Wanaka freestyle skier Fraser McDougall, photographed by Mickey Ross, gets inverted as part of the World Heli Challenge Freestyle Day at Mt Turner in the Wilkin Valley, near Makarora, on Monday.
He was one of 22 elite skiers and snowboarders who were treated to about 30cm of fresh powder. Event director Tony Harrington said the athletes were flown from the Makarora Valley and made first descents on what was a new venue for the event.
''As far as we know, we are the first to ride this zone and the mix of natural features with a fresh delivery of snow made it an ideal pick for the freestyle day.''
The World Heli Challenge crew is reviewing the weather to find a suitable day and choose the terrain for the extreme day later this week.
• A feature story on the World Heli Challenge will be included in the Magazine section of Saturday's Otago Daily Times.
