Ski trip ‘worth while’

Press, 12 September 1987, Page 14

Ski trip ‘worth while’

By

NANCY CAWLEY

In spite of a reduced itinerary because of lack of snow, especially in the North Island, the top-class telemark skiers, Jef Desbecker and Robina Bodie, of Queenstown, have pronounced their demonstration tour of New Zealand well worth while. In the course of the tour, sponsored by Nevada Sport and Kuhtze, 400 people tried the free Nordic gear and received free instruction from the pair. “It was good to see New Zealanders doing something different,” said Bodie. “There was a great response from the ski-ing public and excellent co-operation from all ski-area staff. We made a lot of new friends.” Their van was their ski

shop, office and mobile home and they were still chuckling about the experience of sleeping in the van, twined around the skis, boots and poles. Now back in Queenstown, they are getting “psyched up” for the big telemark race of the season, the Karhu-Kuhtze telemark finals, to be held at The Remarkables tomorrow, starting at noon. A field of between 38 and 40 competitors from all over New Zealand is expected to race In the open dual slalom, on a course under the Alta double chairlift. “It is all for fun, and all free,” said Desbecker. “Racers should register at the van from 11 a.m. on race day.” The top contender will be

the champion American telemark skier from Cardrona, Whitney Thurlow. Other notable men in the race will include Geoff and Craig Hunt, of Queenstown, two visiting American telemark skiers, Doug Allee and Mike Letourneau, Mark Gabities and Roo Thomas, from Christchurch, and the former national downhill champion, Bruce Grant, of Queenstown. Among the leading women will be Christine Grant and Laurie Davis, of Queenstown, and Edie Young, Lee Ryan and Ann-Kristen Angstrom (Sweden), from The Remarkables ski school. In both the men’s and women’s sections the racers are an interesting mixture of amateurs and professionals, and of good alpinetelemark skiers.