22 December 2005: 

NEW ZEALAND SKIERS IN THE LIMELIGHT IN THE USA

National alpine skier Erika McLeod (Auckland) has returned from an injury prone New Zealand season with vengeance to take second and fourth placings respectively in the FIS giant slaloms at the Steamboat Series in the United States

This follows on from her earlier win in the FIS Super G at Winter Park and ninth and 13th places in the two FIS slaloms at Steamboat. The slalom was skiied at night under lights and McLeod says it was an "awesome atmosphere."

Ski Racing New Zealand Alpine Director Jim Davis says her results show she has moved on from her ankle injury which put her out of training and racing for most of the 2005 New Zealand winter.

"She has had two strong giant slalom races equalling the results she was making before her injury which show she has regained her form."

In the first giant slalom McLeod blitzed the first run to win it in 1.06.04 but in the second run she was beaten by Megan McJames (USA) who had the faster combined time of 2.11.08 to McLeod's 2.12.13. Third place went to Laura Scripture (USA) in 2.12.45.

McLeod put up a strong challenge in the second race and there was little between the top four. Chelsea Lynch (USA) won the race in 2.00.01, Lindsay McClure (USA) was second in 2.00.16 Jennifer Tank (Germany) placed third in 2.00.52 and McLeod was fourth in 2.00.84.

Mr Davis says the other notable results from the series at Steamboat have come from 18-year-old Tim Cafe of Queenstown who was the fastest junior in the second giant slalom finishing 13th overall. In the first race he was second junior home and 21st overall.

"These were two good days of racing for Tim particularly as he had high start numbers. His FIS point result on the second day was his career best and virtually guarantees his qualification for the World Junior Championships."