Five helicopters worked for two hours delivering competitors, the safety crew, media and spectators to the majestic alpine location of the Rip Curl World Heli Challenge Backcountry Heli Extreme Day, the third and final day of this unique three-day freeriding event.

"The weather did what the weather does. It just shows that even after a bit of a hiccup like today, this ain't some rigid and tight competition..."— Tony Harrington, event director

Despite a favorable weather forecast, which delivered brilliant, blue sky conditions in the morning, low clouds moved in later in the day, slightly spoiling the party. The clouds created a potentially dangerous situation and resulted in eight competitors being forced to abandon their planned runs while others battled poor visibility. As a result of not having all competitors complete their runs, judges agreed to call the day a "fun, freeriding expression session" and the overall placings were awarded based on the first two days of competition which were completed in perfect backcountry conditions.

Tony Harrington, event director, was disappointed that he was unable to fully complete the Backcountry Heli Extreme Day, however, he was characteristically philosophical about the happenings of the day.

"We were all set for an epic day and got off to a great start, but it's just a shame for all the competitors that they couldn't all get the run they wanted to," said Harrington. "The backcountry — what can I say? The weather did what the weather does. But it makes me so happy to still see that everybody out there finished the day with big smiles on their faces. It just shows that even after a bit of a hiccup like today, this ain't some rigid and tight competition. It's about having fun in the mountains with some of the world's best, just freeriding and enjoying the mountain spirit."

Event organizer Kathy Harrington indicated how important safety considerations and professionalism are when taking an event like the Rip Curl deep into remote and dangerous backcountry. "It took us a long time to get going yesterday," she said. "The mountain face we were using was so huge and beautiful, but the beauty only slightly concealed the dangerous and raw nature of the environment we were operating in. To the credit of the competitors and the safety crew, we had no drama. It's super cool to get everyone back home safe and sound. A real relief!"

The arena for the Backcountry Heli Extreme Day was a massive horseshoe-shaped bowl known to locals as Odyssey. Competitors were given free reign to access any point of the natural amphitheater, giving them an array of tight chutes, tall cliffs and super steep terrain. The snow pack of 30cm (almost one foot) of fresh powder on hard-packed snow created testing conditions for competitors, with the ever present danger of sliding snow pushing competitors off their chosen lines.

A highlight of the day's mountain riding was the performance of French freeskier Sebastian Michaud who wowed onlookers with a cutting edge display of fast technical skiing and a breathtaking aerial assault in the most demanding of conditions. The feeling among his peers was that his display on the final day of competition would have elevated him into first place overall. However, his ability and inspirational attitude, both on and off the mountain over all three days, were rewarded with the honor of the Matt Hadley award for "Most Outstanding Behavior" during the Rip Curl event.

But it was 20-year-old Guerlain Chicheret (FRA), current World Extreme Skiing Champion, who was judged the overall winner of the men's skiing division. His uncanny ability to read big mountain terrain showing confidence beyond his years meant he emerged victorious over a genuine world-class field of competitors.

"Guerlain dyed his hair green for the final day of competition, a reflection of his young and carefree attitude," said head judge Dan Warbrick. "His skiing certainly showed the same sort of flair."

Pierre Yves Le Blanc (CAN), who finished 4th overall in the men's skiing division, was awarded a special prize of free entry into Rip Curl's unique Mountain Challenge freeriding event in Europe in February 2000 for his efforts in this event.

"I've been wanting to win this one for a couple of years now, and finally I did it. I'm so stoked..."— Andrea Binning, Women's Overall Skiing Winner

"This was a five-star event and I got the best prize I could ever hope to get," said Le Blanc. "Entry into the Rip Curl Mountain Challenge in Europe is just a dream come true! The film I've seen from last year's event is so awesome. Freeriding at its most pure."

"This was only the second freeriding event I've ever entered," said the 25-year-old, who was born in Montreal but spends his time wandering throughout the mountains of British Columbia in search of perfect snow conditions.

"I used to ski race but gave it up about five years ago when I discovered how much fun it is to hike into the backcountry and ride powder snow," continued Le Blanc. "It's just a different dimension out there. I love spending time in the backcountry like we did in this event. It was amazing and I've never been in a helicopter before this. I've always had to hike for powder in the backcountry. Helicopters are cool!"

Andrea Binning (AUS), who honed her extreme skiing skills on the terrain of Australia's Mount Hotham, was the runaway overall victor in the women's skiing event.

"I've been wanting to win this one for a couple of years now and finally I did it," said Binning. "I'm so stoked! It took so much energy trying to relax and focus over the past two weeks, but it's all paid off and I know this is the beginning of special things in the future. This event was such a blast. It's two weeks that I look forward to all year. Coming down to New Zealand to hang out with friends from around the world is just amazing fun."

Snowboarding: Pujol's First Win, Jeffery is Three for Three
In the men's overall snowboarding results, rookie David Pujol (SPA), who truly reflected the freeriding spirit by putting his career on hold and living out of his car to save money while training for the Rip Curl event, was rewarded for his passion by finishing in first place ahead of an impressive list of freeriders.

"He's just one of those guys that gets out there and does what he loves without any hype," Cameron Baranski, editor of Australian Snowboarder magazine, said. "I think we'll see a lot more of him in the future. I can't wait to see how he performs in the Rip Curl Mountain Challenge next year in Europe."

Karleen Jeffery (CAN), made it three overall wins in three years in the women's snowboarding division, showing the sort of ability that would have seen her place highly in the men's division.

Richard Heggarty (AUS), summed up the thoughts of many when he said, "Karleen took a highly dangerous line on the Extreme Day at a speed that surprised many of the onlooking male competitors. If something had gone wrong she would have hit a rock face at full speed. She rips."

During the awards presentation, Rip Curl marketing man Paul Lacy praised the efforts of event creators Tony and Kathy Harrington. "These guys have created a very special event indeed and are to be totally congratulated for their efforts. Their vision and passion for what they do is inspirational. They have helped create a new movement in the mountain world, a move away from the rigid confines of traditional competition to a much more free and more fun freeriding festival."

Pulsating Big Air
On Saturday night, Wanaka hosted the grand finale of the Rip Curl World Heli Challenge as snowboarders and skiers took to the air in the Pulsate Wanaka Big Air event.

The massive big air jump overlooked the beautiful township of Wanaka, where truckloads of snow had been brought into town and packed onto a huge scaffolding tower to make a jump that had competitors flying 25 meters while well over five meters above the ground.

"Competitors trained on the jump all day and it was a truly remarkable night of entertainment as some the world's best snowboarders and skiers demonstrated new school aerial tricks never before seen in the Southern Hemisphere, in front of approximately 5,000 onlookers, backed by the hard rocking sounds of Australian band Grinspoon and New Zealand's own Unleaded and Deep Kick," said Harrington. "It was a hell of a party to finish off this festival of freeriding."

— Reports supplied by Tony Harrington