Canadian Matts Kuli Wins the Billabong Slopestyle Jam at Snow Park, Wanaka

August 25-26: Snow Park, Wanaka New Zealand
$15,000 cash and Prizes

www.billabong.com.au

Canadian snowboarder Matts Kuli won the Billabong Slope Style Jam today at
Snow Park, Wanaka. In a pattern that became the norm throughout the day, it
was Kuli's first of three runs scoring 23.7 that sent him to the top of the
podium. Kuli who qualified second for the finals has been staying in New
Zealand since the start of July snowboarding and getting in practice in the
Canadian 'off season'.

Risto matilla Switch Back 720.

"Yeah I am stoked to win out here in New Zealand, yeah.I am so stoked right
now" commented Kuli. "There were heaps of good riders in the final today,
not only from New Zealand but all over the world and to win the event is
awesome". Commenting on the set up at Snow Park Kuli was quick to rate the
place as world class "The slopestyle course was amazing and to have a
mountain that is specifically designed like this is out of this world".

Kuli's closest opponent was 21 year old New Zealander Stef Zeestraten who
scored 22.3 on his second run of the day. Zeestraten was the only New
Zealander to finish in the top three outscoring Risto Matia of Finland by a
mere 0.3. The Fin managed to place one better than his 2005 performance
when he finished fourth.

Jamie Anderson (USA) made it a one-two of the major divisions for the
international contingent that comprised 14 of the 25-strong field in the
finals. Anderson was the standout female performer of the event going huge
on the jumps and throwing in big 360s in doing so.

Scoring 24.0 in the final Anderson was delighted with her win. "I actually
came over to New Zealand to shoot for a video and didn't even know about the
event" commented Anderson. "The conditions haven't been too great for
filming so I thought I would enter the event while I was here". When asked
about her stay in New Zealand she couldn't speak highly enough of the place
"Yeah I love it, I love the mountains and I love Snow Park, I really want to
come back here as much as possible".

Finishing second in the Women's was the 2005 defending champion Izumi Amaike
(JPN) who scored 22.1 followed by Austria's Claudia Fliri in third (14.9).

Billabong Pro Risto Matilla - Switch Backside 7

Mitchell Brown continued his good form from day 1 when he qualified third
for both divisions to go on and win the final of the Billabong Junior Men's.
Brown dominated from the outset with the first of his three runs being his
highest scoring run - 22.2 out of 30. For his efforts, Brown gains
qualification into the Billabong World Junior Championships in France - a
'Ticket To Ride' event. Top qualifier from day one - James Hamilton (NZE)
could not hold off Brown and had to settle for second scoring 21.5 with Andy
Kennerly (NZE) finishing in third (21.3).

Rebecca Sinclair (Taupo) dominated the Junior Women scoring 15.5 out of 30
on her second run of the final. It was a brilliant win for the 14 year old
Sinclair who also contested the Grommets division with the boys placing a
very respectable 7th place. After claiming she "didn't have a very good run
in the grommets" she was still able to beat several boys! Placing second
was Christine Prior (NZE) with a score of 10.7 slightly ahead of Charlotte
Trundle (9.0).

Boardslide to fakie on the street rail

Ben Stewart made it a three-peat today winning the Under 15 'Groms' division
for the third time in a row. Stewart came out firing on his first run to
set the pace scoring 22.2 out of a possible 30. The diminutive 14 year old
who has a further year in the division bases himself in Wanaka over the
winter period before returning back to the North Island for summer each
year. Nick Doucette (NZE) placed a close second in the final scoring 20.2
slightly ahead of Wes Walsh the sole international rider from USA who scored
19.3.

Spinning it up over the 60 footer

Full results from the Billabong Slopestyle Jam are as follows:

Open Men
1st Matts Kuli (CAN)
2nd Stef Zeestraten (NZE)
3rd Risto Matia (FIN)

Open Women
1st Jamie Anderson (USA)
2nd Izumi Amaike (JAP)
3rd Claudia Fliri (AUT)

Junior Men (U/20)
1st Mitchell Brown (NZE)
2nd James Hamilton (NZE)
3rd Andy Kennerly (NZE)

Junior Women (U/20)
1st Rebecca Sinclair (NZE)
2nd Christine Prior (NZE)
3rd Charlotte Trundle (NZE)

Grommets (U/16)
1st Ben Stewart (NZE)
2nd Nick Doucette (NZE)
3rd Wes Walsh (USA)

The Billabong Slopestyle Jam at Snow Park is the third and final event of
the Billabong Freeway Tour which has made its way through Thredbo and Hotham
in Australia.

All riders wound down the finals day of the Billabong Slopestyle Jam event
party at the Woolshed at Snow Park to the tunes of Elemeno P and a raft of
top DJs at the MTV after party.

Powering the Billabong Slopestyle Jam at Snow Park for 2005 is MTV,
Panasonic, Coca Cola, Von Zipper, Kustom, UV Triple Guard, Clearasil, the
New Zealand Snowboarding Association and Snowpark.