SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS OF NORTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27096, 20 July 1953, Page 10

SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS OF NORTH ISLAND

DOWNHILL EVENTS HELD (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH. July 19. The downhill events in the North Island ski championships were decided on Mount Ruapehu on Saturday, but the slalom events to have been held today were postponed because of poor visibility. The slaloms will probably now be decided in the week-end of August J 5 and 16. Larry Frost, a former ski instructor at Mount Ruapehu, won the open title with Stan Kinder, a present member of the Chateau Tongariro mountain staff, in second place. W. Hunt (Taumarunui). a member of the 1951 New Zealand team which attended the Olympic Games at Oslo, was third in the open class and second in the amateur section.

The amateur class was won by Kaygretta (Austria).

Snow conditions were excellent, but bad visibility resulted in poor times. All placewinners in both sections had falls or overshot gates. The course was set by Mr Harvey Clifford, the Canadian ski instructor on Mount Ruapehu. It was about one and a half miles long. Competitors appeared to take the course on the defensive because of the visibility, which accounted for the poor times. The championships were conducted for the New Zealand Ski Council by the Wanganui Ski Club, assisted by the Otaihape Ski Club. j