World skiers for N.Z.?

Press, 30 November 1978, Page 32

World skiers for N.Z.?

By

TIM DUNBAR

Canada is interested in sending its national skiing team to New Zealand during the next northern summer to train and race for two weeks, according to a letter from the team’s chief coach, John Ritchie, received this week by the convener of the New Zealand Ski Association’s racing committee (Richard Johnson). Mr Ritchie wants to be in New Zealand from July' 20 to August 3. The summer camp would obviously serve as part of the Canadian build-up to the Winter Olympics at Lake Plac-

id, New York, in February, 1980. During this period the third New Zealand F.I.S. (International Ski Federation) series will be held at Mount Hutt from July 24 to August 2, with the downhill, a Canadian speciality, the first event. “The number of racers that we would bring would be restricted to our Olympic team and would depend entirely on costs and available funds to support such a costly endeavour,” said Mr Ritchie. “Thus if you plan on giving aid through sponsorship to visiting teams we would em sbto i we would be most interested.” Mr Johnson said he would approach commercial ski fields, the Tourist and Publicity Department, and airlines to help to bring the Canadian team and other overseas teams to New Zealand. The visits of these teams helped to promote ski-ing, which attracted SI2M in overseas funds a year. Ski-ing was a great boost to New Zealand yet there was still no help from the Government or the tourist industry. The Austrians, Germans, and French were also interested in training in New Zealand. Included in the Canadian contingent would certainly be the talented downhill team of Ken Read (fourth), Dave Murray (twelfth), Steve Podborski (fifteenth), and Dave Irwin.

Another possible team member may be the top Canadian woman racer, Kathy Kreiner, who won the giant-slalom gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck.