2015/Halbergs

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="548665" data-time="1450730803">
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My picks:
 
Emerging Talent: Tai Wynyard (the only one I've heard of to be fair)
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Eliza McCartney broke the junior women's pole vault world record last Saturday.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/athletics/news/article.cfm?c_id=19&objectid=11564039'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/athletics/news/article.cfm?c_id=19&objectid=11564039</a>
 
I'd also include the U20 football WC in NZ. The Kiwis put in a credible performance by making it out of their pool.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="548674" data-time="1450733470">
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to add to the list of cool moments, this one was just last week.
 
Beau-James Wells (number 3 of the Wells brothers) scoring Silver in the the Freeski Halfpipe at the Dew Tour.
 
Big Brother Jossi also scored a second in the Slopestyle. Other Big Brother Byron got a 5th in the pipe.
 
Event wise this is the equivalent of a golf or tennis major with the biggest comps being the Dew Tour and X-Games. You can put up a good argument that Dew Tour is the highest as X-Games rewards 'show' factor a bit more over skill to create a TV event.
 
Beau-James has previously won the Junior Olympics in this discipline but this is his first result among the big players.
Jossi has previous medalled at Dew Tour Events, but in a sport where progression is everything and you are considered a veteran past age 21, to get back into the top is a great result.
 
For a short while the slopestyle was moving toward winners being the guys that pulled off one big hit for a triple on the last jump but thankfully the courses and judging have adjusted and you get better value for variety and skill right through the length of the course. When Jossi is on fire no one skis with style like he does.
 
As an aside, I would guess that this one family has added millions of $ of earnings for NZ through overseas skiers taking NZ seriously as a destination for both training and holidays. The NZ Winter Games now attracts the world's best freestyle skiers and boarders in part from the good work these guys do around the circuit. Their coach and father Bruce, is a legend and the TV coverage will often dedicate more time chatting to him than to the athletes.
 
In a minority sport they are like a family of Richie McCaws with another Richie as coach.
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You really love the X games/ Wells brothers don't you mate.
 
I wouldn't go as far to say that it's a family of Richies.. in fact the best free skiers don't really compete in stuff like this, they are too busy filming video parts.
 
Competitive free skiing/ snowboarding is basically gymnastics on snow, they completely disregard style in favour of maximum spins/ inverted airs etc. In fact many athletes (particularly in snowboarding, but also skiing) have spoken out against the Olympics and what it has done to freestyle skiing.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="548680" data-time="1450735344">
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You really love the X games/ Wells brothers don't you mate.
 
I wouldn't go as far to say that it's a family of Richies.. in fact the best free skiers don't really compete in stuff like this, they are too busy filming video parts.
 
Competitive free skiing/ snowboarding is basically gymnastics on snow, they completely disregard style in favour of maximum spins/ inverted airs etc. In fact many athletes (particularly in snowboarding, but also skiing) have spoken out against the Olympics and what it has done to freestyle skiing.
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Disagree. There is plenty of recent evidence that they have made a big effort to get away from 'spin and win', when the likes of Bobby Brown would do SFA down the course and hit the last jump for a big triple and take home the gold. In this last Dew Tour event he was marked down because he didn't have the variety on the rails, when he used to barely touch them and get away with it. Now it is important to be able to execute off both sides and you get better value from a perfectly executed double than a wobbly triple. The sport has quickly reacted to the concerns of the participants.
 
Agree that there are a group that concentrate more on filming than competing but most of these competition guys earn their $ from filming as well. You can only really judge the best in any sport from a comp. NZ also has top ranked Freeride skiers suck as Sam Smoothy (and Janina Kuzma who competes both Freeride and Freestyle)
 
Yep, the points come from gymnastic moves, but it is hardly like you can take a gymnast and put them on skis or a board and they would compete. Gymnasts don't perform their 'tricks' 20 feet in the air then have to have the handling skills to land with perfect control to set up the next jump.
 
Yeah, I do love watching the Wells family. Have followed them from the days of Jossi breaking into the circuit. They are so incredibly talented and dedicated in more than just their sport as well and have a really interesting backstory

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="548682" data-time="1450736408">
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Disagree. There is plenty of recent evidence that they have made a big effort to get away from 'spin and win', when the likes of Bobby Brown would do SFA down the course and hit the last jump for a big triple and take home the gold. In this last Dew Tour event he was marked down because he didn't have the variety on the rails, when he used to barely touch them and get away with it. Now it is important to be able to execute off both sides and you get better value from a perfectly executed double than a wobbly triple. The sport has quickly reacted to the concerns of the participants.
 
Agree that there are a group that concentrate more on filming than competing but most of these competition guys earn their $ from filming as well. You can only really judge the best in any sport from a comp. NZ also has top ranked Freeride skiers suck as Sam Smoothy (and Janina Kuzma who competes both Freeride and Freestyle)
 
Yep, the points come from gymnastic moves, but it is hardly like you can take a gymnast and put them on skis or a board and they would compete. Gymnasts don't perform their 'tricks' 20 feet in the air then have to have the handling skills to land with perfect control to set up the next jump.
 
Yeah, I do love watching the Wells family. Have followed them from the days of Jossi breaking into the circuit. They are so incredibly talented and dedicated in more than just their sport as well and have a really interesting backstory
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Love the passion Crucial
 
I suppose if you ask the kids on the mountains who they respect, generally it's the guys with sweet video parts. Not the guys taking out the Olympics/ X Games etc.
 
I work in the ski industry here, and there was very little discussion of the Wells brothers feats. Contrast that with the huge talk when a NZer scores a video part in big overseas film which doesn't happen regularly.

Baron Silas Greenback

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="548677" data-time="1450734601">
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Eliza McCartney broke the junior women's pole vault world record last Saturday.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/athletics/news/article.cfm?c_id=19&objectid=11564039'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/athletics/news/article.cfm?c_id=19&objectid=11564039</a>
 
I'd also include the U20 football WC in NZ. The Kiwis put in a credible performance by making it out of their pool.
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Nah.. had enough of NZ football teams getting Halbergs for just being mostly hopeless and not completely hopeless on the world stage.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="548686" data-time="1450737371">
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Love the passion Crucial
 
I suppose if you ask the kids on the mountains who they respect, generally it's the guys with sweet video parts. Not the guys taking out the Olympics/ X Games etc.
 
I work in the ski industry here, and there was very little discussion of the Wells brothers feats. Contrast that with the huge talk when a NZer scores a video part in big overseas film which doesn't happen regularly.
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Cheers. That's an interesting perspective. I do wonder though how much the age/background of those working in the industry colours their interests. Filming used to be the only thing pre Xgames type comps. You can't tell me that the explosion in numbers of kids demanding and using park setups on skifields aren't interested in the comps.
As you will be well aware there are plenty of 'factions' around skiing and boarding, with all them thinking they are the best. I bet if you polled people at TC on what interests them in winter activities you would get completely different results to Cardrona (same between Whaka and Turoa). 
I became interested in watching the park events mainly because it was my son's interest and having taken up snowsports at a very late age had no preconceptions or old school ways to think was better.
 
I do agree that there has been a disconnect between the comps and the fans which is why I am pleased to see the recent subtle change in emphasis. 
 
It's not like the judges weren't getting the message loud and clear when you'd see the biggest cheer for the day for Jossi doing 3 zero spins in a row after a bail on the rails. The crowd loves style more than 'tricks' (unless someone does something new and cool).

Smudge

One in those sportsmen awards who most won't have heard of is harness driver Dexter Dunn.
 
I respect those people who say the horses do all the work, but Dexter just has an ability to get an extra two to three lengths out of a horse, and not with the whip. He is, in fact, one of the drivers who uses his soft hands to coax a horse for that extra 5%, and just seems to have an innate connection with them.
 
He won the World Driving Champs in Aussie this year. No mean feat taking on the likes of Tim Tetrick, who once drove almost 1200 winners in a year. Dexter is no stranger to setting records himself. Before he launched in to his best years, the previous record for wins in a season in New Zealand was 161 set by Maurice McKendry around 1990 or so. After winning 146 in the 2007/08 season, he has won 204, 168, 220, 199, 199, 206, 216 and is already up to 71 wins this season after missing the first month or so of the new season (starts in August) due to being on holiday.
 
As mentioned, he can get outsiders home. His winners at the World Driving Champs paid:
- $39.80
- $3.10
- $1.50
- $3.70
- $4.90
 
Bear in mind harness racing is a sport where almost 40% of favourites pay under $2.
 
As I say, I don't expect him to make the final cut-off, but it's nice he's made the shortlist.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="548702" data-time="1450740340">
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Cheers. That's an interesting perspective. I do wonder though how much the age/background of those working in the industry colours their interests. Filming used to be the only thing pre Xgames type comps. You can't tell me that the explosion in numbers of kids demanding and using park setups on skifields aren't interested in the comps.
As you will be well aware there are plenty of 'factions' around skiing and boarding, with all them thinking they are the best. I bet if you polled people at TC on what interests them in winter activities you would get completely different results to Cardrona (same between Whaka and Turoa). 
I became interested in watching the park events mainly because it was my son's interest and having taken up snowsports at a very late age had no preconceptions or old school ways to think was better.
 
I do agree that there has been a disconnect between the comps and the fans which is why I am pleased to see the recent subtle change in emphasis. 
 
It's not like the judges weren't getting the message loud and clear when you'd see the biggest cheer for the day for Jossi doing 3 zero spins in a row after a bail on the rails. The crowd loves style more than 'tricks' (unless someone does something new and cool).
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haha, I am 35 these days, so perhaps I'm a bit old to indentify with all the kids :)
 
But I am a ski and snowboard video addict, between myself and a few friends we own all the major releases from the last 15 years or so.
 
I'm not sure that the parks etc being built are done to mimic what is happening in the X Games. I think the X Games etc is actually evolving to mimic what is happening in the videos.. the "real snow" competition has been the best viewing of all X games events in the last few years imo.
 
anyway ....plenty of video parts are filmed in the park or on the streets as well.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="548709" data-time="1450740996">
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haha, I am 35 these days, so perhaps I'm a bit old to indentify with all the kids :)
 
 
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You're still a youngster. I'm 50 and only started boarding at 45. First 3 seasons were perseverance only but have slowly managed to get past the falls and frustration to be confidently taking on the odd box and jump. I tend to only go near parks/features where there is an opportunity to drop in on your way past before some kid realises there is some old fella making their sport uncool.

Baron Silas Greenback

50???
Get off the board granddad.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="548729" data-time="1450742824">
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You're still a youngster. I'm 50 and only started boarding at 45. First 3 seasons were perseverance only but have slowly managed to get past the falls and frustration to be confidently taking on the odd box and jump. I tend to only go near parks/features where there is an opportunity to drop in on your way past before some kid realises there is some old fella making their sport uncool.
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I'm impressed you have stuck with it mate.. I'm lucky that I learnt to ski before the age of 3. It's a hard sport to learn later in life.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="548687" data-time="1450737388">
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Nah.. had enough of NZ football teams getting Halbergs for just being mostly hopeless and not completely hopeless on the world stage.
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Whoa, back up there! I never said the U20s were any part of the Halberg discusion, merely that the tournament could be added to the list of sporting highlights for this year.
 
The ABs and Hansen will win the Halberg so only the indivdual mens and womens winner will be of any interest.

Mokey

Winston Reid a sportsman nom? Seriously??

taniwharugby

Halberg Finalists:
 
In red who I think will win, only one I think probably should go another way is Lisa Carrington over Lydia, but isn't much in it, oh, also not overly sure of the emerging one.
 
As always, expect plenty to be their knickers in a twist over who ends up winning or who has been left out.
 
Sportsman of the Year(Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Daniel Carter (Rugby), Danny Lee (Golf), Kane Williamson (Cricket), Scott Dixon (Motorsport).
Sportswoman of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Lauren Boyle (Swimming), Linda Villumsen (Cycling), Lisa Carrington (Canoeing), Lydia Ko (Golf).
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
Corey Peters (Para-Skiing), Michael Johnson (Para-Shooting), Nikita Howarth (Para-Swimming), Sophie Pascoe (Para-Swimming).
Team of the Year (Eligible for the supreme Halberg Award)
All Blacks (Rugby), Black Caps (Cricket), Men's Pair: Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (Rowing), Men's 49er Class: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (Yachting).
Emerging Talent
Campbell Stewart (Cycling), Dylan Schmidt (Trampoline), Eliza McCartney (Athletics), Tai Wynyard (Basketball).
Coach of the Year
Gordon Walker (Canoeing), Hamish Willcox (Yachting), Mike Hesson (Cricket), Steve Hansen (Rugby).
 - Stuff
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/75682548/all-blacks-and-black-caps-dominate-halberg-awards-finalists'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/75682548/all-blacks-and-black-caps-dominate-halberg-awards-finalists</a>

dogmeat

That's some tough competition for the team award, although agree it should be AB's as Black Caps didn't win anything of note and rowing and sailing are in non-Olympic years
 
So gets the Supreme?
 
I would say AB's although hard to argue against Ko #1 and Major winner at her age

taniwharugby

Must be the first time in a long time Val hasn't been a finalist?

Bovidae

I'd be surprised if the ABs didn't win in a successful RWC year, as they did in 2011.
 
The omission of Mary Fisher in the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year category is a real fuckup.

Hooroo

Remember though folks, the Halbergs aren't about winning rather they are about punching above weight and generating extra interest.
 
I can see the BC's winning although my money is on AB's

Wurzel

The Halbergs screwed it royally giving Lydia Ko the Supreme Award the other year. The judges essentially said that's standard to be the Supreme winner not realising Lydia will better that standard each year for another 15 years.
 
The only thing that trumps World Number Ones and Majors in the judges eyes is Olympic Golf and ironically Lydia will likely win gold this year too meaning she'll still be top dog when the next Halbergs roll 'round.

Crucial

I said all that at the time and got shot down by the golf fans. 
It wasn't the sport, it was that she was awarded through excitement about what might be rather than waiting for it to come.

The Silver Fern

2015/Halbergs