Ski-ing Rules Must Now Be Enforced

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31158, 7 September 1966, Page 15

Ski-ing Rules Must Now Be Enforced

IT is to be hoped that the disqualification of Miss K. Guy (Canterbury), P. Hubrich (Otago) and C. Womersley (Canterbury'), for training on the closed giant slalom course at the Bata Cup ski race meeting at Mount Cheeseman ski field during the week-end, will not have any residue of unpleasantness with those officials and racers concerned.

In the circumstances, the disqualifications had to be made. The three racers were training through the gates in full view of the ski lodge.

Although all three were aware the course had been closed they were under the impression this was only because of some soft snow in the gates further up the course. Even so, they knew the course was dosed and were clearly guilty of a technical breach of the New Zealand Ski Association racing rules.

It was a just decision; harsh but just No-one can deny that the roles ought to be enforced. However, now that the racing officials have taken a stand against racers using a course after it has been closed, all officials anywhere in New Zealand should always uphold this ruling in the future. If this should mean that courses have to be patrolled after they have been closed, then they will have to be patrolled.

This may place an extra burden on the officials but it will be necessary if the roles are to be enforced all the time.

If, at any race in the future, officials see racers training on a closed course, and do nothing about it, then the disqualifications last week-end will have been unfair on the racers. There was nothing unfair about the disqualifications, and the matter can quietly slin into the limbo where it belongs as long as the rulings are consistently enforced in the future.