NZ Open Big Mountain Finals Day

Well well, yesterday was the finals at Remarks and holy shit! In the words of the event organiser, Cam Craigehead "people aren't dying when they should be". Thankfully they didn't but the level of risk is starting to make me think twice about these comps. That aside it was a spectacular display of super skilled skiing! Greg Tuscher of Switzerland took 1st with a big 3 straight into a crazy side air and a big, down hill take off backflip out the bottom. Local and old ski buddy Sam Smoothy of NZ was second with a nose butter off the top, two super smooth cork threes and a large air out the bottom. Sam Lee also from NZ stomped the biggest and craziest air of the day sending 45 ft into a pinpoint closeout chute, he stomped it clean but kneed himself in the head on landing leaving him concussed as he skied clean out the bottom - a great display of courage and skill but also left many wondering fearfully of what could happen if consequences keep rising...

My run on the other hand I designed to be hard & fast, with long high speed airs. I missed my middle air and hit super punchy snow on my last air sending me tomohawking out the bottom loosing a ski (DNS) - a little disappointing on my home mountain.

Sam Lee sending a super large, technical and pinpoint air

Sam, still concussed after taking knee to face

The good crew watches on for the next ridiculous antic

Sam Smoothy with first of two splendid cork 3’s

Smoothy fist pumping his way to 3rd and dropping $500 on tequila shots

Greg Tuscher backflipping his way to winning the NZ Open Big Mountain.. and also dropping $500 on tequila shots

The happy winner