This weekend sees three days of helicopter competition in the powder fields of the Mount Aspiring National Park in New Zealand.

Over 75 international competitors are currently in New Zealand at the resorts of Treble Cone and Cardrona in preparation for the event, which includes an Extreme Big Mountain event, Free Ride and Chinese Downhill.

The Backcountry Heli Skiing operation is responsible for executing what has been globally renowned as the "benchmark" of modern day ski and snowboard competition. Five helicopters, air traffic controllers and a very experienced ground crew work as a well oiled machine, moving over 100 event competitors, officials and media into the mountains on each of the three days.

"The logistics of running such an event as this is enormous. We have a team of dedicated, passionate and professional people...with a clear understanding of the sport", stated event creator Tony Harrington.

"Even with no title sponsor [Ripcurl have dropped their sponsorship] for 2001, it goes above and beyond the level of any other year with industry acceptance as one of the great snow sporting events on the world calendar".

A global broadcast deal is in place with a total TV reach of over 2 billion people. British viewers can views last years event on Media Player at ITV.net.

Biggest Line Up Ever

A biggest line up ever of women for the event are confirmed. Three time World Heli Challenge and multiple Alaskan King of the Hill Champion Karleen Jeffery from Canada, Switzerlands ISF World Half Champion Martina Tscharner, NZ's own World Cup event winner Julianne Bray and long time event competitor Rene Hollis are just a few of the boarders. In the skiing, NZ Pip Simmonds and Mitch Watchorn meet Austrian Connie Danzl and U.S. skiers Shelly Benoit and Nicole Pelitiere among others.

In the Men's skiing, Canadians Marc Andre Bellieveu, current US Pro Ski Champion Ove Nygren and Petter Bolstadt from Norway, Bryce Lequertier from France are just a few of the big names to meet up against kiwi's Geoff Small and Todd Windle. Geoff and Todd were respectively announced NZ Ski Councils Skier of the Year and Free Skier of the Year in 2000. Small has won three consecutive North American Championships inn Kirkwood, California and was overall North American tour champion. Windle placed 3rd overall in on the IFSA World Tour of Free Skiing and both are leading the pack of a formidable kiwi contingent against the internationals.

Swiss snowboarders Jose Carron, Danny Sappa, Franco Ferger are up against Frances Francois Mazet, Australia's Richard Heggarty and Russel Holte, as well as a host of other international rippers including Axel Gmeiner, Jeff Clarke, Flow Daniaux and more. Again the kiwi contingent is stronger then ever before with Sam Deavoll, Mel Thomas, Glenn Legget and Jamie Basset confirmed in the lineup.

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