World number five big mountain skier Hamish Acland, of Wanaka, claimed the winning title at the NZ Free Ski Open Volkl Big Mountain event at Treble Cone’s Motatapu Chutes the other day.

Australia's Janina Kuzma won the women’s event, continuing her successful form after gaining second place at the Open’s K2 Halfpipe event last week.

BY HOLLY WALKER 

As snow and wind pounded Kirkwood, road closures and chair wind holds may have ensued but skiers still began to arrive in numbers. Flights from Europe, buses from Reno, cars from Canada... The slew came despite weather, ready to compete in the annual big mountain competition, locally known as the "Extremes."