Junior World Championships nominated for SPARC Event Excellence Award

The inaugural FIS Snowboard & Freestyle Junior World Championships, held in Lake Wanaka in August 2010, is one of three finalists in SPARC Event Excellence Awards 2011.

The event made history as the first world championships to combine snowboard and freestyle ski, marking a new era in competitive snow sports and paving the way for the introduction of new disciplines into the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Snow Sports New Zealand chairman, Rick Pettit, said the international feedback on the event had been significant and the benefits for New Zealand sport immeasurable.

“New Zealand was pivotal in developing the future structure of snow sports around the world. The world’s governing body, Federation International de Ski (FIS), used the Junior World Championship’s structure in their presentation to the IOC for inclusion of new events into Sochi,” he said. “Not only was it a great event, but the benefit for New Zealand athletes having the opportunity to compete at a world championship level on their home turf is immeasurable.”

The FIS Snowboard & Freestyle Junior World Championships were delivered by Snow Sports New Zealand and Winter Games NZ. Event director, Arthur Klap said the Championships also showed how two disciplines could support each other in their development.

“The Junior World Championships enabled freestyle skiing and snowboarding to support each other both in their growth and also their extended involvement in the Winter Olympics. Inclusion in the Olympics will have far reaching benefits for both the sports and the athletes.”

The SPARC Awards are designed to recognise the outstanding work people in the sport and recreation arena are doing. The winner will be announced at the SPARC Awards in Auckland on 18 April.