BEANIE GETS TOP RESULT IN BIG MOUNTAIN HELI-FINAL

Nikita UK rider Jacobina Milne-Home made it to the Icebreaker Big Mountain Heli-Accessed Finals in Wanaka, NZ as part of the Volkl New Zealand Free Ski Open. Staged in the Harris Mountains, it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s only heli-accessed big mountain competition.

The rider judged women’s final was tightly fought with Beanie clinching second place overall, less than a point behind winner Janina Kuzma. Judges agreed that despite the changeable conditions, the standard of skiing was super strong.

Beanie breezed the qualifiers taking 1st on day one and 2nd on day two, securing her place in the heli-finals. Riders got three runs from the heli and despite being slightly nervous, never a bad thing, Beanie was very excited to be taking part.

The finals took place… with a vertical drop of approximately 1,000 feet. The first run was over steep but rolling terrain with competitors able to inspect the course. The second was more intimidating with options for couloirs and cliff drops as well as steep open faces. Competitors could only sight their line from the helicopter before dropping in, adding to the technical challenge.

Straight after the event Beanie said: “We finally got the results of the Big Mountain, on Wednesday night. I finished second overall, had an awesome day and we got some amazing footage, as it was all filmed from the heli. I just missed first place by a point and 0.04 in the finals but was stoked on the competition.”

For all news and results check out www.freeskier.co.nz