N.Z. skier in 'bad fall’

Press, 19 February 1988, Page 22

N.Z. skier in ' bad fall’

By

PETER HUTCHINSON

NZPA Calgary The New Zealand skier, Madonna Harris, is recovering from a bad fall while training for the 20kilometre cross-country event scheduled for next week.

Harris, who is based at the Canmore Nordic Centre 110 km north of the city, slipped on ice while training early on Wednesday morning. She slipped on a steep downhill section of the course, falling heavily before landing hard against a group of trees. Although she was only bruised, the fall broke her favourite pair of skis and she will now have to replace them before the competition. Ice is becoming a problem in many areas of Southern Alberta, as the warm Chinook wind continues to blow across the region. Each day the temperatures reach the 7C or 8C mark, turning any remaining snow and ice into water.

Another problem affecting the performance of' the New Zealand team this week has been the uncertainty of whether the second bobsleigh team of Owen Pinnell and Bruce Sandford will be allowed to compete in the

two-day competition. Originally the pair were named only as reserves. However, the International Bobsleigh Association (F.1.8.T.) allowed them to train on the course so they would be familiar with it should either be required to compete if one of the New Zealanders was injured. The reserve pair have been recording times almost as fast as the number one team and permission has been sought from the New Zealand Olympic selectors for the team to compete in the competition this week-end. The bobsledders will have a new recruit to their ranks this week-end. The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Tapsell, who will arrive in Calgary today to visit the New Zealand team, was invited to take a run in a bobsleigh several weeks ago by the national fourman team.

Mr Tapsell accepted the offer and the Winter Olympics organising committee granted approval for the New Zealand team to take the Minister down the track on Sunday afternoon, after the two-man competition is finished. Mr Tapsell will sit at number three in the sled, which is not expected to reach the usual speeds of between 140 and 160 km/h.