100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games to Take Place 13 - 28 August 2011

The second edition of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games will take place next year between 13 and 28 August 2011. The Winter Games event is expected to attract over 1,000 elite international athletes to New Zealand.

"Expanding on the successful inaugural event in 2009, the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games will feature 16 days of snow and ice sports competition," said Winter Games NZ chairman, Sir Eion Edgar. "Planning is already well advanced and with the success of this year’s Junior World Championships the organisers expect even bigger and more competitive fields next year."

The 2009 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games' importance on the elite snow sports calendar was confirmed, not only by the significant field it attracted, but by the number of competitors who went on to win medals at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver.

Seven Paralympic and 10 Olympic medallists competed at the Winter Games, including the entire men’s snowboard halfpipe podium.

For 2011 the programme has been expanded with the inclusion of two new sports, and a new location.

Mt Hutt Ski Area - in the Christchurch - Canterbury region - will host the Super G and Adaptive Super G alpine skiing events. The remaining alpine skiing events will stay at Coronet Peak, in Queenstown.

Dunedin, which will provide the ice sports centre, will see an increase in events with the inclusion of speed skating. In addition, the ice hockey tournament will feature four international teams in a round robin play-off, and figure skating at the games opening.

The ice programme will be rounded out by the curling programme in Naseby, Maniototo which has been extended to include mixed pairs.

Another new addition is the Winter Triathlon at Snow Farm near Wanaka, which was a demonstration event at the 2009 Winter Games. Snow Farm will also host the adaptive and able-bodied cross-country.

Cardrona Alpine Resort near Lake Wanaka will host the free ski and snowboard halfpipe and big air events, together with the snowboard cross and ski cross racing. Freeski and snowboard slopestyle will take place cross the valley at Snow Park NZ.

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