Hypothermia and gravel burn went hand in hand in Queenstown yesterday during the winter festival's annual Day on the Bay, where the bravest put their bodies - and dignity - on the line.
Thousands of spectators watched the action in and out of the lake, beginning with the Birdman competition, which this year attracted a record number of entries.
Choreographed routines - which included pillow fighting chickens and ''Jamaican bobsledders'' - were performed on one of the town's piers, before entrants launched themselves into the lake in a variety of home made flying apparatus.
Overall winners were a team from Asplundh - Stephen McDermott, of Ireland, Peter Sleath and Mark Atkins, both of the United Kingdom, and Joel Climo, of Queenstown, with their chainsaw, tree, and diggers.
They spent a total of two and a half hours preparing for the competition, and planned to spend their $1000 prize ''at the pub''. The Minions won ''best flight'', the ''Early bird gets the worm'' won the best costume and Shotover Jet won the best corporate entry.
Jetsprints, won by Skippers Canyon Jet, gave way to the Splash for Cash, where men and women stripped down to their bare essentials, dived into the freezing waters of Lake Wakatipu and swam around a buoy before bolting back down the bay to the finish line.
As a bitter southerly picked up around the lakefront, causing temperatures to plummet, a group of hardy competitors disrobed to compete in the Undy 500.
After leading the pack in the final Jon Martin, of Virginia, United States, got the speed wobbles approaching the finish line, crossing it on his stomach, while Lindsey Forbes took the women's title.
The Day on the Bay capped off a busy weekend for festival goers, which included the festival street parade and Golden Mile running race through the CBD on Saturday, watched by about 5000 people.
The theme of this year's parade was ''sustainability''. The business award went to Zig Zag Zoo, while the community award was given to the Queenstown Scouts.
At Coronet Peak, a chaotic mountain bike race on snow was held in near perfect conditions and Queenstown residents proved impossible to beat.
Jimmy Carling took the honours in the men's race, followed by Jimmy Pollard and Nico Bouffioux, while Harriet Latchem won the women's event, Alana Columb was second and Natalie Jakobs third.
Sixteen year old Matt Gillian, also of Queenstown, won the junior category.
On Saturday night action moved to the Queenstown Ice Arena, where the Southern Stampede beat the Canterbury Red Devils 2 1 in the first match of a double header, while hundreds of other people were entertained at the Queenstown Events Centre during the annual comedy debate, hosted by Jeremy Corbett.
Oliver Driver, Heather du Plessis Allan and Vaughan Smith argued ''Adventure should be dangerous'', and beat the negative team of Paul Ego, Donna Brookbanks and James Nokisi.
The Queenstown Winter Festival continues until Sunday.
What's on
Today
• Winter workout, Earnslaw Park, noon
• Winter Quiz Night, Skycity Casino, 8pm
• Avalanche Awareness Seminar, Queenstown Memorial Centre, 7pm
• Sole female artists, Earnslaw Park, 5pm
Tomorrow
• Stars on Ice, Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 12.30pm
• Latte art throwdown, Skycity Casino, 7pm
• Comedy night, Queenstown Memorial Centre, 8pm
• Local songwriters showcase, Earnslaw Park, 5pm
