The OWIA snowboard and halfpipe teams have spent ten days in New Zealand training, with all going well in the lead-up to the first World Cup events of the season, as OWI Head Snowboard Coach Ben Wordsworth reports from Snowpark:

“This has been first camp that both disciplines have been together in a training environment and it was very productive and great motivation for all the athletes to feed off each other.”

“Damon Hayler and Alex Pullin are well prepared for the double Continental Cup races in Chapelco in Argentina on September 4 and 5, which will be followed by the opening World Cup of the 2008-2009 season on the 12th and 13th.”

“I believe their preparation was the best it has been this year, with our successful training camp in Mt Hotham, then freeriding and jump training in New Zealand.”

“Our halfpipe team has also had a very successful preparation for the first World Cup in Cardrona Sept 8-9). The team started out the season with a camp in Mt Hood in June/July where a lot of skill building was undertaken and a number of new tricks learnt, which we have been working on in the winter pipe at Snowpark.”

“The riding has been awesome over the last week at with a perfect cut pipe every day and sunny skies. Nathan (Jophnstone), Holly (Crawford) and Hannah (Trigger) have been locking down their competition runs this last week preparing for the first training session of the World Cup on Thursday (today). All athletes have been riding solid and are prepared for the event this week.”

Ski and Snowboard halfpipe riders Mitch Allan and Ben Mates will also be competing in the Cardrona World Cup, while SSA snowboard cross competitors Taan Robrahn, Charles Ferry and Stephanie Hickey will be in action in Argentina.