Full-on, four-day festival finishes up
Queenstown Winter Festival organisers have given the new fourday format a thumbs up.
Festival manager Lisa Buckingham said it had proved very popular.
‘‘There’s been a really good vibe around town. A really good showing of locals and a lot of visitors who have come and embraced it and been part of the festivities as well.’’
A new welcome ceremony, which included two waka rowing into Queenstown Bay on dusk, was a great addition, and the newformat Birdman competition, with contestants jumping from a barge in the lake, ensured the biggest crowd to date at the public events.
She was also pleased with the settled weather, which ensured people could get out and enjoy events.
However, a layer of fresh snow on surrounding mountains yesterday was welcomed, especially by the Skin to Summit contestants who raced up Coronet Peak at dawn.
Activities on Saturday included carnival and carnage as near- naked men and women fell over one another, rafts lost their crew and a giant orange birdman flung himself into a freezing lake.
Cheers erupted from the huge crowd watching ‘‘Day on the Bay’’ action on Saturday.
Competitors braved chilly weather and cold water to compete in events that included racing through an obstacle course in underwear, a raft race, jet sprints, and the ‘‘birdmen’’.
Despite the appearance of lighthearted fun, the competition was fierce in all events.
Student Georgia Holt, 20, of Winton, pushed past other other half-naked women to cross Undy 500 finish line first.
‘‘There are a few cuts and bruises. I was frigging nervous. The water was the most challenging because it was so cold.’’
Earlier in the day, the action was on the mountain with the Macpac Mountain Bikes on Snow event.
The festival finished yesterday with the community carnival in the streets of Queenstown. Food stalls, children’s activities and live music were popular, and Arrowtown duo Brentwood - who appeared on X Factor Australia - taking to the stage. the