Success means heli event will return next year

Chris Booth (Australia) flies into second place on the freeride day at the World Heli Challenge....
Chris Booth (Australia) flies into second place on the freeride day at the World Heli Challenge. The event was the first of three days of helicopter-accessed ski and snowboard competition being held near Wanaka. Photo by Tony Harrington.
World Heli Challenge organiser Tony Harrington is delighted with the success of his revived back-country snow sports and media showcase, based in mountains around Wanaka during the past fortnight.

The Australian revived the event this winter after a seven-year lay-off.

Mr Harrington said the challenge ran smoothly and he was pleased with the content created for future television programmes, a Sundance film festival production and a Warren Miller cinema production.

Between 500 and 600 hours of television footage was shot, focusing on the region's snow sports and adventure activities.

Some of the footage would be screened at travel and trade shows in Australia.

Wanaka sisters Janina and Maria Kuzma have won the top women's prizes for best skiing and snowboarding, respectively, while the men's events were won by Ted Davenport (United States, ski) and Andy Finch (US, snowboard).

All snow-based filming was finished, but adventure filming would continue for a few more days, Mr Harrington said.

The Australia-based camera operator said yesterday he planned to return to live in Wanaka and stage the event again next year.

- marjorie.cook@odt.co.nz

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