Snowsports action returns to the mountain slopes around Wanaka this week with three major international events taking place at Cardrona and Treble Cone skifields.
First up is the FIS Continental snowboarding slopestyle today in which about 50 riders from around the world will show their skills on the Cardrona course.
Top-ranked New Zealander James Hamilton (19) will be sacrificing his No 1 ranking on the rival world snowboarding TTR tour to take part.
The Wanaka-based Aucklander is joined by fellow New Zealand team members who have elected to miss the Australian Burton Open this week, instead opting for the FIS slopestyle ahead of the World Cup halfpipe at Cardrona this weekend.
Tomorrow and Friday, Treble Cone will host more than 140 competitors and national teams vying for FIS world ranking points in the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup races.
New Zealand ski team members will be trying to replicate their success of the national alpine championships, held at Coronet Peak, last week.
However, top-ranked international teams, such as Sweden, Switzerland and the United States, will be returning to line up against the New Zealanders.
Treble Cone Racing Academy member Tim Cafe, of Queenstown, will be hoping his local knowledge can give him the edge over national ski team members Mark Bridgwater, of Christchurch, and Wellingtonian Angus Howden, while top-ranked New Zealand female downhill skier Janelle Miller, of Queenstown, will look to continue her impressive winter form.
