An expanded Southern Hemisphere Tour boasts events in both New Zealand and Australia, for the first time featuring a TTR Five Star downunder and increased access to local riders with events rated right through One Star. There have never been so many events, nor as many points up for grabs on the Southern Hemisphere leg, with something on offer for Tour Title challengers and rookies alike.
Heavy early season powder dumps set the scene for epic contest infrastructures in the Down Under. The marauding field of international riders, set to invade the southern climes, will need to be on their toes to out gun the rapidly improving locals with home ground advantage.
The first stop in the Southern Hemisphere is at the World renown Snowpark, at Wanaka, New Zealand, for the first TTR Five Star event ever held south of the equator, the Burton New Zealand Open, August 6 to 12. Following a spectacular 06/07 edition the Burton New Zealand Open was deservedly elevated to a TTR Five Star this season, offering 850 TTR Ranking points in both the Halfpipe and Slopestyle formats.
Respected as one of the best parks worldwide, TTR International heavy weights like Antti Autti(FIN), Kevin Pearce(USA), Scotty Lago(USA), Danny Davis(USA), Risto Mattila(FIN), Mason Aguirre(USA), Kazu Kokubo(JPN), Molly Aguirre(USA), Kelly Clark(USA), Hana Beaman(USA), Elena Hight(USA), and many more will line up against the best of the South has to offer including Mitchell Brown (NZL), Jake Koia(NZL), Will Jackways(NZL), Clint Allen(AUS), Ryan Tiene(AUS), Abby Lockhart(NZL), Emily Thomas(AUS) and Holly Crawford(AUS).
The snowboard action will be pedal to the metal, Tour lead jostling guaranteed as riders give it all for a the NZ$50,000 cash prize purse and TTR Five Star ranking points. More information on the Burton New Zealand Open at www.opensnowboarding.com
Less than two weeks later the Tour crosses the Tasman for the Australian Tour stops. After a tragic cancellation of the scheduled Australian events last season due to a disastrous snow season, early season dumps have the snowfields pumping, conditions not an issue. Australia welcomes it's first TTR Four Star event to Perisher Blue Resort, NSW, for the Garnier Fructis Australian Open over the 22nd to 26th of August.
Many of the International field participating in New Zealand are expected to make the three-hour flight for the 700 TTR Ranking points up for grabs in the Slopestyle and Halfpipe formats. More information on the TTR Four Star Garnier Fructis Australian Open go to: www.opensnowboarding.com
Hot on the heels of the Garnier Fructis Australian Open is the testing TTR Three Star, Stylewars 007 presented by Oakley in Falls Creek, Victoria, over the 27th August to 2nd of September. While Stylewars was unfortunately cancelled due to lack of snow last season, it holds a piece of history being the first Southern Hemisphere event to be accredited onto the TTR World Snowboard Tour in the 05/06 season.
Any concerns about the limitations of creativity possible within the TTR Tour are dispelled as Stylewars 007 presented by Oakley runs a non-stop week of shredding action. Employing a Teams format battled out in different sessions on different features - to top this result list you need to be able to ride it all. Riders hunt for team titles and individually battle it out for the 550 TTR Ranking Points up for grabs.
More information on the TTR Three Star, Stylewars 007 presented by Oakley go to: www.stylewars.com.au
New for this season, and another demonstration of the determination of the TTR World Snowboard Tour's open the Tour to more riders of all levels with the addition of the four stop Australian Junior Series. Four different dates and three different formats, the Australian Junior Series offers the perfect testing ground and platform for the riders of tomorrow to test their wares while gaining international recognition on the TTR World Snowboard Tour Ranking list. The Australian Junior Series runs through August and September. For more information on the Australian Junior Series go to: www.perisherblue.com.au
The Confirmed TTR World Snowboard Tour Southern Hemisphere Calendar:
Date / Rating / Event / Format(s) / Location
July 29th / ONE(1) STAR / Australian Junior Series / SS / Perisher Blue Resort
Aug 6th - 12th / FIVE(5) STAR / Burton New Zealand Open / SS & HP / Snowpark, Wanaka
Aug 18th - 19th / ONE(1) STAR / Australian Junior Series / BA & HP / Perisher Blue Resort
Aug 22nd - 26th / FOUR(4) STAR / Garnier Fructus Australian Open / SS & HP / Perisher Blue Resort
Aug 27 - Sep 2nd / THREE(3) STAR / Stylewars 007 by Oakley / Combo / Falls Creek, VIC.
Sep 9th / ONE(1) STAR / Australian Junior Series / HP / Perisher Blue Resort
For more information on the Southern Hemisphere events please go to:
www.opensnowboarding.com
www.stylewars.com.au
www.perisherblue.com.au
www.ttrworldtour.com