A fundraising event taking place on Saturday November 6 will help Wānaka Snowsports Club’s (WSC) rising stars take the next step. 

‘Snowmelt’ will take place at the Lake Hāwea Hotel, and it will feature a Central Otago-inspired feast plus live music from band Cemetery Road, entertainment, silent auctions and a raffle.

Money raised will help support WSC members who are planning their next phase: the impending international competitive season in the northern hemisphere.

“Covid-19, with the travel insecurity accompanying it, has severely impacted the number of international athletes training and competing on the Snow Sports NZ event calendar over the past two years,” WSC executive committee member Bonny Teat said.

“Despite this, many of our members have had excellent training on and off snow and are fully prepared to take the next step.”

Fifteen-year-old twins Fin and Cam Melville-Ives, a freeskier and snowboarder respectively, have been training hard to qualify for the 2022 Northern Hemisphere Park and Pipe National Development Camp and gain selection to the 2022 Junior World Championships team.

“The Melville-Ives twins dream of being the next Wanaka Snowsports Club members to emulate the achievements of the Wells brothers or Bilous brothers who have inspired them,” Bonny said. 

“Wood stacking, raffles, gardening work and garage sales have all added to their personal funds but this is going to be a hugely expensive experience with travel insurance, event fees, flights and accommodation and regular Covid-19 tests.”

SSNZ high performance athlete development manager Luke Hetzel said the twins were among a number of WSC athletes aiming for selection to the development camp.

“The club also has older athletes who are hoping to be named to the 2022 Olympics team for Beijing in February, to compete on the World Cup circuit or on the Freeride World Tour,” Luke said.

“Other members aim to compete in the Junior Freeride World Tour, the Alpine World Junior Champs, FIS Alpine Races and many other international events in North America and Europe during the northern hemisphere winter.” 

WSC president James Rowden said he “hopes the upcoming season would be the club’s most successful yet, and support from ‘Snowmelt’ attendees or donations will help athletes achieve this”. 

The Snowmelt event will take place at the Lake Hāwea Hotel on Saturday (November 6). 

To fill in a booking form to attend Snowmelt, click here.

PHOTO: Supplied