volkl NZ Freeski Open at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

The North Face Big Mountain Finals at The Volkl NZ Freeski Open came to a spectacular close at The Remarkables Ski Area today with New Zealand Freeride skiers Geoff Small and Janina Kuzma crowned champions once again.

The Freeski Association of New Zealand in conjunction with Snow Sports News Zealand is proud to once again stage the Volkl NZ Freeski Open taking place from August 11 to 20, 2009.

New Zealanders Alastair Eason and Janina Kuzma made good on their home turf, taking out the men’s and women’s Big Mountain titles of the Volkl NZ Freeski Open by the Royal NZ Air Force today at Treble Cone.

Eason, who breezed through qualifying round in first place at The Remarkables yesterday, secured his victory today by edging out freestyle skier Dane Tudor (USA/Aust) and third-place finisher Luke Potts (UK).