NZ WINTER GAMES PREVIEW

It is as close as the Winter Olympics get to New Zealand – the Audi Quattro Winter Games NZ – set to hit Queenstown and surrounding resorts August 25 to September 10 this year.

Stars from the Winter Olympic, Paralympic and X Games all head to New Zealand’s Southern Alps once again for the season’s first major competition and setting performance benchmarks for the year ahead.

This is a brilliant opportunity to watch elite athletes competing for one of the years world titles in freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and curling, and of course the festival and atmosphere around the event – the only edition in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the top 5 winter events globally.

The official site for the games describes “a uniquely Kiwi experience that athletes, coaches, judges and spectators all rave about. The relaxed atmosphere, friendly people, sporting action and festival fun – it’s going to be the biggest party on southern snow…”

Highlights for Queenstown based viewing will be the Slalom and Giant Slalom at Coronet Peak from 28-31 August and the unique Night Slalom on Friday 25th.

At The Remarkables; spectators can take in The North Face Frontier, qualifying series events for the World Freeride Tour on both slopestyle and free-ski courses – an unbelievable chance to see the very best attempt what you and I wish we could do!  September 3-8th.  This preview video ought to get you excited about the action ahead for the games as a whole!

Back in town – see the New Zealand and Australia battle on the Ice Hockey rink for trans-Tasman supremacy, always a highlight of the winter season!

On mountain there will be a variety of Festival events to round out the action, on both Cardrona and Coronet Peak – while Cardrona will also host slopestyle and halfpipe events for both ski and board disciplines.

The Spire Hotel is your perfect Queenstown base to take in all the events and apres activity – book your winter escape with our team today!