Organisers yesterday made the only decision they could, given the country has been plunged into a second nationwide lockdown due to an outbreak of Covid-19, and axed the event.
It was called off last year as well, but then a re-imagined teams event was run to help fill the void.
The cancellation includes The North Face Frontier events at The Remarkables from August 29 to September 2 and the Big Air at Cardrona Alpine Resort on September 4.
Winter Games New Zealand chief executive Marty Toomey will now focus on planning for next year’s event.
“While it is disappointing to cancel the event, we know it is the right decision and we will now turn our attention towards delivering another world class event in 2022,’’ he said.
Previous events have attracted up to 500 athletes and many of the world’s leading competitors.
This year organisers had secured 60 managed isolation spots for international athletes but released them after a poor up-take.
The 14-day quarantine period proved to be too big a disincentive, so the games were essentially going to be a domestic event.
The Big Air was invitation-only and there were 30 spots, while another 100 or so athletes would have contested the events at the Remarkables.
It is another blow for the region’s economy, which has been struggling due to the lack of international visitors during the pandemic.
