Kiwi Winter Olympian Janina Kuzma is leading an expedition to be the first all-female ski group to ascend and ski all four of New Zealand’s skiable volcanoes.
Kuzma, NZ’s No.1 female halfpipe and big mountain skier, will this week climb Mt Taranaki, Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Ruapehu with Australian Winter Olympian Anna Segal and Swedish Freeride World Tour skier Evelina Nilsson during a week-long mission. They will be capturing their adventure for a new film for The North Face, 4 Volcanoes.
4 Volcanoes will recount the expedition, telling the story of female adventurers conquering new challenges. The film will eventually be screened at mountain film festivals across the globe.
Wanaka-based Kuzma, who stars in the internationally-acclaimed, feature-length Shades of Winter film series, came up with the idea to ascend and ski the volcanoes because it was a project entirely different to any other adventure she's been on.
"I wanted to do a story on how different the North Island is to the South Island," she explains.
"We have the amazing Southern Alps in New Zealand but we also have skiable active volcanoes on the North Island. In addition to all the climbing we will be doing, I wanted to showcase the local ski clubs like Manganui Ski Area and Tukino Ski Field - these ski areas represent the quintessential Kiwi ski experience.
"What's also important to me is to tell a story that's empowering for other women to challenge themselves, and to inspire the female adventurer," Kuzma adds.
Kuzma has partnered with Subaru New Zealand for the athletes' road trip experience. The Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester will transport the athletes and two videographers for The North Face throughout their journey. They departed from Auckland last week for Manganui Lodge in Egmont National Park, before expecting to summit Mt Taranaki (2518m) this week. They'll then head to Tukino Lodge to climb Mt Ruapehu (2797m), followed by ascents of Mt Ngauruhoe (2287m) and Mt Tongariro (1967m). The group has been liaising with local iwi and have the necessary Department of Conservation permits for the excursion. They will also be enlisting the help of mountain guides.
Subaru of New Zealand Managing Director Wallis Dumper says the company is excited to be involved with this epic adventure.
“When we heard about Janina’s plans to ski the country’s four volcanos we had to be involved as this kind of mission epitomises what Subaru is all about. Kiwis being able to ‘do’ incredible feats, enabled by the engineering prowess of our brand’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
“The athletes and camera crew can rest assured that they can access all the off-road, mountainous areas on the shoot, courtesy of our Subaru SUVs’ capability and proper ground clearance,” Mr Dumper says.
The team expects to complete the expedition by October 6, driving back up to Auckland to finish.
"All going to plan, we would be the first all-female ski group to climb and ski all four volcanoes in NZ, and to capture a story about it," Kuzma adds.
"We can't wait to get going, it's going to be an epic trip."
For more information, please contact:
Janina Kuzma – 021 026 14752, or janinafkuzma@gmail.com or www.janinakuzma.com
About Janina Kuzma:
Janina Kuzma is a freeride skier based in Wanaka. She is New Zealand's No.1 halfpipe skier and has qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. She is also NZ's best female big mountain skier. Kuzma, 31, has competed at the prestigious 2016 Oslo X Games, named overall Sportsperson of the Year at the House of Travel Central Otago Sports Awards in 2015 and 2016, as well as being named Central Otago Senior Sportswoman of the Year (2015/2016). She was named Free Skier of the Year in the 2011 and 2015 Snow Sports New Zealand Awards. Kuzma has featured in several films, including the award-winning Shades of Winter series.
Catherine Pattison
Public Relations
Subaru of New Zealand
M +64 (0)27 44 55 389
E catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz