TIM CAFE SET TO COMPETE AT WORLD JUNIOR SKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CANADA February 27 2006:  New Zealand will be represented by current national slalom title holder 18-year-old Tim Cafe (Queenstown) at the World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Canada later this week.

Ski Racing New Zealand Alpine Director Jim Davis says Cafe has qualified to race in all four disciplines - downhill, super G, giant slalom and slalom - which are scheduled for  March 3-7 in Quebec.

The downhill and Super G will be held in at Le Massif and the slalom and giant slalom at Mont Sainte Anne.

He says Cafe has had a good season training and racing with the national men's team in North America and Europe and has improved his world rankings in all four disciplines.

"It will be interesting to see how he benchmarks against the best juniors in the world when he competes at the World Championships."

Cafe, who also holds the national junior slalom and giant slalom titles has now arrived in Canada to prepare for the races. He is looking forward to the competition at the world event, after some excellent recent training in Europe, particularly in Italy at Abetone.

"I feel that I have been training really well and will give every event my best shot. If I can have a top 40 finish in one or more of the races I will be delighted."

Cafe will still be eligible for the World Junior Championships next year and says this year will be a significant learning curve for him.

"It is fantastic to have qualified this year and I know it will be great experience being up against the world's best junior racers."

Micelle Greig and Sarah Jarvis from the National Women's team have also qualified for the World Juniors but due to training commitments in Europe will not be competing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: JIM DAVIS 021 577 187 OR SRNZ CEO 03 9806868