New Zealand World Cup events to give freeskiers first chance at Olympic qualification

It will be a short summer vacation for freeskiing athletes who want to punch an early ticket to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Halfpipe skiers vying to take part in their sport’s Olympic debut will have their first opportunity to qualify for the event at an International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup contest at Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka, New Zealand in late August.    

There is also a snowboarding World Cup contest scheduled during the week and organizers are expecting the Olympic qualifying opportunity to draw some of the World’s top talents.

“The two World Cups will give our developing athletes the opportunity to compete alongside the best in the world – an opportunity that is otherwise very hard to get through the limited entries available in major overseas competition,” CEO of Snow Sports New Zealand Marty Toomey told Stuff.co.nz. “These events will attract some of the top riders in the world due to their Olympic qualification status and 16 months out from the Olympics will give our athletes a chance to benchmark themselves against the best on home turf.”

The freestyle ski halfpipe World Cup contest is scheduled for Aug. 22 and the snowboard halfpipe is slated for Aug. 25-26.