Queenstown, New Zealand – The Remarkables Parklife Invitational has some returning favorites and new stars in its lineup this year as the annual winter rail jam event is being relocated to the Queenstown Recreation Ground this Saturday. The new venue introduces a new category in freestyle motor cross (FMX) demonstrations.

Gates will open at 4.30 p.m. and tickets cost NZ$5 per person.  Ross Lawrence, The Remarkables Ski Area Manager, is confident this event is going to be bigger than ever.

“Families should grab their tickets from the Snow Centre to avoid queues at the gate,” Lawrence says.  “This year the venue is big enough to have licensed and alcohol free areas, and food and drink stalls to cater for everyone.  It’s going to be a great night for all ages to enjoy the best of our local and international talent.”

Forty specially invited skiers and snowboarders will be lining up to grab a prize pool of NZ$5,000 on Saturday night. Last year’s winners of the ski and snowboard divisions, Nick Brown and Gus Kenworthy, will both be back to defend their titles, and there will also be prizes for best trick and best slam.

Kenworthy will be in New Zealand fresh from skiing the northern hemisphere summer and coaching at Momentum Ski Camps on the Whistler Blackcomb glacier.  While there, Kenworthy performed a new trick that has never been done before.

“The new trick that I landed was a variation of a double rodeo 990 off an up rail on the Momentum lane” He said.  “It was just a trick that I wanted to try and thought would be fun and exciting, so the diggers on the glacier helped me build the required set up and make it happen.”

Joining the skiers and riders will be three of Australasia’s top FMX riders demonstrating tricks on 100kg dirt bikes high over the rails. FMX riders Nick Franklin of New Zealand, and Australians Matt Lewis and Brenton Drager, will arrive in Queenstown this week and will be at Earnslaw Park on Friday to meet the locals. Red Bull will also be there giving away products, and tickets for Saturday’s event will be on sale at the park from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The World Bar has a pre-party planned on Thursday night and they are hosting the official after party on Saturday, too.

“We’re aiming to wrap the whole event up by 9:30 p.m.,” Lawrence says, “with the demos starting at 5:30 p.m.  It’s going to be a great night!”