Perfect conditions greeted 40 international riders as snowboard action at 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games switched to Cardrona for boarder-cross.

The sun shone on David Speiser from Germany and Japan’s Natsuko Doi who took the men’s and women’s titles on a tight, purpose built course.

World number eleven Speiser was fastest by more than half a second in the preliminary time trials and showed consistent form by winning all his races. Top ranked Aussie, Alex Pullin scooped silver after a close final. German Konstantin Schad took bronze after qualifying 22nd fastest in the time trial. First Kiwis home were William Harris and Phil Dominick in ninth and tenth places respectively.

In the women’s race, a small field could not disguise the speed and control of Natsuko Doi. Twice Japanese national champion, she blew the other competitors away on her first visit to New Zealand.

Ellie Richards, originally from New Plymouth and now living in Wanaka, gave the home fans something to cheer about finishing in second place. “Pretty stoked” with her silver medal, she said “I loved the course – it’s the best course in New Zealand ever!”

17-year-old Victoria Guinn from the USA completed the podium line-up finishing third.

Photo: David Speiser (centre) competes in the men's Snowboard Cross. Source: Getty Images
 

Sunday saw an exciting first day at the curling event with strong play, impressive scores and close games. The women opened the first round of competition with New Zealand putting in a strong performance against Japan. There wasn’t much between them during the first half of the game, but Japan pulled away in the second, eventually winning 9-3. Korea beat Australia convincingly with a final score of 14-1.

The second round was the men’s. Three of the four games were very close and hard won with New Zealand scoring two points on the final end to beat the Czech Republic 7-6; Australia beat Japan 5-3 and China beat USA 8-4. Korea beat Canada 10-3, with Canada unable to catch up after Korea scored a four in the fourth end.

The third and final round saw some exciting play by women’s teams, Korea and Japan who had a close game that went into an extra end. Japan was looking good, but Korea’s final stone wicked-in (caught the edge) off the opposition’s shot stone onto their second shot, to slide into centre of the house and win them the game 7-6.

New Zealand women went up against China, the current world champions who showed their mettle in the fourth end, knocking New Zealand out of the house and scoring an impressive 6.The game went to six ends with China winning 12-1.

Photo: Kotomi Ishizaki, Mayo Yamura and Mari Motohashi of Japan. Source: Getty Images
 

There were scenes of euphoria last night when the Ice Blacks made history at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games with their first ever win against Australia beating them in the second test of the Trans Tasman Ice Hockey Series at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. They then went on to win the penalty shoot out to take out the series.

Following their 8-2 loss to Australia on Saturday night the Ice Blacks went onto the ice as the underdogs but from the outset struck with fire to score the first goal and eventually a tough fought victory. When the fulltime siren sounded at 5-4 to the Ice Blacks the stadium’s 2,000 strong crowd erupted in jubilation.

With the double header series at 1-1 a penalty shoot out required the Ice Blacks to refocus. Then came double elation for the Ice Blacks when both Chris Eaden and Brett Speirs slotted their goals and Ice Black super goalie Zac Nothling outplayed Australia’s two attacking penalty shooters. It was game and series to the Ice Blacks.

It was veteran Ice Blacks player and Captain, Cory Down’s last game for the Ice Blacks and he said, for him, the win had been ten years in the making. “I’m ecstatic. We played to our game plan and we pulled it off.”  

Photo: Ice Blacks Adam Soffer and Paris Heyd celebrate a goal. Source: Getty Images 

Ideal weather and snow conditions lent themselves to high speed cross country sprint races at Snow Farm NZ today for the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

Nearly 100 athletes turned out for the sprint racing on a course of 842m for able-bodied and 950m for adaptive cross country skiers. The Canadians once again dominated the podium with strong results from Japanese athletes in the International Paralympics category.

Topping the men’s field Drew Goldsack from Canada out-sprint team mate Julien Nury in the final 100 metres. Gaudenz Flury from Switzerland crossed the line in third place.

In the women’s field Canadians took first, second and third. Close rivals and team mates Perianne Jones pipped Shayla Swanson to first place and Brittany Webster took third.

Photo: Gaudenz Flury of Switzerland, Sean Crooks of Canada and Drew Goldsack of Canada compete in the Sprint Cross Country Skiing Men's Final. Souce: Getty Images