N.Z. ski-ing about to join the ‘world’?

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 28

N.Z. ski-ing about to join the ‘world’?

A ski-ing World Cup 'event in the Southern 1 Hemisphere within three •years? ■That most exciting possibility emerged at informal discussions during the recent Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, according to the manager of the New Zealand team, Mr Richard Johnson. .>i He says in his report on •the Games that he was able to renew acquaintances with fellow members of the F.I.S'. (International Ski Federation) alpine committee during the birthday party of the committee’s chairman, Mr Rato Melchior.

Mr Johnson found a strong feeling of support for the existing Southern Hemisphere international race series and also received verbal confirmation of his proposal. to have a cjfcuit cup for the Australia and New Zealand F.I.S. series.

' “The main advantage of this,” said Mr Johnson, “is that the minimum race penaltv would be equal to the fifteenth racer on the. F.I.S. points list instead of the twenty-fifth aS for ordinary F.I.S. races.

. “This should act as an added incentive for visitors to participate.” Mr Johnson said that the Canadians had suggested that “we” should hold a World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere which would be the first event in the World Cup circuit each year. Such an

event might be possible in three years, he said. New Zealand’s ski-ing team at Lake Placid consisted of Anna Archibald, Fiona Johnson, Stuart Blakely, Scott Kendall and Mark Vryenhoek, and were guided by the former Swiss national coach, Mr Andreas Hefti.

Although their results were far from spectacular, Mr Johnson was adamant that the trip was a “well worth-while affair —

though we’d like to have done better.” He mentioned that tremendous progress had been made since 1978 in Retting New Zealand known as an alpine skiing nation. Blakely finished thirtysecond in the men’s downhill with a time of Imin 55.41 sec. This was 21 places higher than he had achieved at the 1976 In* nsbruck Olympics. His time was 9.9lsec behind the gold medallist (Leonhard Stock, of Austria), compared with the 12.18 sec difference in 1976.

“Not only has he kept pace with the terrific improvement made by the best downhillers in the world, but he has actually improved his own performance,” said Mr Johnson. “This is most creditable when one recalls the New Zealand racing programme and compares it- to that of the big nations.. Nor could we match the expertise in

waxing that is available to the top racers.” The only other New Zealand male to finish an event at the Olympics was Kendall, of Auckland, who was placed twenty-sixth from 83 starters (37 finishers) with a time of 2min 0.99 s for the two runs —16.73 s behind the winner, Ingemar Stenmark (Sweden). “Scott’s. results were very good considering the condition and difficulty of the courses. He ski’d with determination and fighting spirit,” Mr Johnson said. Mr Johnson said he strongly believed that New Zealand must be represented at future Olympics. “I felt very proud to see the New Zealand flag flying at 10 different venues and was frequently asked why Australia had a similar flag with one more star. A more sophisticated way of inquiring if New Zealand is part of Australia.” The obvious benefits from New Zealand’s participation were, he said, a successful “ski pool” promotion for New Zealand s F.I.S. series, publicising its ski areas, recognition of New Zealand’s best skiers and continuing contact with F.I.S. officials.” “Most importantly.” he said, “it provides an opportunity to meet and talk with officials and coaches of other alpine nations. It is an ideal forum to promote the New Zealand

tourist industry with posters and other publicity material.” Mr Johnson said that the New Zealand skiers had become very tired during pre-Games training and racing in Europe. He became confirmed in his belief that “we need more training as a team, with less racing and travelling.” In Mr Johnson’s opinion, attaching the leading New Zealand skiers to other national teams had not worked in their best interests. “It has been forced upon us by finance

and Jack of depth “I believe, in the future, we should form men’s and women’s teams again with no • specialists. It is important we try to have a team on the World Cup circuit with the 1982 world championships in Austria as our goal.” He said that he agreed with the principle of Olympic selection standards being based on F.I.S. points, but he also believed that the Olympic team members should all have experienced a sea-

son’s racing on the World Cup. Mr Johnson said the New Zealand skiers had done better in every event at Lake Placid than they did at Innsbruck in 1976. In addition to Blakely’s performance, if the best New Zeland run in each event was considered, New Zealand was 9s behind the women’s downhill winner (17s in 1976). Other comparisons — men’s giant slalom 13s (16s), women’s giant slalom 9s (12s), women’s sla--7s (16s).