Thursday September 1: From competitors, to volunteers, to event organisers, the Uni Snow Games has attracted a wide range of international students this year and they are making the most of their time in Wanaka.
While there are plenty of university students from New Zealand hitting the slopes this week, others are adding to their New Zealand study experience by taking in the Uni Snow Games in a variety of capacities.Julie Kochan, 19, is a student at Otago University, and is from Massachusetts in the United States. She had read about the Uni Snow Games before she arrived in New Zealand in July and immediately wanted to enter.
“I read about it online and really wanted to do it even before I got here! I’m loving it, it’s just so much fun,” she said.
“I’ve done local competitions at home, but this week was the first time I’ve done things like Gravity Cross and it was great!”
Marc Andri Riedi, 28, of Switzerland is also studying at Otago University and said the Uni Snow Games was a great chance to meet students from throughout New Zealand.
Riedi has been carving up the slopes this week, winning several gold medals to help put Otago University in good stead to defend its hold on the Michael Forrestal Memorial Shield, but admitted he was surprised to be featuring so prominently in the results.
University Sport New Zealand intern Matt Steingraber, of Wisconsin in the United States, said he had been having a great time being part of the Uni Snow Games.
“It’s a great event and everyone seems to be having a really good time. It’s great to see a combination of different athletes – some that are here just for fun and others who are here for harder competition,” he said.
Uni Snow Games volunteer Stefanie Aumann, of Austria, is studying at Massey University’s Albany campus and came to Wanaka to volunteer and to get in some skiing on the slopes of Treble Cone and Cardrona, both of which have hosted events throughout the week.
“I really wanted to go skiing and to see the South Island, and it’s been great so far,” she said.
“Volunteering has been great, I do a bit of work then get to enjoy the day.”
The Uni Snow Games are a week-long competition for tertiary students. This year is the 66th edition of the event and the week has included competitions such as Gravity Cross, Half Pipe, Giant Slalom and Slopestyle in both ski and snowboard disciplines.
The action is set to continue tomorrow (Friday September 2) with the Skull Candy-sponsored Big Air at Treble Cone, and concludes on Saturday with the cross country at Snow Farm.
University Sport New Zealand is a Wellington-based not-for-profit organisation and is the only national sporting organisation for tertiary sport in New Zealand. For more information visit our website at www.universitysport.org.nz.
For more information please contact:
Jerrie Andrews
Uni Snow Games Media Manager
027 319 9820
