The Winter Games New Zealand are back, and for the first time since the pandemic so are international athletes.
On Thursday, they hit the halfpipe at Cardrona while also enjoying Kiwi cuisine.
For the Northern Hemisphere's best freeskiers and snowboarders, the Kiwi winter is their summer paradise.
And American Olympians Hanna Faulhaber and Carly Margulies are embracing the balance of competition and having fun.
"It's a really good opportunity to be here when the pipe is so good, and be with all your friends," Margulies told Newshub.
Thursday was qualifying for Sunday's final. Which for the first time since the pandemic is stacked with talent.
"It's been a while even just having this level [of] competition in this halfpipe," Gustav Legnavsky said.
"It's great to be competing back at home again."
"It's been cool having it private the last couple of years," says Kiwi Ben Harrington. "But it's definitely fun having all my buddies back."
While some make it look easy, it is a precision sport - and it's painful when competitors get it wrong.
It's not just the Kiwi winter and world-class facilities that attract the international stars.
"I mean pies are so good," says Matt Labaugh.
"Meat pies, Pineapple Lumps, Tim Tams," added Faulhaber.
Whatever the choice everyone's pleased the Winter Games are back on the menu.
