SRNZ News Index

The first edition of the 2008 Handbook is now available. Please click here to go to the handbook page.

Ski Racing New Zealand is very pleased to announce that Marsh and ACE travel Insurance have offered us a very competitive insurance package. Click the link for more information.

Race Notices have been posted for the upcoming K Cup Series at Cardrona and the Wanaka FIS series, together with the Mapei Entry series. Click here for the K Cup notice or here for the Wanaka FIS notice.

There is a new Masters Event at Mt Hutt, please click here for more information.

The latest FIS southern hemisphere precisions are now available, please click here.

In the final day of competition in Formigal Spain, both boys and girls competed in Giant Slalom, in the boys race neither Andrew Wylie (2nd run) or Leighton Winsloe (1st run) were able to finish. In the girls, Lucie Tait-Jamieson finished 65 from a start number of 85 and Alice Ralston finished 72 from a start number of 90. Full results of the boys competition is available here and the girls here. In the combined ranking Alice Ralston finished 20th and one of a very small group of girls that completed every event at the Championships.

The three girls left in Canada with Coach Pete Sanford at racing in their final event of the year at Sun Peaks. Harriet Miller-Brown pulled off her second best GS result of the season finishing 11th and scoring 67, giving her two results under 70. She was followed by Ali McGlinn in 15th place with 75 points and Charlotte Newbold, 31st. These girls have three days of racing left before heading home. Team mates Jamie Prebble and Taylor Rapley are already home recovering from their injuries, we wish them all the best with Nicola Eves competing in the World Juniors in Spain.

A frustrating day for New Zealand athletes today, in the girls slalom Volkswagen National Development Team member Nicola Eves was sick and unable to compete, Lucie Tait-Jamieson did not finish the first run and sole New Zealand finisher Alice Ralston was 53rd from a start number of 80, for full results click here. In the boys Super G Andrew Wylie was unable to continue his slalom form and did not finish and Leighton Winsloe was disqualified. The final day of racing is tomorrow with both girls and boys Giant Slalom.

Andrew Wylie finishing 35th in the World Junior Slalom. Photo Copyright Jolyon Ralson 2008.

Andrew Wylie finished 35th in the World Junior Championships Slalom last night in Formigal, Spain. This is a great result for Andrew and although he did not score a points result he achieved this result from a start number of 85. Unfortunatley the other Kiwi male, Leighton Winsloe did not finish the first run. For full results of the slalom click here. Tomorrow will see the boys in action in Super G and the girls slalom event.

The girls have been in action at the World Junior Championships in Formigal. Lucie Tait-Jamieson, Alice Ralston and Nicola Eves all competed in the Super G on Saturday (23rd), Alice finished 68th and Lucie 69th, Nicola did not finish. In the Downhill yesterday, Alice was 47th and Nicola 49th. The men are in action tomorrow in the Slalom. For full results click here.

Our team had mixed results at this years event with some good performances from Sammy Kingston, Piera Hudson and Sophie Corser and some frustrating results for Nick Prebble and Richard Stevens. In K1 Girls, Sophie Corser finished 32nd and Piera Hudon 42nd in GS and in the Kombi Race Piera was 29th and Sophie 31st. In K2 girls Sammy Kingston finished 28th in GS and in Slalom neither Kate nor Sammy finished.

Some great results for our New Zealand athletes yesterday, beginning with the Children's FIS races in Slovenia, Nick Prebble finished sixth in the GS, only 0.82 seconds behind the winner, Richard Stevens was 37th and in the slalom Nick finished 19th, Harrison Steedman 31st and Richard 32nd.

The latest FIS points lists are now available for viewing on our registered athletes pages. Keep track of how our athletes are progressing in the northern hemisphere races by downloading the latest points lists. These are available in both pdf and excel file format.

Ski Racing New Zealand is proud to announce the team to represent New Zealand at the World Junior Championhips has been selected. Nicola Eves, Alice Ralston & Lucie Tait Jamieson together with Leighton Winsloe and Andrew Wylie have all been selected to represent New Zealand at this prestigous event in Formigal, Spain. More to follow soon

Ben Griffin has scored 14.55 in a North American Cup Giant Slalom in Sunday River, Maine. Having had a great first run, Ben skied even faster to finish 6th overall, winning the second run. This result eclipses his best ever result scored at Coronet Peak in August. Ben is a key member of the Volkswagen National Ski Team coached by Nils Coberger. If you want to send your congratulations to Ben please send an email to ben.griffin@tussockgrove.co.nz. Full results are available here www.fis-ski.com.

Ben Griffin in action at Coronet Peak, August 2007. Photo Copyright Jolyon Ralston.

Next years winter calendar is already out in draft format, please have a look through it. This year it is presented in an easy to read format with events separated by month and type, making it easier to find what you need. Soon a search item will be added and there will also be a downloadable version of the calendar. Eventually we hope to include RSS feeds from this site.

As well as our teams competing, several other athletes have started their competition programmes in the northern hemisphere. Leighton Winsloe, Andrew Wylie, Lucie & Emilie Tait Jamieson have been racing in Bormio, Italy with Coach Jonny Rice. Lucie scored her best ever GS result, 62 points and Slalom Leighton was only 1.6 seconds out.

Despite volcanic eruptions and some poor weather, the finals of the K Cup were concluded at Turoa this week. After a great seasons racing, Jamie Green won the Boys K1 Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G titles and won the Snowvision Scholarship for 2008.

The Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) has been won by Bjoergvin Bjoergvinsson of Iceland and Jana Gantnerova of Slovakia following the completion of the ANC series at Mt Hutt today.

Volkswagen National Team members 21-year-old Janelle Miller (Queenstown) and 20-year-old Ben Griffin (Ohakune) have won the 2007 National Super G titles at the Volkswagen Alpine National Championships at Mt Hutt today.

Volkswagen National Team representatives Janelle Miller 21 (Queenstown) and Mark Bridgwater 21 (Christchurch) are the 2007 national slalom champions following intense competition at the Volkswagen National Alpine Championships at Coronet Peak today.

GRIFFIN AND GREIG WIN VOLKSWAGEN NATIONAL GIANT SLALOM CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES AT CORONET PEAK

Volkswagen National Team representative 20-year-old Ben Griffin (Ohakune) continued his winning form this season to blitz the men’s field and clock another record result to win the 2007 giant slalom title at the Volkswagen National Alpine Ski Championships at Coronet Peak today.

Because the incoming CEO does not start until the end of August, only urgent enquiries will be dealt with in the coming month, please send to simon@skiracing.org.nz or PO Box 137301, Parnell Auckland. All existing mail will be redirected to the new address, phone & fax numbers to follow shortly.

April 2007

FINAL ATHLETE UPDATE FOR 2006/07 SEASON

April 30 2007

CAMPBELL TAKES UP FREESKIING CHALLENGE

Former New Zealand National Team member and Olympic alpine skier Nicola Campbell is switching codes and hopes to become a dominant force on the national freeskiing scene.

Campbell 21 (Dunedin) finished a creditable 35th in the Olympic women’s slalom at Torino in 2006. An injury put her out of action during the 2006 New Zealand season and following surgery she opted to ease back into skiing during the recent Northern Hemisphere season by free skiing in the United States for a month, rather than join the New Zealand women’s ski team in the United States and Europe.

Campbell says she had time, while she was in the United States, to rethink her sporting career and decided to change to freeskiing with a focus on skier cross and Big Mountain events.

March 19 2007

ROSS BACK IN FORM

Volkswagen National Team member Mickey Ross is back on form following a lengthy lay off due to shoulder surgery. Ross, New Zealand’s top slalom skier returned to on snow training in January and has recently been crowned the Sierra Nevada University slalom champion having won the nationals slalom event and taking second place in the GS.

Ross has just competed at the Winter Park FIS Series which concluded on March 18th, taking 4th place and scoring a 30 point result in the Slalom on the final day.

Ross is due to compete at a couple more FIS events in the USA prior to the conclusion of the season.

March 3 2007

GREIG AND MILLER WIN ITALIAN FIS RACES

Volkswagen National Women’s team member Michelle Greig of Queenstown is on fire in the lead up this week to the prestigious World Junior Alpine Ski Championships in Austria, after winning her first FIS (international points) race.

Eighteen-year-old Greig won a challenging downhill event at Passo S Pellegrino in Italy and was runner-up in the second downhill of the series, after winning the training runs for both races.

The results were two personal bests for Greig who is poised to compete against the world’s best juniors at the World Junior Championships in Altenmarkt- Zauchensee and Flachau in Austria from March 7-11.

On the final day of competition at Passo S Pellegrino team mate Janelle Miller took out the Slalom winning by over 2 seconds, Miller had previously placed 3rd in the Super-G at the same event.

February 25 2007

SKI RACING NZ ANNOUNCES JUNIOR WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

New Zealand will be represented at the Junior World Alpine Ski Championships by five up and coming athletes. Current National Giant Slalom and Junior Super-G title holder 19-year-old Tim Cafe (Queenstown) and 18 year old National Team member Michelle Greig (Queenstown) the National Junior Giant Slalom and Super-G holder will compete in all four disciplines at the Championships scheduled to run from March 3rd to 11th in Flachau Austria. They will be joined by National Development Team member Leighton Winsloe, 17 (Wanaka), along with Andrew Wylie, 17 (Queenstown)and Lucy Tait-Jamieson, 18 (Auckland) for the technical events.

ATHLETE UPDATE #2: FEBRUARY 2007

February 16 2007

Griffin achieves first at World Championships in Sweden

New Zealand Volkswagen National Ski Team representative Ben Griffin has achieved a major first for a Kiwi team in the World Alpine Ski Championships in Are, Sweden today

The 20-year-old from Ohakune has qualified for tomorrow night’s slalom final after finishing in 23rd place in the qualifying race from 97 starters today.

This is the first time a New Zealander has competed in both the speed and technical disciplines at the World Championships, having already taken part in the Super-G, Super-Combi and Giant Slalom events earlier in the championships.

He will be the sole New Zealand representative in the slalom finals after Christchurch’s Scott Gange suffered a recurrence of a niggling back injury after his first run and Andrew Greig (Queenstown) who did not finish.

Griffin, the youngest member of the national team, produced an outstanding performance in the qualifying race and his effort in the slalom caps an excellent effort at the world championships where he has competed in all events barring the Downhill.

February 14 2007

KIWIS AT THE FIS WORLD ALPINE SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWEDEN

New Zealand Volkswagen National Mens Ski Team representative Ben Griffin is New Zealand’s sole representative in the World Championships Giant Slalom to be held tonight (February 14th) New Zealand time.

Griffin took 22nd place in the qualifying GS event that the hosts were forced to hold due to the large number of entries. Only 25 places were up for grabs from nearly 100 starters.

Andrew Greig and Scott Gange also started but did not qualify.

Gange is struggling with an ongoing back problem.

Mark Bridgwater was sidelined from the GS qualifier following a spectacular crash in the Downhill event the previous day.

It has since been found that Bridgwater has a fractured scapula and will be out of action for the next 3 weeks.

February 9 2007

DEMANDING SUPER COMBINED COURSES AT WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWEDEN

New Zealand Volkswagen National Ski Team representative Mark Bridgwater (Christchurch) is expected to be cleared to race tomorrow night (February 10) in the World Alpine Ski Championships blue ribbon downhill event in Are, Sweden after sustaining an injury during training for the Super Combined event two days ago.

07 February 2007

KIWIS ACHIEVE PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES AT FIS WORLD ALPINE SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWEDEN

New Zealand Volkswagen National Ski team representative Mark Bridgwater (Christchurch) lived up to expectations when he achieved his best ever result in Super G at the FIS World Alpine Ski Championships in Are, Sweden yesterday.

Bridgwater 21 significantly lowered his world ranking when he turned in the personal best 35 point result to take out 41st place in a high profile international field.

The Super G was postponed twice before conditions finally improved enough to stage the gruelling event. While American ace Bode Miller and Austrian star Herman Meier were widely tipped for the podium, the race went to the under dogs with Italy’s Patrick Staudacher winning his country’s first World Championship medal in a speed event in 55 years.

Bridgwater said:

“I'm stoked with my result. I pushed it hard and skied aggressively and took the line I was aiming for, finishing 41st from bib 58. I am now really looking forward to the downhill training run leading up to the super-combi and downhill.”

31st January 2007

UP AND COMING NEW ZEALAND SKIERS IMPRESS

ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE

Talented young New Zealand skiers have clocked some excellent results at the Mars K2 Super G and Super Combi events at Panorama BC in Canada with Team Hutt’s Alexandra McGlinn (14) and Nick Prebble (13) both winning significant awards for their performances.

The K2 series is for 13 and 14-year-old athletes and Ski Racing New Zealand Alpine Director Scott Zahn, who is in Canada with the New Zealand Talent Development Team, says the results from the Christchurch athletes McGlinn and Prebble earned them the most improved medals. The pair were the overall 2006 K Cup series winners in New Zealand.

29th January 2007

TEAM SELECTED for ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

New Zealand Volkswagen National Ski team member Mark Bridgwater 21 (Christchurch) has qualified to compete in next month’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Are, Sweden.

Three other members of the men’s team have been granted wild card entries by the Ski Racing New Zealand selectors for the championships on February 3-18.Scott Gange 26 (Christchurch), Andrew Greig 21 (Queenstown) and Benjamin Griffin 20 (Ohakune) were all just outside the discretionary qualifying criteria. Athletes need to be ranked 350 or less in the world for downhill and Super G and 450 or less for the technical disciplines of giant slalom and slalom to meet the guidelines.

15th January 2007

BRIDGWATER TAKES ON LAUBERHORN

New Zealand Volkswagen National Team alpine skier Mark Bridgwater (21) of Christchurch flew the flag for New Zealand for the first time at a World Cup downhill in more than 20 years when he put in a strong performance at Wengen in Switzerland in a star studded field dominated by American ace Bode Miller.

Bridgwater completed the tough 4480 metre 50 gate downhill course, reaching speeds of over 140Km/hour – to finish a highly creditable 11 seconds outside Bode Miller’s winning time. Also in the field were Austrian greats such as Herman Maier, Michael Walchhofer, Bennie Raich and current World Cup downhill leader Didier Cuche (Switzerland), and Bridgwater was even closer to them in the final results.

ATHLETE UPDATE #1: JANUARY 2007

15th December 2006

BRIDGWATER and GRIFFIN LEAD THE CHARGE OVERSEAS

Early season training alongside the likes of World Cup stars Benni Raich and Michael Walchhoffer at Copper Mountain, Colorado USA has reaped the rewards for two members of the National Mens Ski Team.

20th November 2006

VOLKSWAGEN NATIONAL TEAMS OVERSEAS

The Volkswagen National Mens and Womens Teams headed to Copper Mountain Colorado on November 5th for 3 weeks of training, prior to launching in to the pre-Christmas competition schedule. They have also been joined by Nicola Eves, as an invitee.

This is the second year the National Teams have taken advantage of the great facilities and early season conditions at Copper, and they are not the
only team to do so, training alongside the likes of the American, Austrian and German National Teams. Regular updates on the teams and other New Zealanders overseas will be posted on the SRNZ website.

October 4th 2006

YOUNG SKIERS TAKE TO THE SLOPES OF MT HUTT FOR END OF SEASON CAMP

Nearly 30 young Kinder and Junior FIS athletes are participating in an end of season camp at Mt Hutt this week.

All 17 SRNZ Talent ID Programme athletes and 12 invited athletes are taking part in the camp from October 3rd to 6th inclusive.

Talent ID Programme athletes include top first year FIS athlete and female South Island Champion Taylor Rapley, K2 Cup winners Nick Prebble, Adam Barwood and Ali McGlinn plus the K1 Cup winner Wilbur Coote. Jamie Prebble mens South Island Champion is also taking part. Training and activities both on an off the snow are planned for the week, with an emphasis on speed, many athletes not getting the chance to train Super-G throughout the busy season.

September 20 2006

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CUP SLALOM FINALS AT WHAKAPAPA

Claire Dautherives of France took the honours in both women’s slalom events at the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) finals at Whakapapa while her team mate Pauline-Flor Socquet-Clerc was runner-up in both races.

Dautherives was a clear winner in the first slalom completing the course in a combined time of 1.42.03. Socquet-Clerc was second in 1.44.91 while third place went to National Team member Janelle Miller (Queenstown) in 1.46.17.

In the second slalom Dautherives was again fastest in both runs to clock 1.39.24 ahead of Socquet-Clerc in 1.40.25. Third place went to 20-year-old Sarah Jarvis (Hamilton) of the National Development Team in 1.42.89 to give her an excellent result which will reduce her world ranking. Eighteen-year-old Lucy Tait-Jamieson (Turoa) who finished fourth in 1.43.06 had a personal best result which will significantly lower her ranking.

In the men’s first slalom Australian Jono Brauer again showed his strong form which has been evident throughout the season to win in a fast time of 1.31.12. His team mate Bryce Stevens was second in 1.33.60 with Mathew Robertson also of Australia finishing in 1.34.09. The first New Zealander was Benjamin Griffin (Ohakune) of the National Development Team in sixth place in 1.35.36.

September 19 2006

K CUP NATIONAL SKI RACING TITLES DECIDED AT CARDRONA

Fourteen-year-old Alexandra McGlinn and 13-year-old Nick Prebble of Mt Hutt continued their winning streaks in the 2006 K Cup series, at the finals held at Cardrona, to take the K2 (13 and 14 years) giant slalom titles.

McGlinn also won the overall K2 slalom title while Prebble shared the podium in first place in the men’s slalom with Adam Barwood of the Cardrona High Performance Centre (CHPC) Wanaka Ski Team.

Albonie Skerret of the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team (QAST) was runner-up in the giant slalom, Frances Newbold (QAST) and Alexandra Winsloe (CPHC Wanaka Ski Team) tying for third place.

In the slalom Taylor Smith (CPHC Wanaka Ski Team) and Alexandra Winsloe (CPHC Wanaka Ski Team) tied for second place. Sophia Jamieson (Turoa) was fourth.In the mens K2 Cup giant slalom Willis Feasey (CPHC Wanaka Ski Team) was runner up and third place went to Barwood. In the slalom Finlay Neeson (Turoa) was third and Feasey finished fourth.

Samantha Kingston and Wilbur Coote, both representing the CHPC Wanaka Ski Team won the K1 (11 and 12 years) titles in both giant slalom and slalom.

September 14 2006

MT HUTT HOSTS FIRST AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CUP SUPER COMBI EVENTS

The first ever Super Combi events to be held in Australasia were staged at Mt Hutt yesterday (September 13) and today (September 14) as part of the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) series and attracted an international field.

The Super Combis which were piloted at World Cup level for the first time last year included a one run Super G, which doubled as the ANC Super G, and a one run slalom held on each day, with placegetters being decided over the combined result.

This is the first year Super Combis have been included at Continental Cup race level.

Ski Racing New Zealand CEO Sue Bridgwater says it is exciting to be able hold a Super Combi in New Zealand for the first time, which along with Chile is the first country to host the new event at Continental Cup level.

2006 NATIONAL GIANT SLALOM AND SUPER G TITLES DECIDED AT THE VOLKSWAGEN ALPINE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MT HUTT

Twenty-year-old New Zealand representative Sarah Jarvis (Hamilton) stamped her mark on the Volkswagen Alpine National Championships at Mt Hutt today winning both the National Giant Slalom and National Super G titles.

Nineteen-year-old Tim Cafe of the National Development Team (Queenstown) won the men’s National Giant Slalom title as well as the Junior National title and Benjamin Griffin 19, (Ohakune), also a member of the National Development Team, took out the National Super G title.

DAY 1 September 10 2006

MILLER AND HOWDEN WIN 2006 NATIONAL SLALOM TITLES

Janelle Miller (Queenstown) of the National Team and Wellington’s Angus Howden are the 2006 slalom titleholders following strong competition at the Volkswagen Alpine National Championships at Mt Hutt today.

Competitors from New Zealand, Australia, France, Ireland, Austria, USA, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Korea, Switzerland and Germany entered the event with top seeds, Australian Jono Brauer and Claire Dautherives of France, taking the honours overall.

Miller was first New Zealander in the 34 strong women’s field, finishing in third place behind Dautherives and her French team mate Pauline-Flor Socquet-Clerc, who are both training this season with the National Women’s Team.

Dautherives was a clear winner in 1.14.37 while Socquet-Clerc completed the race in 1.16.45 in a tight finish with Miller in 1.16.81. Sarah Jarvis (Hamilton) of the National Development Team finished fourth in 1.18.16. Nicola Eves (Ohakune) took out the Junior National title finishing fifth in 1.20.84.

Brauer dominated the men’s race finishing in a combined time of 1.28.43 ahead of Australian team mate Demian Franzen in 1.29.43. Nick Cohee (USA) was placed third in 1.30.34.

Seventy one men entered and Howden took the title finishing in eighth place in a time of 1.32.60. Andrew Wylie (CPHC Cardrona Ski Team) won the Junior National title finishing 10th in 1.34.39.

The national giant slalom is scheduled for tomorrow (September 11) and a Super G , which is the first speed event to be held for many years as part of the Volkswagen Alpine National Championships, is being staged on Tuesday (September 12).

September 8 2006

STRONG COMPETITION EXPECTED AT VOLKSWAGEN NATIONAL ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MT HUTT

New Zealand’s up and coming athletes will compete in a strong international field at the Volkswagen Alpine National Championships at Mt Hutt on September 10, 11 and 12.

More than eighty competitors are entered in the three day series from New Zealand, Australia, France, Ireland, Austria, USA, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Korea, Switzerland and Germany.

Ski Racing New Zealand CEO Sue Bridgwater says while injury has affected the three top New Zealand representatives Nicola Campbell, Mickey Ross and Mark Bridgwater, several other racers from both the National Team and the National Development Team will fly the flag for New Zealand.

7 September 2006

Founding Directors award top ski racers at Treble Cone FIS Series

Treble Cone hosted its first major Alpine Ski Racing FIS event, attracting huge international talent. Over 70 competitors competed in The Southland Times Slalom and the Wanaka Unichem Giant Slalom events to better their world ranking and selection for the World Cup.

Athletes from Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, United States, Britain and Australia competed over the last two days. The high level of talent will not only raise the level of competition, but assist the New Zealand competitors by providing a lower penalty.

August 29 2006

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CUP GIANT SLALOM COMPLETES CORONET PEAK SERIES

American Thomas (tj) Lanning just edged out top Australia Jono Brauer to win the second giant slalom at the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) series at Coronet Peak today while Pauline-Flor Socquet-Clerc of France, who is training with the New Zealand Women’s team, won the women’s title.

The race was the final in the four race ANC series which was transferred to Coronet Peak from Mount Hotham in Australia due to a lack of snow.

First year FIS athletes 15-year-olds Rhys Grimmer (Queenstown Alpine Ski Team) Taylor Rapley (Queenstown Alpine Ski Team) and Harriet Miller-Brown (Queenstown Alpine Ski team) put in consistent runs in both ANC giant slalom races to achieve good results in their first year on the circuit.

The podium belonged to the Swedes at the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup giant slalom at Coronet Peak today with world number three Fredrik Nyberg taking first place and Jens Byggmark and Niklas Rainer second and third. The women’s title was won by Therese Borsson of the Swedish Women’s team.

INTENSE COMPETITION CONTINUES AT SECOND DAY OF AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CONTINENTAL CUP SERIES AT CORONET PEAK

Australian number one Jono Brauer took out today’s men’s slalom title at the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) at Coronet Peak, while the women’s event was won by Pauline-Flor Socquet-Clerc of France ahead of Japan’s Emiko Kiyosawa and New Zealand representative Sarah Jarvis (Hamilton), who was on the podium for the second consecutive day of the series.

The slalom which was held in the Rocky Gully Race Arena had fewer of the big names competing in the men’s field today but Brauer, who ran a close second to American gold medallist Ted Ligety in yesterday’s slalom, continued his winning form to win the race in a combined time of 1.38.01.

Australian Demian Franzen was second in 1.39.27 just ahead of Ruedi Van Kaenel of Switzerland in 1.39.63.

Twenty three of the 50 strong field finished the race and first New Zealander was Leighton Winsloe (CPHC Wanaka Ski Team) who skied an outstanding race to dramatically improve his world ranking. His combined time was 1.44.11 which put him in 10th place. Fellow ski team members Andrew Wylie and Rory Hill finishing in 13th and 14th slots also clocked good times to improve their rankings.

The women’s result saw Socquet-Clerc, who trains with the New Zealand women’s team, just pipping yesterday’s winner Kiyosawa into first place. She had a faster second run to give her a combined time of 1.47.46 to Kiyosawa’s 1.47.70. Sarah Jarvis of the New Zealand Development Team took out third place in 1.51.18 after finishing runner-up to Kiyosawa in yesterday’s slalom.

US Olympic combined gold medallist Ted Ligety put on another winning performance today when he won the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) slalom at Coronet Peak. The women’s title was by Emiko Kiyosawa of Japan continuing her impressive results this season in New Zealand.

The ANC races were transferred to Coronet Peak from Mt Hotham in Australia due to a lack of snow.

Ligety who is number four in the world in slalom was top seed for the event and was a clear winner in the first run in 44.50, almost a second ahead of third seed Jono Brauer of Australia in 45.68. But Brauer pulled out all stops in the second run to have the fastest time in 51.88. Ligety could only manage fourth fastest time in the second run in 52.59. His World Cup slalom team mates James Cochran and Timothy Kelley skied the run in 51.97 and 52.34 respectively.

In the combined result Ligety just pipped Brauer to win in 1.37.09. Brauer clocked 1.37.56 and Kelley took third place in 1.37.78.

Ligety said after the race that the slalom course set on the Rocky Gully Race Arena was as tough as anything he races in World Cup competition.

A high calibre international field including top ranked competitors from Norway, Sweden and the United States will be on show at the Australia New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) at Coronet Peak from Saturday August 26-Tuesday August 29.

The ANC series has been transferred from Mount Hotham in Australia due to a lack of snow. Slaloms will be held on Saturday and Sunday and giant slaloms are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Ski Racing New Zealand CEO Sue Bridgwater says the excellent snow conditions being experienced at Coronet Peak this season make it an ideal venue for the relocated event.

“The conditions are ideal and there is the added bonus that the world class Norwegian, Swedish and US men’s teams are all training in the region and have entered some of their best ranked racers. This offers a fantastic opportunity for Australian and New Zealand competitors.”

Fourteen -year-old Alexandra McGlinn and 13-year-old Nick Prebble of Team Hutt dominated four days of racing at the 2006 K Cup national ski racing series at Mt Hutt from August 10-13.

McGlinn headed off older competitors to win the two giant slaloms and two slaloms overall which gave her maximum points in the K2 Cup series (13 and 14 years) in both disciplines. Prebble showed his form scoring maximum points in the first two giant slalom starts of the four race K2 series. In the first slalom he did not finish the first run and was out of contention but he returned to win the second slalom overall and again the K2 win.

Adam Barwood of the Cardrona High Performance Centre’s (CPHC) Wanaka Ski Team was the overall winner in the first slalom and K2 winner. Barwood and Prebble now share the points going through to the final two starts at Cardrona in September.

The current lack of snow in Australia has forced the relocation of a four day race series in the prestigious Australia and New Zealand Continental Cup (ANC) to Coronet Peak at Queenstown from August 26-29.

The series which includes two giant slaloms and two slaloms was scheduled to be held at Mount Hotham but due to poor conditions Ski Snowboard Australia was unable to stage the event.

Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager Duncan Smith says by contrast Coronet Peak has been experiencing an excellent snow season with above average snowfalls.

“We have good conditions for racing and we have agreed to step into the breach and host the series at Coronet Peak. We are delighted to have the opportunity to do this because it is such a significant event for both New Zealand and Australian alpine skiers.”

Treble Cone made history this weekend by hosting the first ever Entry League FIS event to be held in New Zealand. More than 49 participants from around the world took part in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events at the Wanaka ski field, run in conjunction with the Wanaka Ski Club.

Competitors had two runs each over the Slalom and GS courses, which were based on Treble Cone’s new, super-wide Big Skite trail.

Queenstown’s Alpine Ski Team and Ski Racing NZ Talent Development athlete Taylor Rapley came a close second in Sundays slalom – an impressive feat for her first ever FIS event.

May 27 2006
SKI RACING NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCES 2006 NATIONAL TEAMS
The 2006 Volkswagen National Ski Team has six representatives including Winter Olympians Nicola Campbell (20) of Dunedin and Mickey Ross (26) of Oamaru. They are joined on the New Zealand team by Mark Bridgwater (20) of Christchurch and Michelle Greig (17) of Queenstown along with former Australian skier Scott Gange 25 and Canadian Janelle Miller 20.

Campbell is New Zealand's highest ranked woman in giant slalom, slalom and Super G. In giant slalom she has a world ranking of 258. Ross is New Zealand's top male slalom skier and is ranked 166 in the world in slalom.

Bridgwater met the Olympic qualifying criteria in downhill and Super G but a severe knee injury put him out of contention. He is the highest ranked New Zealand male in the speed disciplines and giant slalom. His best world ranking is 323 in downhill. Greig has been selected for the first time to the national team after reaching the top 500 in the world in Super G. She was nominated for the Winter Olympic team but missed selection by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to the New Zealand team.