Lake Wanaka, New Zealand – Two-time Winter X Games Gold Medalist and number one ranked slopestyle rider, American Bobby Brown, will return to New Zealand this week to defend his Volkl NZ Freeski Open title and with many of the world’s top freeskiers competing this year, the event promises to be exciting.nSome of those hoping to knock Brown from the top of the podium are Byron Wells (NZE), Russ Henshaw (AUS), Elias Ambuehl (SUI), Gus Kenworthy (USA), Henrik Harlaut (SWE) and Manuel Manca (SUI).

The slopestyle qualifiers will be held Thursday at Cardrona Alpine Resort, weather permitting, with the finals scheduled for Friday. Saturday will see the Halfpipe finals with another list of “who’s who” in the world of freeskiing including defending champion, Taylor Seaton (USA), New Zealand national team members Byron Wells and Lyndon Sheehan, and AJ Kemppainen, who is currently ranked third overall in the world of freeskiing. Rumor has it that there may be a few more last minute surprises as well.

Due to injury New Zealand’s World Champion freeskier and number one halfpipe rider, Jossi Wells, will have to sit this one out.