New Zealand Snowboard Union Is Born

Press Release

• August 27 2008
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Daisuke Murakami showing off in New Zealand
Photos Pablo Azocar

New Zealand - Two years ago the New Zealand snowboarding scene was beginning to lose it governing body, the New Zealand Snowboard Association (NZSBA). As this decline in the NZSBA’s ability to govern and support the sport of snowboarding in New Zealand continued a few people began talking about the future of snowboarding in New Zealand and came to the conclusion that the New Zealand Snowboarding scene needed a voice to take over from the NZSBA.

The initial concept was to create a union that would operate separately from any governing bodies and become a direct voice for all participants in snowboarding in New Zealand and provide support services and growth initiatives for the industry. Organizers felt at the time that no current governing body was able to provide the necessary freedom and tools to allow this union to freely administer and grow snowboarding as it saw fit.

Times have certainly changed since the initial concept was discussed, and through Snow Sports New Zealand’s new CEO Ross Palmer, the group has announced

that they are now to be known as the New Zealand Snowboard Union (NZSBU). The group sits under Snow Sports New Zealand as the official governing body for snowboarding in New Zealand.

The group’s vision is “to grow, promote and support the sport of snowboarding within New Zealand, and achieve results and recognition at an international level.”

The group’s Board of Trustees has been formed to include Robett Hollis, Reuben Yeoman, Eddie Spearing, Bevan Hall and Sam Lee. Seed money has been provided by Sports and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) to invest in the future of the NZSBU and snowboarding in New Zealand. The group’s initial objectives consist of communicating its intentions to the snow industry, to launch a branding framework, develop a database and develop and solidify a three-year strategic plan. Plans fall to commence operations within he New Zealand snow sports industry once the three-year plan is complete.