Calder pulled from Cross Country competition today for medical reasons

Vancouver, 19 February 2010: New Zealand’s Tim Cafe has finished a credible 38th in today’s Super G at Whistler Creekside.

At just 22, Cafe was the third youngest athlete in a field where more mature athletes dominate. Close to a third of the 64-strong field failed to finish.

Cafe was pleased with his performance but vowed to take greater risks in future events.

“I was happy with how I executed my run and a lot of guys had fallen. It’s about balance and I generally err on the side of caution. That’s something I want to improve over time. I’m one of youngest guys in this event so I’ve got a way to go.”

Cafe’s coach, Nils Coberger, noted Tim’s ongoing improvements.

“Tim put in a solid performance and is really coming on as an elite athlete. He has matured markedly over the last six months and this is apparent in today’s performance.”

Super G is a taxing event combining the speed of downhill and the precision of slalom.

 “It was scary and exhilarating,” said Cafe of his first Olympic race. “I tried to keep the fear out of my mind but there were moments when I thought this could go wrong and I backed off a bit.”

Cafe has overcome childhood asthma to compete at the very highest level of international ski racing. Cafe said he’s aiming for a top 10 at Sochi 2014 where he will still be a young in the sport at just 26 years of age.

New Zealand’s second competitor in the Super G, Ben Griffin, did not finish after a technical error saw him miss a flag in the mid-section.

“Ben was heading for a top run,” said Coberger. “He was 6/10ths out at the first split and he skied the next section really well. He was late and was spat out of a compression."

“You’ve got to risk a lot in Alpine Skiing and that’s the price you pay.”

New Zealand does not have a strong history in Super G and it was last contested at an Olympic Games by Simon Wi Rutene in 1994 (DNF). 

Cafe finished +5. 21 seconds off the top time secured by Gold Medallist Aksel Lund Svindal from Norway.
Cafe’s Olympic campaign for Vancouver 2010 is now over and Griffin will go on to contest the Giant Slalom on the 24th February (NZT).

- Cross Country Ski

Katie Calder is suffering gastroenteritis and was scratched from this afternoon’s 15km pursuit. Medical advisors expect Calder to recover within 24 hours and have isolated her to prevent the spread of illness. Calder is set to contest the women’s 30km Mass Start pursuit on 28 February (NZT).