LITTLE KNOWN OF SKIER’S PLANS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31773, 2 September 1968, Page 12

LITTLE KNOWN OF SKIER’S PLANS

(N.Z. Press Association) TIMARU, Sept. 1. Very little is known at the Hermitage and Mount Cook National Park headquarters about the reported plans of a Japanese skier to ski down Mount Cook and there is a strong possibility that the feat will not be accomplished. Mr H. Sohda, a professional ski instructor and photographer, was reported on Friday as saying he had been training in Australia, and would ski down the mountain lon Saturday if the weather was fine.

He said that his attempt

was being sponsored by a Japanese manufacturer of ski equipment

Several attempts to interview Mr Sohda at the Hermitage by telephone from Timaru at the week-end were unsuccessful.

A spokesman at the park headquarters said nothing was known of Mr Sohda and his plans. “He speaks very little English. and it is difficult to get through to him," said a resident at Mount Cook. "1 really don't think he has said—or meant to say—that he will attempt to s’ki down Mount Cook. Rather, it appears he has a strong desire to ski from ’ a high altitude in the vicinity of Mount Cook.”