Young U.S. skiers brought new ideas to N.Z.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 15

Young U.S. skiers brought new ideas to N.Z.

'THERE is no doubt that x the visit of the American junior ski-racing team to New Zealand was a tremendous success from all points of view. It gave the team of eight boys and four girls the type of “summer” training it required, provided some welcome overseas competition for New Zealand's top racers and showed the national administrators the importance of placing emphasis on youth. The Americans, who all came from the north eastern states, were between 13 and 16 years old and yet they proved a good match for even New Zealand’s Olympic representatives. They showed just what could be done by young persons with the proper preparation and correct attitude.

There must be a good chance that New Zealand's administrators will endeavour to prepare their young skiers in a similar fashion. Informal discussions with the specialist racing coach (Mr W. Witherell), who managed the team, and the chaperone (Miss P. Nutt) should ensure that there is at least some new thinking at top level in the future.

The situation in America Is of course vastly different from that in New Zealand. Lack of finance, the comparatively small numbers actively engaged in the racing side of the sport and the difficulty of obtaining cheap off-season preparation indicate that it will be many years before New Zealand can equal American and European standards. However, some of the ideas used by the Americans could be of benefit to New Zealand.

The plan to make a visit to New Zealand originated in April when several parents of young skiers in the north eastern states discussed with Mr Witherell the possibility of a summer training trip to the southern hemisphere. Usually, Portillo in Chile is the venue for a summer training camp but the langauge problem and the fact that snow conditions are not always suitable for racing prompted them to look elsewhere.

New Zealand was chosen. Mr Witherell then invited 35 promising youngsters from different skifields and finally reduced this number down to 12 for the privately sponsored and organised trip to New Zealand. The organisation withih New Zealand was handled by Mr S. Blakeley, of Auckland, who was manager of the national Olympic team. Although the American team was completely unofficial as far as the American Ski Association was concerned, it represented the cream of the youngsters

from the north eastern states. There are 6000 classified junior racers in this area, and the 15-year-old, T. Skating, who made such a deep impression in New Zealand, is ranked among the first 10. American skiers are classed as juniors until they are 18. In America, the young racers live at major ski resorts and ski every day of the season which begins in November. There is usually a race meeting every weekend and most of them make the most of the chance to increase their experience in these. With top-class training, the young Americans are able to improve rapidly. Bearing this background in

mind, it was not surprising that they proved a constant threat to the top New Zealanders in the recent national championships at Coronet Peak. The fruits of their visit will be apparent in their coming home season when they will be competing for places in the national junior team. Later they will develop into candidates for the Olympic team. At the last Winter Olympics America had one 14-year-old in its team, so youth is no disadvantage. The concentrated type of preparation the American visitors had certainly proved successful in the New Zealand championships. Four finished in the first six places in the

women’s giant slalom, the women’s slalom and the men’s slalom. Two finished In the first six in the men’s giant slalom. The benefits of the type of training trip undertaken by the Americans are obvious. The result is that a team of very sound, technically proficient young skiers is obtained. It is a lead that New Zealand could well follow. America would certainly be happy to act as hosts to a young group from New Zealand. The American visitors were very fortunate to have a racing coach as talented as Mr Witherell accompanying them. He is attached to the United States Eastern Ski Association and specialises in juniors. However, his interests are wide. He is a teacher of English and social science and a qualified baseball and soccer coach. He is also a former world champion water skier.