Neil Williman
Neil has been competing in the Freeride World Tour Qualifiers(FWQ) for the last 2 years, which is the highlest level of Freeride competition outside the Freeride World Tour (FWT). His results from the '10-'11 season were good enough to place him in the top 5 and qualify him for the FWT '11-'12, where he will be competing against the top 20 male freeride skiers in the world.
From: Blenhiem, New Zealand.
Sponsors: Fischer Skis, Boots, Bindings & Poles, Surfanic Outerwear(Jackets, Pants, Beanies and Gloves), Smith Optics & Helmets, Planks, Incline Collections.
Craig Murray
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Age: 13
Skiing for: 10 years
Favorite Fields: Mt Olympus, Temple Basin, Snow Park.
Been skiing over seas in: Japan and California and Nevada.
Favorite terrain: Mainly Big mountains but also love to play around and compete in the park.
Best Results:
- 4th NZ Junior Nationals youth divisoin Slope Style, 3rd kiwi in big mountain.
- Junior chill series 1st place U15 round 1 and 2 and overall.
- Temple Basin black diamond big mountain, 2nd place open mens day one, fifth overall.
- 2010-2011 Canterbury U15 slope style winner.
- Mt Hutt mini shred U16 2010-2011 winner.
Next Mission: Off to BC Canada at the start of January 2012 for a month, to compete in the Junior Canadian open and ski pow! He Cant wait till next season!
Jordan Raymond
2010 was Jordan's first year skiing at Cardrona. He spent 4 weeks training and competed in his
first Junior Nationals – finishing 3rd in Skier X & 5th in Slopestyle.
This year he spent 4 weeks training at Breck & Keystone in Colorado over January – had
an amazing time and is keen to get back there! It must have paid off – he made the NZ Youth
squad this year and came 3rd in the Snowpark Junior slopestyle. Unfortunatley he ruptured his ACL
later that day & spent the rest of the season at home!
He aims to keep entering National comps and head back overseas for training – hoping
to spend the 2012 season in Wanaka and enter everything on. His ultimate goal is X-Games &
Olympics.
Age: 15
Hometown: Auckland
Sponsors: Surfanic Outwear, Armada Skis, Pow, Bern, Spacecraft, Snowcentre
Best Mountains: Cardies & Breck (& Snowplanet for year round training)
What he does off the hill: Skateboarding, Guitar, Chill with Xbox & Ski DVD's
Favourite Music: Six60, Jack Johnson & Hip hop
Megan Blackley
Megan is 10 and lives in Wanaka where she is lucky enough to have 3 different ski fields to ski on. She goes to Hawea Flat school and in the winter her school is allowed to ski on Fridays. This year, (2011) she has competed in several freeski park competitions though she was mainly focusing on big mountain. One of the great competitions was the mini mountain at Treble Cone - Where she got a third place. Treble Cone is the main mountain she skies – it has great off piste and powder. One her highlights this year was skiing with Janina Kuzma – NZ's top female big mountain skier – they had some great runs. She skies in Surfanic gear – the underclothing keeps her warm and the jacket matches her helmet and googles which she thinks is really awesome. She skis three days a week in winter time and some nights at Snow Park. Skiing is one of her favourite things to do, she's been doing it since she was two.
Goals: To to win the World Heli Challenge and ski all around the world.
Sponsors: Surfanic Outwear, Snow Zone
