World Heli-Challenge Announces 2010 Competitors. (20-Jul-10)

In less than two weeks, many of the world’s top skiers and snowboarders will converge on Wanaka, New Zealand to participate in the return of the legendary World Heli Challenge. 

Athletes from eight countries will be represented including Travis Rice, arguably one if not the rider leading the charge as snowboarding’s progression continues to skyrocket.

Several Olympians, including  Julia Mancuso (Ski Racer, USA), Andy Finch (Snowboard Halfpipe, USA), Mitchell Brown (Snowboard Halfpipe, NZL), and Juliane Bray (Snowboard Halfpipe, NZL) will be on hand to show that they also have what it takes to rip it up in the backcountry.

Last year’s winners, Ted Davenport (overall men’s skier), Janina Kuzma (overall woman’s skier), Andy Finch (overall men’s snowboarder) and Janina’s twin sister, Maria Kuzma (overall woman’s snowboarder), will all be back to defend their titles.

The world’s top ranked female big mountain skier, Ane Enderud (NOR) and snowboarder, Aline Bock (GER) will both be competing this year giving Maria and Janina some competition on their home soil.

Following is the full list of competitors.  Further details on each can be found by logging on to www.worldhelichallenge.com and clicking on “Athletes.”  Profiles of the above athletes are included below.

Male Snowboarders

Adam DeVargas, USA

Andy Bergin Sperry, USA

Andy Finch , USA

Ben Wooster, NZL

Jayson Hayle, USA

Johannes Scharl, DEU

Mitch Brown, NZL

Quentin Robbins, NZL

Ralph Backstrom, USA

Ratty Sheidow, AUS

Rydor McCune, USA

Shin Biyajima, JPN

Travis Rice, USA

Will Jackways, NZL

Male Skiers

Bernie Rosow, USA

Boen Ferguson, AUS

Charlie Timmins, AUS

Chris Booth, AUS

Christian Sirianni, AUS

Eric Zeller, GER

Laylor Lee, AUS

Leo Taillefer, FRA

Luke Potts, GBR

Mat Jackson, USA

Mike Wilson, USA

Mitch Reeves, AUS

Raphael Beazley, NZL

Sam Smoothy, NZL

Ted Davenport, USA

Tim Dutton, USA

Tom Costa, AUS

William Tressider, AUS

Female Snowboarders

Aline Bock, GER

Juliane Bray, NZL

Maria Kuzma, NZL

Shannan Yates, USA

Sunny Prather, USA

Ane Enderud, NOR

Jackie Passo, USA

Janina Kuzma, NZL

Julia Mancuso, USA

Sarah Mancuso, USA