CEO Arthur Klap said the push for the later timeframe into September came largely from Tourism New Zealand, NZSki, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism. “We followed this up with wide consultation with other groups including accommodation providers airlines and snow sports teams and there was an overwhelming tick for staging the Games at the start of the shoulder season. Obviously at that time Queenstown and Wanaka are less busy and the level of support from everyone involved can be that much greater.” Lake Wanaka Tourism General Manager James Helmore anticipated that the new dates ”will certainly help drive extra business at a time when we have the room, plus September  weather is typically more settled so the media coverage should be able to capture Wanaka in all its bluebird glory.”

Destination Queenstown CEO Graham Budd said scheduling Winter Games NZ in late winter and early spring was more closely aligned with the promotional group’s objective to profile September as an excellent time to visit the region for a spring skiing and holiday experience. “We think that the international reputation and profile of the Games can go a long way to helping share this message to potential visitors, both snow enthusiasts and first timers alike.” Klap said initially there was a concern as to whether the snow conditions would be suitable for alpine events in September. “However, after studying snow data collected over many years it was clear that races have been successfully run in September at Coronet Peak and NZSki saw no problem with the date change.” NZSki CEO Paul Anderson said it would be much easier in 2017 for staff at Coronet Peak, which will host at least four giant slalom and slalom races during the Games, to focus on the event. “The mountain will not be so busy and we see no risk with the snow conditions by changing the timing. Our experience is that the two weeks from August 25-September 10 are still good for ski racing and we can continue to assist in providing top class events.”

Similarly Cardrona Alpine Resort’s owner Real Journeys welcomes the later timing for the Games. CEO Richard Lauder said “snow conditions remain great at Cardrona in September and are particularly good for freeskiers and snowboarders. The tourism market in the area weakens slightly at that time so a change of dates will provide more accommodation and entertainment options for the influx of visitors for the Games”. The feedback from international snow sports teams was “universally positive,” according to Audi quattro Winter Games NZ Sports Manager Iona Bentley. “In fact, the US Men’s Alpine team indicated they would rearrange their training schedules to fit the new dates enabling their team to compete in the Games. Similarly Guenther Birgmann of the Treble Cone Ski Academy, whose skiers make up a large part of the international field, welcomed the date change because it meant the Games competition would be at the end of the Academy’s training period and much less disruptive for athletes.”

In previous years Winter Games NZ alpine events have been staged only at Coronet Peak but Klap said the new dates meant Treble Cone could potentially become involved either in 2017, or in the future, if the green light is given for the event to become an annual one. “In particular Treble Cone could host the alpine Super G or the IPC alpine ski racing. However, holding alpine races at Treble Cone would be subject to significant development work on the mountain and we are currently preparing a case to put to the ski area management. But it is a distinct possibility.” With the change in dates the board of Winter Games NZ has also agreed to the introduction of a 17-day programme in 2017, historically run over ten days. “This will certainly give us more flexibility in scheduling the events,” said Klap, “and allows for contingencies such as weather postponements.

The spreading of the programme will also meet the demands of media making it easier for news outlets to cover all the different events in Queenstown and Wanaka along with the international curling competition in Naseby. Prime Minister witnesses ground breaking agreement with Chinese Ski Association Chinese Ski Association Vice President Liu Chengliang and Audi quattro Winter Games NZ CEO Arthur Klap following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing witnessed by Prime Minister John Key.

A ground breaking agreement with far reaching significance for snow sports in New Zealand was signed recently in Beijing, in the presence of Prime Minister John Key, between the Winter Games NZ Trust and the Chinese Ski Association. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations ensures the Chinese Ski Association (CSA) will use New Zealand and the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ, as their training and competition base during the northern hemisphere summers from 2017 until 2021, in the lead up to the Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022.

Audi quattro Winter Games NZ CEO Arthur Klap, who was in China to sign the agreement, said New Zealand had the jump on the rest of the world with the creation of the ongoing and valuable relationship with the Chinese Ski Association. “This is a momentous step for snow sports in New Zealand. In fact it is most unusual anywhere in the world to have a sporting organisation achieve a Memorandum of Understanding with a national sports body. It was also significant having Prime Minister John Key witness the signing, underlining the importance of the agreement.” Winter Games NZ Trust Chairman Sir Eion Edgar said the CSA recognised, by striking the agreement, that the Games are a world leader in the delivery of a quality winter sports event. “There has been a lot of work go into the landmark deal. The Chinese do not enter into agreements like this lightly but they have made it clear they want to be closely associated with us as they build up to hosting the Winter Olympics.” He said the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ have developed their internationally recognised reputation in a relatively short time, after launching the inaugural Games only seven years ago, in 2009. “Prior to the Sochi Olympics we had organisers shadowing our team and at the past two events the South Koreans have sent a delegation to learn from us. This agreement with China is yet another positive step and we believe it demonstrates even further the need for the leading New Zealand snow sports event to be held annually rather than biennially.”

China is making a major investment into its ski industry and has a target of 30 million skiers and snowboarders by 2021. Klap said while the Chinese have been granted the 2022 Winter Olympics the profile of snow sports is still quite low in China. “This is an issue for the CSA which sees Winter Games NZ events as pivotal for promoting their leading athletes and building that profile.” He said there are excellent benefits for the Games which includes both the CSA and Winter Games NZ seeking mutually advantageous joint sponsorships. “The CSA will also assist us in obtaining broadcast coverage on CCTV in China during our events and in return we will help with training opportunities for Chinese snow sports teams, and provide advice and on the ground support for the organisation of snowboard and freestyle World Cups, leading up to the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Chinese snow sports officials will be invited to shadow Winter Games NZ officials and we will facilitate New Zealand expertise in ski field management, snow management, grooming and technology to assist the CSA and Chinese ski resorts.” Klap said the Memorandum of Understanding was a “win-win” for both organisations and most importantly it would put New Zealand at the forefront of the world’s ski industry in China. “If people in China are looking at skiing overseas they will choose New Zealand. The spin-offs for Central Otago in particular will be major and worth millions of dollars to the region.” Sport New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Miskimmin paid tribute to Audi quattro Winter Games NZ which have established themselves as “a key event on the global snow sports calendar”. “It is a testament to the team at Winter Games NZ that their expertise is now being sought by the CSA in the lead up to the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. This partnership will deliver real benefits for both countries.”

Games and Audi NZ win Sport New Zealand award Winning the Best Commercial Partnership Award at the 2016 NZ Sport and Recreation Awards, for its partnership with Audi NZ, provided excellent recognition for the world-class Audi quattro Winter Games NZ, according to CEO Arthur Klap. The Games are billed as one of the top five winter sports events in the world and in 2015 attracted 600 elite snowsports athletes from around the world to Queenstown, Wanaka and Naseby to compete in alpine skiing, adaptive skiing, cross country skiing, curling, freeskiing and snowboarding, including several World Cup events. The biennial event is consistently on the podium at the annual Sport New Zealand awards winning the prestigious Event Excellence Award for the best event in New Zealand in 2009, the Best Commercial Partnership Award for its partnering with Tourism New Zealand in 2011 as the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games, and the coveted Event Excellence Award again for the 2013 event.

Klap said the Games entered a successful partnership with Audi New Zealand in 2013 creating the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ. Following the 2013 event the partners jointly approached Audi AG (the home of Audi in Germany) to gain additional support for the naming sponsorship for 2015 and 2017. The ensuing sponsorship was seen as a major coup in terms of taking a local sponsorship to a global level, based on a sound case developed to prove the benefit to Audi and the capability of Winter Games NZ to deliver a quality, high profile event. Klap said winning this year’s Best Commercial Partnership Award acknowledged the development and the strength of the relationship between the Games and Audi NZ. “Through the involvement of Audi AG in 2015 both the Games and Audi NZ were able to concentrate more on the activation of leveraging the event.” He said one of the leveraging highlights in 2015 was the “pop up” glass restaurant, set up by Audi NZ at the Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley, at the site where it runs the renowned Audi ice experience driving programme during winter. “The food was delivered by Audi quattros to the restaurant where guests were treated to a sumptuous three course banquet prepared by celebrity chef and Audi ambassador Simon Gault. It was a huge success and underlined the importance of our partnership enabling Audi NZ to showcase its innovative quattro technology in an outstanding winter sports location.”

Dean Sheed, General Manager, Audi New Zealand considered the award is recognition of the strength, cohesiveness and mutual respect in the partnership between Audi New Zealand and the Winter Games NZ organising committee, as well as the incredibly hard-working event crew who make the Games happen. “Audi invented the legendary quattro four wheel drive system in the snowy conditions of wintertime Europe. The sporty quattro technology is in our DNA and its capabilities in challenging alpine conditions are a natural fit for the Games,” he said. “We are a brand that focuses on world class performance and we are proud to be the partner of the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ, recognising the world class performance of both Kiwi and global athletes right here in New Zealand.” Klap said Audi will continue as naming sponsor for the 2017 Winter Games NZ and the company is a vital part of discussions for a potential annual event through to 2021. “We welcome that involvement and look forward to a positive outcome.”