Cardrona Alpine Resort is hosting the first ever Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup in New Zealand.

The male and female halfpipe contests, to be held on August 31 and September 1, will attract up to 100 top riders from all over the world.

"This puts New Zealand and Cardrona on the world map for international snowboarders," says New Zealand’s 2006 Olympic snowboarder, Juliane Bray.

"It will allow more New Zealanders to compete than in an overseas FIS World Cup and showcase New Zealand’s potential to host further alpine events."

"To attract such a significant alpine event to Cardrona is a wonderful achievement and I am fired up to give these top snowboarders the platform to really perform for the crowds," said event director Arthur Klap.