YOUNG SKIERS PERFORM WELL ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE

 February 9 2006

National Junior Team member Alice Ralston (16 years) of Auckland has clocked her first podium finish in an international ski race. Based with the Vail Ski Team in the USA and now competing in Europe Alice took equal first place at the National Junior giant slalom event at Oberwiesenthal Germany on February 5th, scoring a creditable 68.64 personal best result.

The win follows a number of promising performances in the USA by Ralston, who trains during the Southern Hemisphere winter with the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team. In mid January she scored a personal best 87 point result in slalom and a 72 in giant slalom at Eldora Colorado USA.

Nick Prebble (12 years), who trains with Team Hutt and is a SRNZ Talent ID Programme member has recently competed at the Borrufa International Childrens races at Spain, racing against young athletes from around 25 nations Nick took first place in the Children 1 giant slalom and 7th in the super-G.

Not to be outdone his older brother Jamie (14 years), also form Team Hutt, took 7th place in the Children 11 giant slalom.

Charlotte Newbold who trains with Queenstown Alpine Ski Team also scored a top ten finish taking 10th place in the Children 11 slalom.

All three athletes are currently training with Yannick Bellon in Switzerland.

 Nick Prebble on the podium                Alice Ralston in action