The April showers and the clocks go back mean that Autumn is here with winter close behind, it also means that the Northern Winter is finishing up, with a few races left some of our athletes are hanging on to the bitter end. Virginia Orange, Mickey Ross, Alice Ralston, Leighton Winsloe, Sarah Jarvis and Volkswagen National Team Member Janelle Miller are still competing so keep an eye on the FIS website for their results.
Remember to keep up to date with all our news by regularly checking our website and if you have something to share with our members send it to me for inclusion in our next e news. To subscribe simply send an email to newsletter@skiracing.org.nz with subscribe in the subject. Please pass this on to everyone who wants to keep up to date with all our news. |
|
FEATURE ITEM
TEAM NEWS
FROM THE OFFICE
SNOWSPORTS UPDATE
ATHLETE NEWS
|
FEATURE ITEM
Ben Griffin & Janelle Miller finish season on a high
 Volkswagen National Team Member Ben Griffin has scored two wonderful SG results to end his season on a very high note, after winning a Super G race in Austria, Ben scored a 28 point SG result at Sarntal in Germany. This will see him ranked inside the top 200 in Super G to go with his top 150 ranking in GS. Ben has also achieved some very strong Super Combi results and willl start the 08-09 season as New Zealand’s top ranked skier. Janelle Miller is just finishing her season in fine style with two thirty point results, giving her around 33 points on the new list and firmly placing her at the top of the New Zealand women’s slalom ranknings. In world terms Janelle will be around 330th in the world with her new slalom points and has seen a 8 point improvement this season. Coach Mike Gould is confident that she will go on to bigger things next year.
Whistler Cup News
The finals Children’s FIS race for New Zealand athletes is now on in Canada and the team led by Ruapehu Programme Director John Armstrong has just completed a three week training camp in Silver Star before heading over the Whistler. Volkswagen National Development Team member Finlay Neeson is amongst the athletes representing New Zealand and is on great form after finishing in the top 10 in the Canadian K2 Nationals Slalom race, he also was 8th in the first run of the Super Combi and had the 5th fastest second run in the GS event. Fellow Ruapehu athlete Jamie Green recently won the Zone finals GS and was second in Slalom. Watch their results here and on the FIS website.
TEAM NEWS
Volkswagen National Team Home
This morning the final members of the Volkswagen National Ski Team arrived back in Auckland after a gruelling but successful 5-month programme in North America and Europe. Coach Nils Coberger together with Mark Bridgwater and Ben Griffin arrived back in the early hours of 2nd April. Technical specialist Tim Café and Angus Howden had already completed their programmes and arrived back in Mid March. They will all be enjoying a period of well-earned rest and will catch up with friends and family before starting their intense preparations for the 2008 season, which begins, in only two months time. To find out where you can catch up with them this season why not keep an eye on their plans on the Volkswagen Teams Homepage.
Snowvision join with Volkswagen Teams for three years
Ski Racing New Zealand is proud to announce that the Snowvision Foundation has joined with Ski Racing New Zealand to sponsor the Volkswagen National Team and Volkswagen National Development Team for the next three years. Snowvision founder, Fiona Stevens and Ski Racing New Zealand General Manager, Simon Mills confirmed their relationship with a glass of Champagne and are both committed to working together to support our ski teams. The Black on White Brand will become a feature of our team uniforms and assist us in developing our Team Brands and sponsorship opportunities.
2008-09 Nominations, criteria and timeline
Don’t forget for those of you wishing to apply to join the Volkswagen National Teams, you have until 14th April to get your application in, also note this year that a signed athlete agreement should accompany this. Please get forms and further information on the teams from the athlete information section of our website, click here to go there now.
FROM THE OFFICE
2008 Handbook
The 2008 athlete handbook is being put together over the coming months and we will be offering the premium advertising spaces shortly, make sure that you don’t miss out by booking your spot now, to do this please send an email to simon@skiracing.org.nz. This is a great opportunity to get your company or products in front of a wide and captive audience and applications received before the end of April will receive preferential rates.
Board Vacancy
At the next AGM, Nick Tapper will be stepping down as his term on the Ski Racing New Zealand board concludes, we would like to invite applications for this position and ideally we are seeking someone with marketing and media experience, together with commercial skills to help us promote and attain additional support for our organisation and our members. If you would like to know more about this please contact simon@skiracing.org.nz, applications will close 40 days before the AGM
10th FIS Points list now available
The tenth FIS points list for the 2007/08 winter season will be available soon on our site, it can be downloaded in PDF and Excel file format. Click the link below to go straight to that page.
GM Calendar to go online
Click the link below to view the General Manager’s Diary. This is currently being developed as a feature of the new website and will be added to shortly.
How are we doing?
At Ski Racing New Zealand we are seeking your feedback, so if you have an opinion, want to see something different, want to see something new, have a good idea, please let us know. Don’t forget that we are able to come and meet your local club and discuss what we are doing. Feedback and our members opinions are valuable to us so email simon@skiracing.org.nz if you have something to add.
SSNZ UPDATE
Snowsports AGM
The Snowsports New Zealand AGM is taking place in Wanaka on 13th April 2008. To keep up to date with what is happening at Snowsports please contact Kristy Quinn on kristy@snowsports.org.nz and she will add you to her newsletter list.
ATHLETE NEWS
Kiwis still going hard.
Our Kiwi skiers are still racing and training in the Northern Hemisphere and are finishing off the season in style. Several athletes are still competing in both North America and in Europe and don’t forget the athletes at the Whistler Cup, Canada. Check the FIS website for their latest results or check www.skiracing.org.nz. |
