Two-wheeled action sports athletes from around the world have begun converging on New Zealand’s spectacular South Island for the iconic Farm Jam this weekend. Riders as far flung as the UK, the States and Brazil are all currently en-route to the Frew brothers’ 2,600-acre sheep and beef farm at the bottom of the country for the seventh instalment of the Jam. 2012 Red Bull X-Fighters champion Levi Sherwood has also arrived early this week to reshape and evolve the FMX and freeride courses, while a host of eager pedallers have spent the past several weeks working and remoulding the BMX and MTB trails.
“It’s always exciting to see everything come together,” organiser Dan Frew says. “This week is all about joining the last pieces of the puzzle. Levi is doing an awesome job reshaping the FMX and freeride courses and the pushbike jumps are looking immaculate.” While there have been conflicting weather reports surrounding Saturday’s event, the current trend looks as though any rain will have all but disappeared by the time the Farm Jam roars into life.
“It looks like we might receive a bit of rain in the next couple of days, but we’re expecting it to have moved on by Saturday,” explains organiser Brett Frew. “In the unlikely event that it is raining on Saturday, the Jam will be postponed until Sunday. Any changes and announcements will be made on the major local radio stations and the Farm Jam Facebook page on Saturday morning.”
Public and media interest is at an all-time high leading up to the 2014 Farm Jam, with the Frews fielding a staggering amount of enquiries about tickets and the day schedule. Tickets are available on the Farm gate (738 Otapiri Gorge Rd, RD2, Winton) at $30 an adult, $20 for children aged 5-12, or family passes (two adults and two children) for $80. Under 5 years is free.
Gates open at 11am with the action running from 12 noon until 5pm.
For more information and updates, follow @farm_jam on Instagram, “Like” Southern Freeriders and Farm Jam on Facebook or visit www.southernfreeriders.blogspot.com.
