March 12 2006 ROSS WINS FRENCH SLALOM, OTHER KIWIS ON THE PODIUM March 12 2006:  New Zealand Olympic slalom representative Mickey Ross (Oamaru) has capitalised on his Winter Games experience to take out the title in a tough FIS slalom field in Auron Valley France while Andrew Greig (Queenstown) was on the podium in third place. It was a good series for the Kiwis with Ross taking second place in the first slalom race while Nicola Campbell (Dunedin) who also represented New Zealand at the Olympics was third in a giant slalom event.

Ross (25) won his FIS title in a tight competition clocking a combined time of 1.14.49 earning 27.11 FIS points. Francesco Ralsi of Italy was second in 1.15.42 and Greig (20) third in 1.16.54 scoring 43.62 points, in one of his best performances of the European season.

Ross was placed 31st in the Olympic slalom and his win in France reinforces his ability to compete at the top level in Europe.

In the first slalom of the series he was pipped in the first run by the overall winner Sylvain Gelloz of France, but in the second Ross was fastest completing the run in 37.98 compared to Gelloz in 38.27. Gelloz won in 1.15.73 just nudging Ross into second position in 1.15.96.

Campbell (20) who was placed 35th in the Olympic slalom but did not finish the giant slalom was also determined to achieve another good giant slalom result this season.

The Auron Valley giant slalom gave her the opportunity and she completed the race in 2.01.58. The race was won by Andre Aguitaniu of France in 1.59. 16 and Marion Bertand also of France was second in 2.01.01. Campbell was in second place after the first run.

Nineteen-year-old Sarah Jarvis (Hamilton) also achieved a creditable 16th placing in the same race with a combined time of 2.04.23.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: SUE BRIDGWATER 03 980 6868