Series restricted to one venue

Press, 19 July 1988, Page 40

Series restricted to one venue

The B.P. Europa F.I.S. ski-ing series in New Zealand this winter will now be restricted to a single venue, Turoa, Mount Ruapehu. According to the secretary of the New Zealand Ski Association, 'Adrian Farnsworth, the Mount Hutt sector of the series had to be cancelled be-

cause of a lack of support from overseas women’s teams for the early August date.

A women’s slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom were scheduled at Mount Hutt from August 2 to 5. Mr Farnsworth said that the series would now just consist of international men’s slalom and giant slalom races at Turoa from August 9 to 12.

However, the N.Z.S.A. would still be endeavouring to hold a F.I.S. event (with a different sponsor)

at Mount Hutt at the end of September, based around the United States women’s team. The Turoa event has received good support from the Northern Hemisphere and teams from Canada, the United States and Norway are all expected to be starters, as well as Australia. Already confirmed is the 11-man United States team which includes two world-rated

skiers, Jeremy Nobis and Felix McGrath. McGrath finished third in the slalom standings on the 1987-88 World Cup circuit and Nobis, aged 18, won the gold medal in super-G at the world junior championships at Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy, last January. Turoa plans to bid for a World Cup ski-ing event in 1991 and these international races are regarded as a stepping stone.