In what is usually an unassuming car park, spectators gathered for the second annual competition, part of the Queenstown Bike Festival.
The competition was won by Sam Pilgram (23), of the United Kingdom. He took the field by storm with his ability to trick every feature, linking together a technical and flawless run to claim the $3000 top prize.
Second was Tomas Zedja, of the Czech Republic, winning $2000. Queenstown rider Conor McFarlane picked up $1000 for third.
Best trick went to Sam Dueck, of Canada, with a double tail whip 360, winning $1500.
A field of more than 20 professional slopestyle athletes gathered from New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States.
Spectators collectively held their breath when riders did not quite pull off a trick and found themselves colliding with the trucked-in and sculpted dirt, and applause was awarded when tricks went to plan.
The festival's feature event today is the Tour de Wakatipu, which crosses from Millbrook Resort to Chard Farm, via a series of trails.
A new event for the three-year-old festival, the Mega Avalanche will be run tomorrow. It promises a mass start and chaos 1650m above the resort from the slopes of the Remarkables.
