SKI-ER’S VISIT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 16

SKI-ER’S VISIT

Instructors For N.Z. To Be Discussed

At present touring the South Island on a return visit to New Zealand is the former Austrian international ski-er, Ernst Skardarasy. Mr Skardarasy is the guest of the managing director of the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company, Ltd. (Mr Harry Wigley), who has flown him by ski plane to the head of the Tasman glacier and to several other parts of the South Island.

Mr Skardarasy is meeting many of the persons he knew when he came to New Zealand tn 1938 to start the ski instruction school at Mount Ruapehu with the help of Mr Wigley. From 1935 to 1937 he had organised sk’ schools in Australia.

Mr Skardarasy is to have a meeting in Wellington with officials of the Tourist Hotels Corporation and the New Zea land Ski Association. He intends to suggest that Australia and New Zealand could combine then efforts to gain top Austrian instructors at the major resorts, and that as one of the bestknown organisers of instruction in Europe he could probably arrange for six or eight men to come to this country under contract. Mr Skardarasy has already had talks in Australia, where five instructors whom he engaged in Arlberg, one of the finest Austrian ski resorts, are now working.

As Coronet Peak last week, Mr Skaradarasy said he was surprised that facilities for uphill transport at Mount Cook had not been developed. ‘‘Seeing that so much money has been spent on a new Hermitage, more could be used in providing a funiculai railway.” he said. “It is the only way to open up this great, country for ski-ers in the winter and tourists in the summer. I think the Sealey Range has amazing possibilities for such a railway.” If the Australians knew there were good facilities available. New Zealand would benefit greatly from an influx of tourists, said Mr Skardarasy. “This year, foi instance, has been a very lean one for snow in Australia. Even Americans would be attracted if there were better facilities, and South America is taking the lead in the Southern Hemisphere by rapidly expanding its resorts.”

At Coronet Peak, Mr Skar darasy watched some of the New Zealand ski championships He considered that there were a few very fine ski-ers, especially among the women, and applauded the suggestion that a team be sent to the Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley early next year.