Some of the winter’s biggest Big Air mixes with awe-inspiring FMX antics and the heady dubs of Rhombus at Mt Hutt Village in Methven on August 14.
Yes, it’s mid-winter in mid-Canterbury. And it’s time for the 2004 Export Gold Methven Big Air to roar into action, for the first time as part of the three-day Methven Winter Festival which starts on Friday August 13.
The Export Gold Methven Big Air itself features some of the coolest skiers and meanest snowboarders in the country. They’ll be pulling huge air off the 16 metre-high floodlit scaffolding ramp and kicker covered in 60 cubic metres of Mt Hutt’s best white gold.
Mixed in is a trans-Tasman Freestyle MotoX clash to rival the Bledisloe Cup. New Zealand’s youngest rider – 16 year-old Ryan Laskey – and Kiwi World Champ representative Luke Smith take on Australia’s wildest daredevils.
On the entertainment front, renowned dub and bass group Rhombus heads the bill during the Big Air competition while local rockers My Dad’s Tractor plough the way for the main act. The organisers also promise the best-ever fireworks display to date.
Cornerstone Roots plays the Export Gold After Party at Samuel’s Saloon from about 11.30pm.
The Methven Winter Festival features three days of skate comps, ice sculptures, an arts and crafts fair, tug-o-war, horizontal bungy and lots of evergreen farm antics such as wood chopping and sheaf tossing.
Export Gold Methven Big Air event organiser Karyn Heald says this year’s will be Methven’s biggest Big Air ever.
“We’re expecting more than 12,000 people to converge on our great little town and we’ve got a massive line-up.”
“It’s guaranteed; lots of primo action and big bails. The spotlight will be on the ramp and the riders for a great night.”
Craig Douglas is the coordinator of the Jim Beam Freestyle MotoX and he’s promising some top head-to-head clashes on the bikes. “The Aussies are steaming – they reckon the Wallabies were robbed so it’s all on for a heated competition”
The Export Gold Methven Big Air competition timetable on Saturday 14 August is:
4:30pm – competitors warm up
5:30pm – Gates Open Export Gold Methven Big Air starts
7:15pm – first session of the Jim Beam FMX competition
7:45pm – fireworks display
8:00pm – more FMX action
8:30pm – ski and snowboard Big Air finals
At the conclusion of finals there’s prize giving, more FMX action and Rhombus live on an outside stage.
Entry is $5 for adults, $10 for a family (2 adults, 2 children) and $2 for additional children and tickets can be purchased via the four entry points at the main roads into the town.
Some of the winter’s biggest Big Air mixes with awe-inspiring FMX antics and the heady dubs of Rhombus at Mt Hutt Village in Methven on August 14.
Mixed in is a trans-Tasman Freestyle MotoX clash to rival the Bledisloe Cup. New Zealand’s youngest rider – 16 year-old Ryan Laskey – and Kiwi World Champ representative Luke Smith take on Australia’s wildest daredevils. 
Craig Douglas is the coordinator of the Jim Beam Freestyle MotoX and he’s promising some top head-to-head clashes on the bikes. “The Aussies are steaming – they reckon the Wallabies were robbed so it’s all on for a heated competition”