Wanaka will play host next month to the first event in the lead-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.
For a week, up to 240 of the world's best freestyle skiers and snowboarders will compete at Cardrona Alpine Resort for the FIS snowboard and freestyle ski half-pipe world cups.
At the same time they will be vying for their first qualifying points towards a place at the Winter Olympics, to be held in Sochi, on the Black Sea.
A strong field of international competitors is expected to converge on Cardrona's 6.7m super-pipe from August 22. In addition to the 240 competitors, a similar number of officials and media are expected at the event.
Organiser Arthur Klap said 150 volunteers would be needed to help run the events - including some with "strong skiing skills" to "prime" the half-pipe.
Aside from the Cardrona event, all other Olympic snowboard qualifying events are at 24 ski resorts in the northern hemisphere.
