Victory For Kiwi Freeride Skiers At Invitation Only Swiss Big Mountain Event (19-Feb-09)

St. Moritz, Switzerland, February 19, 2009 - NZ Freeski Team members Frazer McDougall

NZ Freeski Team members Fraser McDougall and Janina Kuzma have this week won gold while team mate Sam Smoothy took equal third at the Engadinsnow Big Mountain event held on the steep face of Mt Corvatsch in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

In snow conditions that were reported as the best in 35 years, McDougall who was enlisted as a wild card entrant, surprised all by stealing the show with what was described by the judges as the most fluid run on a an extremely technically difficult slope.

“I was stoked to be up on the podium,” said McDougall. “The comp was incredibly well run and it was a boost to have my teammates on the podium with me.”

Up against a truly international field of 43 riders from 10 countries, McDougall who is a member of the NZ Freeski Development Squad felt the pressure to perform.

 “It was pretty scary being invited to my first overseas comp all expenses paid. Arriving in to St. Moritz on the train I could see the Corvatsch face and it looked pretty comparable to the Treble Cone Chutes, my home field, and it was packed with snow.” said McDougall.

Teammate Sam Smoothy, 22, Wanaka, wasn’t far behind, sharing third place with Agentinian Lucas Swieykowski. Second place went to Sebastian Hannermann of Germany.

In the women’s field, the New Zealand Freeski Team’s top female, Kuzma, 23, Wanaka, emerged victorious, while her twin sister Maria placed third in the snowboard division.

Kuzma has already secured a number of titles this season, including a win at the Canadian Open as well as making the podium in her very first World Tour Qualifying event last week.

Kuzma and Smoothy are members of the Freeski Association of New Zealand (FSANZ) National Freeski Team, while McDougall is a member of the FSANZ National Development Squad.