University Sport executive director Peter McDonald said registrations for the general inter-university games in April this year suffered a "massive drop-off" and competitor numbers had been dropping for the University Snow Games.
Though numbers for this year's event, in Wanaka from August 26 to 31, were similar to last year, the University of Otago contingent had shrunk from 22 to 14.
Mr McDonald said this was "reasonably indicative of what the voluntary student membership has done".
In 2006, snow games competitors numbered 298. In 2007, they dropped to 265; in 2008, they were 243; in 2009, they were 179; in 2010, they were 160; in 2011, they were 88; and this year they were 92.
This year's event will be the 12th annual University Snow Games. The games derived from the New Zealand University Winter Tournament which began in 1945.
The cost of attending the games per student was about $1000, which covered flights, accommodation and the entry fee, but some students paid as little as $500 because of a subsidy from their university or student association.
"It [competitor numbers] will get better for the snow games. Otago and Canterbury are not members [of University Sport], which means they can still come to the games but they get charged more."
He conceded there was also a "general indication" the snow conditions were not as favourable and some cash-strapped students had made the decision not to compete for this reason.
Otago University Students' Association clubs development officer James Grubb said the association provided subsidies for summer and winter sport events.
The games' events were split between Cardrona, Treble Cone and Snow Farm, with students to compete in giant slalom, gravity cross, big air, cross-country, half pipe, parallel slalom and slopestyle.
The last event, a biathlon involving costumes and laser rifles, would be judged on costume style, time and the amount of shots with a laser rifle.
Mr McDonald said University Sport was looking to select students for the World Winter University Games, to be held in Italy in December 2013.
"We're working with Snow Sports NZ, but a lot of it comes down to cost."
Overall, universities would be competing for the Michael Forrestall Memorial Shield, named as such last year from the Snow Games shield for its namesake, who was involved in snow sports.
Mr McDonald said the University of Otago had won it since 2004 but "but given the team numbers, they have got a battle on their hands".
"While they did not have the biggest team last year, they had the best skiers. It will be interesting to see if they still have the quality."
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