Wānaka snowsports athletes Finley Melville Ives and Rocco Jamieson have reached the podium in their respective Big Air competitions today (Monday September 30) at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Both athletes were competing in the FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Big Air with Finley finishing third in the freeski event and Rocco third in snowboard.

The event was held in perfect conditions with more than 60 ski and snowboard athletes (representing seven nations) seeking valuable FIS and ANC points.

Lucas Ball (16, Nelson) was crowned the men's FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Freeski Big Air champion putting down a technical triple cork 1800 with a safety grab. Australia’s Cameron Waddell finished in second place, with Finley in third. 

The men’s snowboard field was stacked with World Cup podium athletes dropping in alongside up and coming local riders. Japan’s Hiroto Ogiwara took the win, with Arrowtown’s Lyon Farrell (25) in second place and Rocco in third.

Madeleine Disbrowe (Queenstown, 16) won the women’s Freeski Big Air.

The Cardrona NZ Freestyle Nationals is being held at Cardrona Alpine Resort this week (September 30 – October 4). The age division NZ National Champions will be crowned in Skier-Cross, Boarder-Cross, Freeski & Snowboard Halfpipe and Freeski and Snowboard Slopestyle. 

At the end of the week the overall National Champions will also be crowned for all age divisions.

PHOTO: Ross Mackay