Figure skating in New Zealand is receiving a major boost thanks to 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.
Skaters from South Africa, Korea, Japan and Australia are heading to Dunedin to compete against twelve New Zealanders in the first major competition recognised by the International Skating Union (ISU) ever held in the country.
The three-day programme at Dunedin Ice Stadium takes place between Friday 28th and Sunday 30th August. Three separate categories for novices, juniors and seniors all feature a short programme, where skaters incorporate standard moves and jumps into their routine, plus a free programme.
Competitors will look to sharpen their routines ahead of next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
World number nineteen, Akiko Suzuki from Japan, appears in the women's senior event alongside 18-year old Na Young Kim from Korea, a regular podium finisher in Junior Grand Prix.
Representing New Zealand are four-time national senior women's champion Morgan Figgins from Dunedin, Laura Mills from Christchurch and Auckland's Allie Rout.
Grant Howie from Dunedin will contest the men's senior title on home ice while one of the country's most promising athletes, Christopher Boyd from Queenstown, will be looking for a strong showing in the juniors to add to his three national age group titles.
Amongst the novices, St Margaret's College Christchurch pupils Madelaine Parker and Jessie Park are both returning from competitions overseas to perform alongside other young skaters from Australia, South Africa and Korea.
Winter Games CEO Arthur Klap hopes the Games will put New Zealand on the map as a venue for international figure skating competitions.
"Working together with the ISU and NZISA, our national governing body, has allowed us to put together a first class event that can only help raise the sport's profile and get more people involved.
"With excellent facilities and so much talent on show it promises to be a great event for both competitors and spectators. Interestingly figure skating attracts the most spectators at the Olympics so we hope it captures the public's imagination here in the same way." he said.
100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games will take place at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Farm, Naseby and Dunedin from 21-30 August 2009 and will feature disciplines of alpine skiing, free skiing, x-country skiing, snowboarding, curling, ice skating and adaptive snow sports as well as the demonstration sports of winter triathlon and natural luge.
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