NZsnowboard.com

8th September 2006

Promising a weekend of alpine fun and spectacular competition, the Spring Fling at The Remarkables celebrates spring skiing and boarding with a variety of wacky, fun and highly competitive events on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September.

Spring Fling action kicks off with the enduring and popular Queenstown Rafting Whitewater Challenge on Saturday as well as the finals of the New Zealand Forum Youngblood Final.

The Whitewater challenge is a spectacular and zany raft race on snow open to groups of six and ski area manager Hamish McCrostie says local business teams are already lining up for the frozen whitewater raft trip.

?This race has taken place at this time of year for many years now.  It?s great fun to watch and even more fun to take part in,? he said. ?If the weather?s cold, the course could be hard and fast, if it?s warm soft snow can slow things down a little.  Participants never know what to expect apart from a whole lot of laughs.?

The Forum Youngblood Series is the world?s top amateur competition for male and female snowboarders aged 20-and-under and the final follows regional events held at Mt Hutt and Coronet Peak in August.  

Josh Clark Youth Action Sports Co-ordinator for The Remarkables and Coronet Peak says the Forum Youngblood is a fun, international level competition aimed at young, up and coming snowboarders who are keen to step up and show their skill.

?We?ve seen some great young riders come through the regional events.  All eyes will be on the regional event top riders including Adam Percasky, John Laker and Jethro Mains of Queenstown and  of course 12 year old Michael O?Keefe who took out the under 15?s.  From the Mt Hutt event there?ll be Georgina Allen and Kiri Atawhai Binnersley, from the Mt Hutt Freestyle Academy, Ashleigh Guthrie, Josh Brown, Connor Harding and Shane Stocker.?

Registration is free and competitors only need to turn up on the day between 9:00am-10:30am to secure their slot in the competition. Competition categories are split into 15 years and under, 16 years and over (with an age limit of 20) and a female division.

Winners of this event will have the opportunity to compete in the Forum Youngblood World Finals at Tahoe California, where they can duke it against other winners from around the world, ride with the Forum team, and possibly earn a spot on the Forum Youngblood crew.

On Sunday, Spring Fling action moves to the O-Zone Tubing Park for the Splash for Cash water jump where competitors dress in zany costumes to take on the freezing pool of naturally iced water.

?It?s hilarious to watch as competitors find new and innovative ways to jump over, through or into the pool for the chance to win from a $1000 cash pool,? said Mr McCrostie.

Other competitive action during the carnival includes the Junior Interfield ski race finals.

The Spring Fling is a great family weekend with music, plenty of spectator action and fun for all ages.

The shuttle service to The Remarkables runs from the base of the car park at 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am.

Further information: Alexa Forbes (03) 441 1117 or alexa@southernpr.co.nz