Top downhillers at F.I.S. series

Press, 19 July 1979, Page 9

Top downhillers at F.I.S. series

Probably the best array of downhill talent to assemble in Australasia is now at Mount Hutt for the third Europa international ski-ing series there from July 24 to August 2. Ihe Canadian Olympic team arrived in Christchurch on Monday evening and was expected to be followed by the United States downhill team. All four members of the top Canadian team (Ken Read, Dave Murray, Dave Irwin and Steve Podborski) have F.I.S. start points under eight. Three of the Americans (Andy Mill, Doug Powell, and Karl Anderson) also have points in single figures.

Another seven racers, including the four Canadians in the “backup” downhill squad, also have very good points of between 15 and 22. The standings of David Griff (21.02) and Antony Guss (21.37) are the lowest recorded by an Australian in downhill since the days of Malcolm Milne.

The highlight of the 1978 International Ski Federation series was undoubtedly the downhill, the third event on the programme. Read, ranked fourth in the world, headed off Norway’s Erik Haker by 0.86 s after a thrilling battle. This time the downhill will be the first event, probably on July 27 or 28, and again it is gearing up to be the most spectacular.

Read, aged 23, was in good form on the latest World Cup downhill circuit and may well have finished a place or two better than his eventual equal fourth had he not been disqualified after

winning one race because of an “illegal suit.”

Aqt Mount Hutt Read will', be closely pressed by his ' three team mates, of whom Murray and Podbor ski (equal tenth) were the highest placed on the Wo rid Cup circuit.

Mill at 26 the veteran of the United States, team, was' placed sixth in the 197(5 Olympic downhill (onet place behind Read), but Ibis fellow Americans, Karl: Anderson and Mike Farrfsy, both finished aheail of him on the 197879 l.Vorld Cup downhill circus’t.

Beis t of the New Zealandesrs in the downhill is likely to be the national champion, Stuart Blakely, while skiers such as Scott Kenda 11. Mark Vryenhoek, and ttie promising youngsters, Allen Fraser and Dean Stewart, will be watcHsd with interest in the otl ler events. Wh.i le the talent of the male (overseas competitors is lar s ely concentrated on downhill, that of the wometn is spread throughout tbie three diciplines.

The United States has brought two strong teams, with clownhill stars such as Cinfdy Nelson (the 1976 Olympi c bronze medallist) and Holly Flanders; and slalom, specialists such as Abbi ’Fisher (6.39 F.I.S. points)) and Tamara McKinney (9.84). Ms McKinney is the younger sister iof Steve McKinney, the first t skier to break the 200 km|/h barrier. With) her fourth over-all place i.ti the 1978-79 World Cup, ills Nelson helped the Uni| ted States women’s team t<)> third place in the Nation,).’ Cup. She was fourth in downhill (secom I! in 1977-78), seventh equal in giant slalom and twjenty-eighth in slalom.

Both the top New Zealand women, Fiona Johnson (ex Switzerland) and Anna Archibald (Australia), have just arrived back home from overseas and this F.I.S. series — plus the one in Australia immediately afterwards — might be their last chances to lower points and qualify for the Olympics.

This is the first time a women’s points race has been possible in New Zealand with six of the American women below 20 points in slalom and five under 20 in giant slalom. Once again the organising committee for the series is led by the hardworking Neil Harrison, a Rangiora chemist. He has been assisted by Vicky Laing, Richard Johnson, John Morris (chief of race), Peter Yeoman and Graeme Mangin.