NZsnowboard.com

7th August 2007

By: TTR press office

New Zealand?s world-renowned Snow Park NZ has pulled out all stops for the first ever TTR FIVE(5)STAR event hosted in the Southern Hemisphere kicking off this week. Following the highly successfully Burton New Zealand Open in 06/07, the event deservedly received an elevation to TTR FIVE(5) STAR status, for the first time offers of 850 TTR Ranking points in both Slopestyle and Halfpipe formats in both the Men?s and Women?s categories.

After the successful opening of TTR World Snowboard Tour Southern Hemisphere leg at the TTR ONE(1) STAR, the Australia Junior Series event at Perisher Blue resort last week, the big guns are heading to Snow Park NZ, Wanaka, where the Burton New Zealand Open promises outstanding snowboarding by the world?s premier riders.

?Lake Wanaka may be small, but this week it?s the epicentre of snowboarding and the eyes of the world will be watching the action at Snow Park NZ,? said Event Organizer, Rueben Yeoman.

The second FIVE(5) STAR event on the 07/08 TTR World Snowboard Tour, the Burton New Zealand Open is drawing several of the 06/07 heavy weights. Last season?s World #4, 5 & 6, Kevin Pearce(USA), Danny Davis(USA) and Iouri Podladtchikov(RUS) are already in town, with rumours of World #2 & 3, Antti Autti(FIN) and Travis Rice(USA) reported to be in town as the rumour mills gear up. Moving into Tour lead following the 06/07 Burton New Zealand Open and presently sitting in TTR 4^th position, Scotty Lago(USA) will again look at taking out an early season lead.

Already inscribed in the open Men?s qualification are Arthur Longo(FRA), Xaver Hoffmann(GER), Manuel Pietropoli(ITA), Tim Humphreys(USA), Kazuhiro Kokubo(JPN), Ben Kilner(GBR), Rob Kingwell(USA), Kim Rune Hansen(NOR), Christian Haller(SUI), Rudi Kroell(AUT), Zac Stone(CAN), Gary Zebrowski(FRA), Marek Sasiadek(POL), Daisuke Murakami(JPN), Benny Urban(GER),  who will meet local rippers Quentin Robbins(NZL), Clint Allen(AUS), Jake Koia(NZL), Mitch Allen(AUS) and Mitch Brown(NZL).

Reports say 06/07 TTR Woman?s World Snowboard Tour Champion, Torah Bright(AUS), will open her title race at the Burton New Zealand Open. She will be facing Kelly Clark(USA), Sina Candrian(SUI), Juliane Bray(NZL) and Manuela Pesko(SUI), to name a few, will battle it out for the 850 TTR Ranking points available on both the Halfpipe and Slopestyle formats.

TTR FIVE(5) STAR Burton New Zealand Schedule:
TUESDAY 7^th AUGUST

Halfpipe:
Rider Registration:                    08.00 - 14.00 (Snow Park NZ)
Women?s Halfpipe practice:       10.00 -  12.00
Men?s Halfpipe practice:            12.00 - 15.00

WEDNESDAY, 8^th AUGUST
Halfpipe:

Men?s Halfpipe practice:            09.00 - 09.45
Men?s Halfpipe pre-qualifiers       10.00 -  11.15
Mens Halfpipe qualifiers             11.30 -  12.30
Women?s Halfpipe practice:       12.30 -  13.15
Women?s qualifiers                    13.30 -  14.40

Slopestyle:
Men?s and Women?s practice:    11.00 -  14.00

THURSDAY, 9^th AUGUST
Slopestyle:

Men?s and Womens practice:     08.00 -  09.30
Men?s Slopestyle pre-qualifiers: 09.50 -  12.20
Men?s Slopestyle qualifiers:       12.30 -  12.20
Women?s Slopestyle practice:    13.20 -  13.50
Women?s Slopestyle qualifiers: 14.00 -  15.30

FRIDAY, 10^th AUGUST
Slopestyle:

Men?s and Women?s practice:    08.00 - 09.00
Women?s Slopestyle Semifinal: 09.15 -  10.05
Men?s Slopestyle Semifinal:       10.35 - 12.05
Finals (combined) practice:        12.05 -  12.35
Slopestyle Combined Finals       12.35 - 14.05
Slopestyle Awards Ceremony    14.15 -  14.30

Halfpipe:
Men?s and Women?s practice     09.00 -  12.00

SATURDAY, 11^TH AUGUST
Halfpipe:

Men?s and Women?s practice:    08.00 -  09.15
Women?s Semifinals:                09.30 -  10.30
Men?s Semifinals practice:         10.30 -  11.00
Men?s semifinal:                        11.15 -  12.45
Finals (combined) practice:        12.45 -  13.15
Halfpipe (combined) Finals:        13.30 -  15.30
Halpipe Awards Ceremony:        15.45 -  16.15

SUNDAY, 12^TH AUGUST
Bad weather lay day

Updates, reports and results available daily on www.ttrworldtour.com.

For more information:
www.opensnowboarding.com
www.snowparknz.com