A huge crowd of spectators watches the freestyle antics of
skiers and snowboarders at the Octagon Rail Jam on Saturday
night. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Skifield slopestyle action came to the centre of Dunedin
on Saturday night, as thousands gathered to watch the antics of
skiers and snowboarders at the Octagon Rail Jam.
Crowd numbers at the event were buoyed by a post-match surge
from football spectators, who made their way to the Octagon
from Forsyth Barr Stadium after watching the Wellington
Phoenix lose 1-5 to the Brisbane Roar.
About 85 skiers and snowboarders took part in the Rail Jam on
a custom-built slopestyle course completed with about 60cu m
of snow trucked in from Cardrona Alpine Resort near Wanaka.
Organiser David Booth said the crowd of more than 5000
exceeded expectations.
About 35 invited riders and skiers competed for a slice of
the $20,000 prize pool alongside another 50 wildcard
entrants, Mr Booth said.
University of Otago students Matt Soundy, of Queenstown, and
Hamish McDougall, of Wanaka, were the best freeskiers on the
night. Austrian Marvin Salmina was best snowboarder, with
Queenstown's Nick Hyne the top New Zealander.
• Police praised the behaviour of fans attending the Rail Jam
and Phoenix game.
Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken, of Dunedin, said police made 17
arrests overnight, mostly in the central city and for
disorder-related offences, but none at the Forsyth Barr
Stadium.
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