Some of the biggest names in international snowboarding are making their way to Wanaka, New Zealand for the sixth Burton New Zealand Open Snowboarding Championships (NZO), which kicks off on July 29 at Snow Park NZ.

It was a bluebird day for the first round of the Parklife Youth Mini Shred competition held in the Up & Go Terrain Park at The Remarkables yesterday (8 July).

Freestyle skiing, snowboarding, motorbikes (FMX) and snowmobiling mixed with live music and top athletes make up the Relentless Cardrona Games, the largest snow sports party and event in New Zealand and held at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

The first competition of the season for young freestyle snowboarders and skiers is to be held in the Up & Go Terrain Park at The Remarkables on Tuesday 8 July.

Next year's Winter Games NZ initiative received backing from the international snow sports community at the recent FIS Congress in Cape Town, South Africa with FIS pledging its support for the event.