European plan could ban N.Z. ski-ing team

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 48

European plan could ban N.Z. ski-ing team

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A )

MAMMOTH LAKES (California).

Members of the New Zealand ski team may be barred from racing in major A grade races this European winter. The International Federation (F. 1.5. which administers ski races throughout the world, has before it a plan to limit the entry to the A grade World Cup races to those with a certain number of F.I.S. points.

This could be a real set-back for the four New Zealanders on their way to Europe to race.

The plan, which was put forward by the European Alpine Ski Federation, would limit the men competitors to those with 50 points or less and the women competitors to those with 80 points or less.

C. Womersley, the New Zealand men’s champion, who raced on the F.I.S. circuit last season, has points in the 60s, but no other member of the team has any points yet. And it will be several months before these racers are entered in the book of F.I.S. points.

COUNTER SCHEME However, the proposed plan has not yet been adopted by the F. 1.5., which has its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland, and there is apparently a counter plan which would allow any nation to enter racers whether they have points or not. The whole matter is expected to be settled soon, as the racing season begins in early December. Meanwhile, the New Zealand team is to go ahead and enter the F.I.S. A Grade meetings in the hope that they will be able to race.

Three members of the team —R. Willis, Womersley and T. Stewart—have been in the United States since early November, and’ D. John arrived this week to join them in training. INTERNATIONAL’S GUESTS The New Zealanders spent a short time as guests of D. McCoy, the former United States ski team representative, who lives in Denver, and while there trained at the Loveland ski area.

There has been enough snow in the Rockies to allow limited ski-ing and all the team members are taking advantage of this to get in as

much free ski-ing as possible before earnest training begins. Last week-end, Willis, Womersley, Stewart and the team manager (Mr H. Turnbull), moved to the Mammoth Mountain ski area, 400 miles north-east of Los Angles, at the invitation of the McCoy family, which operates the area. Part of their training has been under the guidance of D. Agee, who last winter coached the United States women’s team in Europe. They will stay at Mammoth Mountain until late this

month and plan to take part in a F.I.S. points race at Vail, in Colorado.

The itinerary for the New Zealand team in Europe will not be decided until it knows the outcome of the problem set F.I.S. on A Grade events, but the team hopes to race at Vai D’lsere, France, from December 16-20. New Zealand will also be represented in the Cotnonwealth Winter Games in St Moritz, Switzerland, from December 20-24. Other countries entered so far include Britain, Canada and Australia.