Shaun White Confirmed for Winter Games NZ

Halfpipe Olympic gold medallist, multiple X Games champion, and possibly the best known snowboarder in the world, Shaun White, is confirmed to start at 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games, competing in the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Halfpipe on Wednesday 26 August at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

White recently made history at the Burton NZ Open with a winning run that featured double cork and spin combinations never before seen in competition. He joins fellow Olympic champions, snowboarders Hannah Teter (USA) and Kelly Clark (USA), cross country skier Chandra Crawford (CAN) and alpine skier Anja Paerson (SWE) and X Games champions skier-x athletes Stanley Hayer (CAN) and Aleisha Cline (CAN) and freeskiers Jon Olsson (SWE), Xavier Bertoni (FRA), Anna Segal (AUS).

The 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games starts today with the official opening Ceremony in downtown Queenstown featuring sky diving, jet boating, a traditional powhiri (Maori welcome) and New Zealand’s Governor-General. The sporting action gets underway on Saturday 22 August with the all star freeski slopestyle at The Remarkables.

100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games is the largest snow sports event in the Southern Hemisphere and the only event of its kind outside of the Winter Olympics. It will take place at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Farm, Naseby and Dunedin from 21-30 August 2009. It will feature disciplines of alpine skiing, free skiing, x-country skiing, snowboarding, curling, figure skating and adaptive snow sports as well as the demonstration sports of winter triathlon and natural luge. For further information visit www.wintergamesnz.com