NZSBU announced its 2010 National Team and Development Squad.

Wanaka, New Zealand (28 June 2010) - The New Zealand Snowboard Union (NZSBU) this week announced its 2010 National Team and Development Squad.

Base is proud that a number of their Freeride Team Riders made 'the cut'. Carl Murphy, Mack James, Fraser Dowling, Conor Hayes and Tim Herbert.

The 40-member NZSBU team represents the pinnacle of New Zealand snowboarding today and embodies all areas of snowboarding from Olympians, World Cup Medallists, Ticket-to-Ride Competitors, magazine and movie stars to future hopefuls – a true representation of the sport.

The NZSBU National Team features elite riders representing New Zealand snowboarding heading into the 2010 Southern Hemisphere winter season. Returning members to the team include: Juliane Bray (Wanaka), Kendall Brown (Mt. Maunganui), Nick Brown (Queenstown), Mitch Brown (Mt. Maunganui), Shelly Gotlieb (Ohakune), James Hamilton (Auckland), Nick Hyne (Mt. Maunganui), Will Jackways (Wanaka), Jacob Koia (Arrowtown), Abby Lockhart (Wanaka), Carl Murphy (New Plymouth) and Stef Zeestraten (Christchurch).  New to the national team this year are big mountain rider, Maria Kuzma (Wanaka) and Olympian, Rebecca Sinclair (Wanaka).

The Development Squad consists of riders who are on the pathway to the National Team and/or who are excelling with significant potential in their chosen pathway. The Squad members can represent New Zealand at any international level event, including Youth Worlds; Junior Worlds; US Amateur Snowboard Association Nationals; World Snowboard Federation; International Ski Federation or Ticket-to-Ride events.

2010 NZSBU TEAM

"The Squad" Team

Returning Members:            
Ben Comber
Fraser Dowling
Connor Harding
Mack James
Stefi Luxton
Joram Makaru
Christy Prior
Liam Ryan
Ben Stewart
Benji Sutherland
Jay Walsh  

             

New Members:            
Jeannie Bamber
Phil Dominick
Fraser Dowling  
Jasmin Gallop
Rebecca Torr

     

"Youth" Squad

Returning Members:            
Melissa Albom
Hamish Bagley
Duncan Campbell  
Conor Hayes
Tim Herbert
Seb Judge  
Jake Mills
JJ Rayward
Kristal Roberts  

             

New member:            
Sam Christie            



Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing adaptive snow sports, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freeskiing and snowboarding in New Zealand.

2010 freeski teams were announced

Wanaka, NZ (29 June 2010) - After the best season in the history of NZ freeskiing it comes as no surprise that when the 2010 freeski teams were announced, all six existing national team members remained at the helm.


Base Freeride Team Members make the team! Raph Beazley, Beau James Wells, & Jackson Wells.

Mitchey Greig of Queenstown became the first freeskier to represent New Zealand at a Winter Olympics Games at the first-ever Olympic Skier Cross event.  She is ranked 24th in the world.

After dominating the southern hemisphere season, winning The North Face Big Mountain competition at the Volkl Open and the World Heli Challenge, big mountain skier Janina Kuzma had a stellar northern hemisphere season too.

She was on the podium several times and ended her season ranked fifth overall on the Freeride World Tour and second on the Freeride World Qualifying Tour, earning a coveted spot on the Freeride World Tour next year.

After placing fifth in halfpipe at both the Volkl NZ Freeski Open and the inaugural Winter Games NZ, where he was up against the world's best, Lyndon Sheehan of Wanaka received an invite to the prestigious X-Games where unfortunately he injured his knee but he’s on the mend and will soon be ready to once gain show the world that he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Sam Smoothy of Cromwell ended his southern hemisphere season with a podium finish in The North Face Big Mountain competition at the Volkl Open, he went on to win his first competition of the northern hemisphere season at Engadinsnow in Switzerland. Unfortunately his season was cut short by a knee injury at the next competition. Even with a shortened season his results for the year were strong enough to earn his spot on the Freeride World Tour next year.

Byron Wells of Wanaka, has just come of a best-ever year. His podiums during the southern hemisphere season included a first place at the Queenstown Winter Festival Rail Jam, a third place at the Parklife Rail Jam Invitational and a third place at the Winter Games NZ Big Air competition. He had top ten finishes in several of the major Northern Hemisphere international competitions and In the best performance of his career, he took fifth place at the European X Games Superpipe. He was also on the podium in Superpipe at the Aspen Open, the largest open event in North America.

Over the past year Jossi Wells has been on fire. In addition to his Overall World Championship he came home with the 2010 AFP Superpipe Title, Silver in Superpipe from the X Games, the Overall Dew Tour Ski Superpipe Championship, a gold at the Austrian Open and a Bronze in Slopestyle at the European X Games.

Throughout the Southern Hemisphere winter he took first place in halfpipe at the Volkl NZ Freeski Open, first at the Parklife Rail Jam Invitational and a second in slopestyle at the NZ Winter Games.

Over the 2009 southern hemisphere season Jossi was honoured as the Central Otago Junior Sportsman of the Year, the Central Otago Supreme Sportsman of the Year, the Otago Junior Sportsperson of the Year, the New Zealand Freeskier of the Year and he was recipient of the Halberg/Westpac Trust Emerging Talent Award.

The New Zealand National Team is comprised of those at the pinnacle of International Freeskiing, gaining top ten results at international events. They positively represent and influence the sport of freeskiing on and off snow. They are committed as professional skiers and are respected by both their peers and public alike.

The makeup of the team is a world first, in that the team is selected across all disciplines including skier cross, big mountain, slopestyle and halfpipe.

The next tier down, the Development Squad, represents New Zealand's rising talent. These members have been identified by the selection panel as skiers with potential to someday become members of the national team.
2010 Development Team Members
 
Freeride             
Tom Brownlee   
Sam Lee   
Cam McDermid   
Fraser McDougall   
Roy Schott   
Neil Williman   
             
Freeski             
Sarah Albom   
Olly Allan   
Mikayla Austin   
Rose Battersby
Raphael Beazley   
Finn Bilous   
Hank Bilous   
Trent Francis
Matt Johnson   
Taylor King   
Elliott Mason   
Hamish McDougall
Peter Oswald   
Harry Pettit   
Ryan Read   
Callum Runnerstrum
Tom Scurr   
Amy Sheehan   
Matt Soundy   
Ella Spittle
Beau-James Wells   
Jackson Wells        

Freeskiing continues to grow in scope and popularity around the world and is gaining recognition within the International Federation of Ski (FIS). New Zealand will host the first ever FIS Slopestyle competition at the upcoming Junior World Championships in August 2010 and Freeski Halfpipe has been approved by FIS and is being put before the IOC for inclusion in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The X-Games has now added a European stop and after its second year the Dew Tour is an overwhelming success.

Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing adaptive snow sports, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freeskiing and snowboarding in New Zealand.

Tom's Pre-Season Winter Hike in Wanaka

Have you met Tom in store at Base2 yet?  Check out an earlier post to see his smiley face!  Tom went out and had a wee bit of fun in the snow over the weekend with his STOMP NZ Crew. 

 

Thanks for the pics Tom.....

New Team Members check it!

I'm slowly leaking out pics of our new staff.

we're hiring up a storm.... truly..  our humble business doubles (maybe triples) in terms of the manpower for winter....

so here is a preview of some of our new and awesome staff members (and a few familiar faces).

This is Sarah, our new Manager at Base2.

Check it, its Tom - newbie down at Base2

Woop! Woop! we're stoked to have Kelly back with us at Base!

Okay thats a start!

Yeow!

Busy.

Some businesses in Wanaka start to wind down in April, May & June. 

And some.... gear up and start going 110km/h... like us. There are many changes and great things happening as we've been gearing up for winter 2010.

Matt & Greg have been working really really really hard at loading up all the winter gear for 2010, hardware, and now introducing outerwear.

But we've been MIA on the Blog front and for that we slack and apologise.

We've been hiring, updating the online shop, attending tech sessions, receiving winter stock, and more. so hopefully when you come in store and visit online.. you'll see we've been putting in the hard yards.

In the meantime.... Take a look at how awesome Wanaka is looking.....

winter is here.... it isn't coming..... It. Is. Here.

peace amy

Nick Hyne reviews the Ride Machete

The man himself, Nick Hyne, reviews the 2011 Ride Machete, don't know bout you but i want to ride one!

 The Ride Machete is an amazing board - straight up FUN! I remember the first time I tried a Machete was on my first of riding for the season. I thought I would feel sketchy like usual and everything would feel hooky - not with the Machete - my first day back was magic. I am riding the 158 as my big powder board and it is by far the most stoked I have ever been on my powder board. You can bounce through the powder and the rebound is incredible - once again I will say it - FUN. The slight bit of rocker is stable for takeoffs but helps out a lot on landings, and feels amazing amazing to turn on too. The Ride Machete has won Good Wood awards and it is for good reason - it is a great board that most people who have ridden it, rave about.

--
Nick Hyne


2010 Machete Commercial from Ride Snowboards from Ride Snowboards on Vimeo.
 

Back Flip X 2.....

Travis Parker and Ben Lynch filming for Resourceful Gnomes.  Sketchy run-in, check.  Launching thru trees, check.  Right behind your friend, check.  Of course it looks super easy.

Respect Your Elders

A movie about snowboarding and more