SKI-ING Haensli Cup Contests To Be Held Next Week-end

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 15

SKI-ING Haensli Cup Contests To Be Held Next Week-end

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Oct. 3. The Haensli Cup ski contests. normally the major opening fixture of the ski racing season, will be held on Mount Ruapehu next week-end. The events were postponed from July owing to doubts over professionals racing with amateurs and possible damage to the Olympic status of skiers competing in such contests. The donor of the trophies. Mr Walter Haensli, of Klosters, Switzerland, and formerly chief ski instructor at the Chateau Tongariro, arrived in New Zealand recently on a visit and is at present at Ruapehu. After a detailed examination of international practice and interpretations of

professionalism, it has been decided there is no bar to holding the contests provided certain categories of ski racers are excluded.

Accordingly, the contests will be open to amateurs and to ski instructors provided they have not raced for money and have not specifically lent their name to advertising for payment Ski instructors entering will be asked to make a statement that they do not fall under these headings. The Haensli Cup races, held as giant slaloms, have been competed for in men's and women’s sections since 1951 and normally attract fine fields.

Owing to the short notice over the decision to hold the events next week-end, it is not known how strong the competition will be.