Skiers for Europe

Press, 26 November 1979, Page 6

Skiers for Europe

Fifteen skiers were named in the New Zealand men’s and women’s A and B teams to train and race in Europe during the northern winter after special fitness tests concluded in Christchurch over the Week-end. The tests were conducted at the University of Canterbury by the former national women’s champion, Robyn Willis, and the head of the university’s physical education department, Mr Paul Carpinter.

A spokesman for the New Zealand Ski Association’s racing committee, Mr John Vryenhoek, said that the tests were a great success. Some team members did not perform up to standard, however, and their level of financial support will be reduced.

The teams are: A team. — Men: Stuart Blakely, Julian Morris, Mark Vryenhoek (Canterbury); Scott Kendall (Auckland). Women: Julia Allison, Anna Archibald, Fiona Johnson (all Canterbury).

B team. — Men: Roland Kuhn, Dean Stewart (Canterbury); Bruce Grant, Craig Paterson (Southern); Hans Dielacher (Auckland). Women: Kirsty Laird (Auckland); Christine Grant (Southern); Mandy Vryenhoek (Canterbury).

The selections of both Blakely and Kendall are sub-

ject to medical tests which will probably be made in the next two weeks by Dr Brian Heyward, who looked after the New Zealand rowing team’s health at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Miss Johnson (in Switzerland) and Morris (United States), both already training overseas, will also have to pass medical and fitness tests.

Kendall and Miss Johnson, together with Miss Archibald, were last week named in a national team of three to contest the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. New York, in iFebruary. I Yesterday the New Zealand Team as a whole took advantage of the extended season at Mount Hutt for a day’s ski-ing under Mr Andreas Hefti, a Swiss, who will coach the team at Lake Placid.

While the national teams head for Europe another leading Canterbury racer, Kate Rattray, will be taking up a special invitation to join the Aspen A squad in Colorado.

Miss Rattray, aged 17, has received the offer thanks to being noticed by an Aspen ski instructor who was at Mount Hutt when she competed in the F.I.S. (International Ski Federation) series there this winter. She will live with a family and receive free lift facilities.