Camilla Stoddart
Janina Kuzma takes her sixth straight victory at the NZ Freeski Open big-mountain comp.

The New Zealand Freeski Open wrapped up today with the North Face Big-Mountain competition at Treble Cone ski resort. Earlier this month, the NZ Freeski Open held their halfpipe and slopestyle events at Cardrona resort.

At the big-mountain contest, which was a qualifying event for the Freeride World Tour, Kiwis swept the top of the podium with Alex Lynden, from Auckland, taking first for the men and Janina Kuzma, from Wanaka, winning the women's division.

Camilla Stoddart

Alex Lynden headed to first.It's been a good competition season for Kuzma this month: She placed second at the NZ Freeski Open Slopestyle Finals on August 9 and second at the World Heli Challenge Extreme competition on August 5. This is her sixth straight victory at the North Face Big-Mountain competition, which she won with a score of 8.65 out of 10. She skied in her signature aggressive style, linking a few airs along the way. Kuzma has already earned herself a spot on the Freeride World Tour.

Lynden skied a technical fall line run from top to bottom, hitting more airs than any other competitor. He received a score of 8.425. This is his eighth time competing in the NZ Freeski Open big-mountain competition but his first win. "The eighth time's a charm," Lynden says. He plans to compete at the two remaining qualifying events to land himself a spot on the Freeride World Tour.

In the men's field, American B Devine, a park skier who threw tricks into his big-mountain line, placed second with a score of 8.325. Kiwi skier and North Face team rider Fraser McDougall got third with a score of 7.850.