Snowsports: Elite event for Wanaka

Wanaka will be the base for another major snow sports event this year, when Treble Cone, Cardrona and Snow Park host the world junior snowboarding and freestyle championships on August 19-31.

It will be the first time the International Ski Federation (FIS) has held a world championship in New Zealand.

"A major event like this is a great way to showcase our talented junior athletes on the world stage, and it is also a brilliant opportunity to present the region to the world," Snow Sports New Zealand chief executive Ross Palmer said.

Snow Park will host the slopestyle competitions for both skiers and snowboarders, Treble Cone will stage the snowboard parallel giant slalom and snowboard parallel slalom, and Cardrona will be the venue for the ski and snowboard halfpipe, ski and snowboard cross and snowboard big air competitions.

Snow Sports New Zealand is expecting the event to attract at least 200 young athletes.

The high-flying Wells brothers, from Wanaka, are expected to compete.

The event is open to those aged 20 years or younger, so it will be the last year X Games medallist Jossi Wells can compete.

He will probably enter both the ski slopestyle and ski halfpipe alongside his younger brothers, Byron and Beau-James.

When the FIS first announced its intention to let New Zealand host the event, it indicated the championships would be spread over the skifields of the Southern Lakes region.

Queenstown skifields Coronet Peak and Remarkables, owned by NZSki, will not be part of the event.

NZSki chief executive James Coddington said the decision not to participate was made as the Remarkables field was deemed to be too far away from the other venues, and Coronet Peak did not have the right facilities for the specific disciplines.

Cardrona events manager Graham Dunbar was exited about hosting the championships.

"After the Winter Games last year, having a major international event like this will allow us to keep momentum up."

Winter Games New Zealand chief executive Arthur Klap, who will be the event organiser for the world junior championships, said the event would also benefit future Winter Games.