Competitors brave cold at winter festival

It was a cold start for competitors who braved Lake Wakatipu for the annual Day on the Bay – part of Queenstown Winter Festival.

The day kicked off with the Raft Race when team ‘Go Orange’ took home the win.

The shenanigans did not stop there.

Queenstowners and visitors cheered on entrants in the Undy 500 race.

Scantily dressed contestants had to complete an obstacle course including a dip in the water, jumping over hay bales and finding their way through a bouncy castle, before crossing the finish line.

Up next the Birdman competition when entrants looked cold and shivery even before taking the plunge into the lake.

Local fire volunteer, who had crafted their own mini fire engine, got big cheers from the crowd as they took the plunge.

Festivities move up to Coronet Peak this afternoon with the opening of night skiing and the always popular suitcase race.

Later in the day there was a bobsleigh race up on Coronet Peak and about 20 people donned silly outfits including a dinosaur, Disney character Tigger and a Viking wearing a dressing gown.

It was followed by the infamous suitcase race - when those game enough use a bag to race down the hill.

The event marked the start of night skiing for the 2017 season on the ski field near Arthurs Point in the resort.

Competitors brave the cold for the raft race at this year's Queenstown Winter Festival. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Competitors brave the cold for the raft race at this year's Queenstown Winter Festival. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

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