The first ever snowmobile back-flip in New Zealand happened at the Relentless Cardrona Games tonight. Paul Thacker from the United States showed a crowd of 1500 people why he is known as one of the best riders in the world at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

“I’m super stoked”, said Thacker, “my adrenalin is pumping and I feel like a million dollars”.

On the second and last day of the games, jump height combined with tricks tended to result in podiums.

Luke Smith pulled off numerous motor bike back-flips, skier Russ Henshaw showed flawless switch tens (three full turns backwards), and snowboarder Mitch Brown took first place with a huge backside 720 (two full turns).

Smith and Henshaw always looked like winners however the snowboard big air finals were very tight. Mitch Brown’s 720 was very similar to Andrew Kennerley’s 720 but Brown had a much higher and longer jump which gave him first place.

The ski and snowboard competition was in head to head format with the top judged scorers having two judged runs under flood lights at Cardrona’s Monster Big Air.

See www.cardronagames.co.nz for full results.

Podiums:

Ski Male
1. Russ Henshaw (Australia)
2. Matt Soundy (NZ)

Snowboard Male
1. Mitch Brown (NZ)
2. Andrew Kennerley (NZ)

Ski Female
1. Keri Herman (USA)
2. Amy Sheehan (NZ)

Snowboard Female
1. Callie Conaghan (NZ)
2. Shelley Gottlieb (NZ)

Total prize money of $10,000 was given out to skiers and snowboarders tonight with the same amount given out last night. FMX and snowmobile riders competed for $10,000 each.