“The World Heli Challenge offers the athletes the best conditions of which to ultimately test their all round ability as a snow athlete. The unrivalled camaraderie among athletes, the two weeks of continuous adrenaline activities that the Wanaka region is renowned for and the incredible helicopter skills of Harvey Hutton and the Back Country Helicopter pilots make this event quite simply one of a kind” said event organizer Tony Harrington.

The are only 50 spots available for athletes, divided into 18 male snowboarders, 18 male skiers, 7 female boarders and 7 female skiers.Some of the named athletes to take part in the World Heli Challenge include:

Matthew Annetts, Jackson Hole: Overall title winner of the 2009 North Face Masters

Janina Kuzma: Ski winner of the Engadine Snow in St Moritz

Maria Kuzma: 3rd in the Engadine and 5th in the World Tour Finals in Verbier, Switzerland

Ralph Backstrom: 4th place overall North Face Masters World Tour

Rachel Sheidow: 2 x Dicks Ditch J.H. winner and former 3rd Alyeska Extremes, Alaska

Two-time World Champion and inaugural World Heli Challenge Champion Kiwi Jossie Wells had his first taste of international acclaim when he was a fore runner of this event at just 9 years old. This time he’s back as an athlete along with his protégé brother Byron – two of the hottest ski kids in the world making big waves.