March 29 2006 MCLEOD RETIRES FROM ALPINE SKI RACING CIRCUIT Twenty-four-year-old Winter Olympian Erika McLeod (Auckland/Queenstown) has announced her retirement from competitive ski racing after many years at the top of her sport in New Zealand. McLeod competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino Italy finishing 40th out of a field of 63 in the slalom.

In the giant slalom she did not finish the first run, which put her out of the event, but national women’s coach Eric Rolland was pleased with her performance in the tough and challenging conditions.

The Olympics had always been a long term goal. She narrowly missed selection for the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City and was selected for Torino, only after making a comeback from a serious injury, which affected her training and build up in the 2005 New Zealand winter.

“The announcement of my selection to the Winter Olympics team was obviously the best news I have ever had in my ski racing career. Competing at the Olympics was incredible and it is something I will never forget.”

She says everything about the Olympic event was ‘awesome’.

“The opening and closing ceremonies were just amazing and it was fantastic to be there with all my family and friends supporting me.”

 McLeod has won the prestigious New Zealand national women’s titles five times and the highlight of her career before the Olympics, was representing New Zealand at the 2003 World Ski Championships, in St Moritz in Switzerland.

But after 22 back-to-back winters McLeod has decided to officially retire from the sport.

“There are other aspects of my life I want to pursue. I will always have a passion for skiing and ski racing but after so many winters and being away from New Zealand so much I have to decide where my future lies.”

While she will no longer have a high profile as a member of the New Zealand Womens’ team and a strong performer on the national circuit, McLeod wants to retain her links with the sport and assist younger, developing skiers where possible.

“There is a lot of emerging talent and the new structures being put in place by Ski Racing New Zealand will ensure they have a good career path to follow. I hope I can be of assistance in some areas.”

McLeod says the solid support of her sponsors, particularly Rossignol who picked her up as a talented skier at the age of 12, when she was becoming a force in her age group at Whakapapa, has been invaluable.

“Ski Racing New Zealand and more latterly Volkswagen have played a big part as well. My parents have been my main supporters, backing me for many years, and it was exciting to be able to repay them in some way by finishing off my career at the Olympics with my entire family there to encourage me on.”