NZsnowboard.com

22nd May 2008

Hey bro, so tell us a lil bit about where are you from?
Jonahs David from Truckee, CA. I was raised surfing in Pismo Beach CA, USA.

And you are new to Mt. Hutt for the 2008 season. What experience do you bring to the table?
I've been building park for 12 years. The last six at Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, USA. We have built the reputation of having the best jumps in Tahoe and possibly the U.S.


Before you came to Mt. Hutt or NZ what had you heard about the place?
All I saw in the states was footage from Snowpark or heli boarding. I'd heard about Mt. Hutt from a Kiwi (Daniel Carey) that worked for me about seven years ago at Sugar Bowl.

And how are you settling into lil old Methven?
I like small towns. I live in a small town in the states and Methven is just a little smaller.

So tell us a bit about the new park developments at Mt. Hutt for this season?
We have put in new terraces and more snowmaking for our smaller parks. Look for some innovative jibs that have never been seen at other resorts. We also plan to have the best looking and riding jumps in the southern hemisphere.


Nice bro. And I hear there is even a 'theme' for the park?
"High Country" is the new theme. We wanted to make the park fit in with the surrounding area. If it looks high country we will try to make a jib out of it.

Sounds interesting... what type of features are being designed for this?
We are retro fitting a grain hopper, water tank, silo lid, rotating tractor tire,etc. We will be trying to make our new jibs something exciting to ride, not just another flat box.

Epic!! In NZ, each resort has their own kind of market. In your opinion... who is your park target market?
We want to take a monopoly on the Christchurch park scene. If you are a jumper or jibber in the Canterbury region, we want you to come check out Mt. Hutt instead of making the long drive to Queenstown or Wanaka.

Fair enough, And what events are on the cards for the season?
We will be continuing our Parklife events and possibly a new series of events exclusively for Mt. Hutt.


With all your new developments and hype will you hold any special comps or photoshoots?
We have BIG plans for getting exposure for the park. We plan on getting a ton of international pros out for photo and video shoots throughout the year. We also have some "Top Secret" plans for the end of the year but I can't tell you yet what they are.

Can't wait to hear more on that. I'm excited but why should people in Canterbury come to Mt. Hutt?
We get some of the best snow in the country with up to four meters annually. We will be using all that snow for the best looking and riding features around. We feel that providing the best all around riding experience in the region will make us a premier ski field for years to come.

Last words.....
Look for an awesome park at Mt. Hutt this year with an all new direction and feel for our top riders to our smallest shredders.

Good deal....  See you there.....



- Holler, NZsnowboard.com



LINK: www.mthutt.co.nz