The Otago University Snow Sports Club (OUSSC) is taking a group of 45 students to Wanaka from 23–28 August for Uni Snow Week, a week-long event organised and run by the OUSSC executive.
The week is comprised of organised competitive and social events. The competitive events run for three of the five days, starting on 25 August. They include a giant slalom race, cross-country skiing, skate and “GNAR” events (Gaffney’s Numerical Assessment of Radness).As well as the 45 students OUSSC is bringing, the Canterbury University Boardriders Association (CUBA) is bringing another 45 students and Victoria University is bringing 15 students. It is predicted that there will be around 150 competitors.
Social events include a screening of GNAR: The Movie on Monday in preparation for the GNAR event, a points-based game that consists of performing wild things while skiing or boarding down the mountain. A BBQ and “games” between Otago and Canterbury are planned for Tuesday, a drum and bass party will be organised by promoters AUDX at Wanaka’s Mint bar on Wednesday, and the official prize giving and a gig will be held on Thursday.
OUSSC Vice President Katie Logan and club member Kieran Metherall say the focus is now more on encouraging students to get involved in the event than on the competition aspects.
In past years, around 500 competitors was a usual turnout. Numbers dropped dramatically when University Sport took over a few years ago and, according to Logan, “made the whole thing super lame”. This was due to the large hike in expenses and lack of social events. University Sport went under after the 2013 event, where the lack of competitors meant the week had to be cancelled. Students have regained control in recent years, turning it into the biggest student-run event outside OUSA.
OUSSC has doubled its members since last year, and aims to keep growing Uni Snow Week into an epic event for university students across New Zealand to participate in. Thanks to the generosity of OUSA, the OUSSC-run trip is far cheaper than in previous years, just $160 for the entire week, including transport and accommodation.
General admission to the event is available at dashtickets.co.nz for $65; this includes entry into all the official events, plus discounts on and off the mountain and discounted lift passes at Cardrona and Treble Cone.
OUSSC Vice President Katie Logan said this year’s event is expected to be different to previous years. “The idea is to make it a bit more sociable so more people get involved and bring the event back to its glory days.”