Ski-ing cut back

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 24

Ski-ing cut back

From

KEVIN TUTTY

Methven l After three days of unskiable weather, the New Zealand ski-ing championships started at Mount Hutt yesterday, but only in marginal weather and the proposed programme for the day had to be reduced. A slalom was held, and it was hoped to have two runs. However, mist which shrouded the mountain for most of the day kept visibility low, and after the first run for men and women, it was decided to postpone the second run.

For much of the time only three or four gates could be seen, and some racers complained that they had difficulty with the course, as they would not see sufficient gates to gain a proper line. The second run of the slalom will be held todav and, given good weather, the officials hope to stage the giant slalom, also scheduled for to-

day, which involves two runs for men and one for women.

However, a much earlier start than yesterday’s 12.30 p.m. will have to be made. Not until an hour and a half after the finish of the men’s run yesterday were the provisional times released—much Too long. The leaders after the first ; run of the slalom were Robin ; Armstrong (Taranaki) and •Fiona Johnson (Canterbury), ■ both with comfortable leads.

, Both skied impressively and deserved their leading margins. There was punch in j the method with which they ! attacked the gates. Very few iof the other racers seemed Iwilling to tackle the course I with the same confidence. Miss Johnson's time for the 60-gate course was 58.835ec — this was 3.255ec faster ' than her Canterbury teammate, Julie Allison, and a further o.ossec behind was the defending national champion, Anna Archibald (Canterbury).

Miss Archibald recorded her time in a re-run after

the race jury found in favour of a protest by her. On her first run several skiers raced beside her over part of the course. Miss Archibald claimed that she lost her concentration and fell. After hearing evidence from a number of people in the vicinity, ■ her re-run time was allowed. It was more than I3.ssec better than her first run. Armstrong’s time for the course was 56.345ec, but he and other men had to race over a course that was badly rutted by the women, who competed first. In some places, the ruts were up to a foot deep. In second place was Julian Morris (Canterbury) in 58.73 sec. These two, with Miss Johnson, were the only skiers to break a minute for the course.

Jeremy Light (Cariterburv), who, until the start of the championships, was leading the men’s Reizenstein Cup, had the third fastest time. He recorded Imin O.losec and o.7Bsec behind him was Brett Kendall (Ruapehu), the New Zealand Olympic representative.

A young Italian skier training at Mount Hutt, Lorenzo Viarengo, had the sixth best time among the men with 1 min I.4ssec, a commendable effort. Major placings in the first run were:— MEN R. Armstrong (Taranaki), 56.345ec, 1; J. Morris (Canterbury), 58.73. 2; J. Light (Canterbury), 60.15, 3; B. Kendall 'Ruapehu), 60.93, 4; C. Wallis (Otago), 61.36. 5; L. Viarengo (Italy), 61.45. 6. WOMEN F. Johnson (Canterbury), 58.83, 1; J. Allison (Catnerbury), 62.08, 2; A. Archibald (Canterbury), 62.13. 3; M. Smith (Canterbury), 62.63, 4; C. Hendrickson (Methven). 64.43, 5: J. Mills (Queenstown), 65.40, 6.