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.

Acland (26), beat fellow Kiwi and former NZ Free Ski Open big mountain champion Geoff Small, who was placed second – despite Small pulling off the most impressive move of the day. Acland impressed judges by displaying both strength and speed in an exposed line.

“His run was a very complete run - it was incredibly fluid and clean. He skied a very technically demanding first half of his line, followed by some very fast and fluid skiing, with large, floating airs over more flowing terrain. In short, it was a very aesthetic line,” head judge Nick Mills said.

Kuzma took the most dangerous line out of all the female competitors, Mills said. “Janina skied strongly over some steep snow-covered rock buttresses without any hesitation, showing enormous strength and aggression.”

Judges assessed all 41 competitors (11 women and 30 men) on the difficulty of the run they picked, their control, fluidity, form and technique, and aggression during the execution of their run. The Motatapu Chutes are extremely complex, comprising chutes, towers and ridges, with runs up to 300m long.

Spectators were able to enjoy watching the competitors take on the gut-wrenching drops from the adjacent face.

Because of the extreme nature of the event, the competition depended heavily on weather conditions, which were such that skiers were only able to complete one run, instead of having the prelims, followed by the finals today. Unfortunately, the weather this week has also been unsuitable for the Expression Session at Treble Cone, which was to replace the heli-access event this year.

NZ Free Ski Open event director Gerald Davies said today’s event was a spectacular finish to the competition, which began last week with the K2 Halfpipe and Slopestyle events at Snow Park NZ.

“We couldn’t have asked for better conditions today. The Motatapu Chutes were in ideal condition for these athletes and the weather was perfect. The competitors really made the most of the terrain and we saw some amazing riding.”

Big mountain skiing has grown significantly, judging by the number of spectators watching from Sundance Ridge today, Volkl sales representative Charles Cochrane said. “Treble Cone has some of the best free riding available and with a prime location like the Motatapu Chutes. Not only were the riders stoked, the spectators had huge smiles on their faces as well. All in all, everyone was loving it.”

The NZ Free Ski Open concludes this Friday, August 25, with the inaugural BASE Downtown Rail Jam, which takes place in the Bullock Bar car park at 7pm. The invitational competition features 10 elite free skiers and snowboarders (yet to be named), who will take on the massive BASE rail (with snow thanks to Snow Park NZ) and perform their slides, rotations and big air in front of a panel of judges, all vying for the $2000 cash prize. Live music and MCs will also be there to help make this a great event for the public.

Results:

Womens:
1. Janina Kuzma (AUST)
2. Kate McDougall (NZ)
3. Jacobina Home (SCOT)

Mens:
1. Hamish Acland
2. Geoff Small
3. Alastair Eason