Skiers able to train

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 48

Skiers able to train

Mount Hutt was open for the first time in three days yesterday but competitors in the Kiwi Lager national ski championships were only able to train, not race. Race officials decided they needed another day to prepare a giant slalom course and- were hoping for another frost last night. “We want the freeze,” said the chief of race, Jenny Shiel. Fog on Tuesday evening had interfered with the freezing process and the top part of the course was not frozen through. NorthwesteMy conditions this

week have brought, a considerable thaw with water running underneath the snow. Mrs Shiel said it was decided not to have a race for reasons of safety and the desire to get all the runners through the course. It is now hoped to run a giant slalom from 9.45 this morning with a slalom tomorrow, the last contingency day for the 1988 national championships. These two events would count for the national combined. However, there are still moves to holdt the

Colonial Mutual super-G as a national points race by extending race week at Mount Hutt to Saturday, Meanwhile, the national 'men’s champion and iOlympic ski-racer, Simon Wi Rutene, of Rotorua, is nursing an injured big toe after a freak accident on Monday evening. Wi Rutene said yester-day-that he had dropped a knife on his foot, severing a tendon. “I can ski,” he said, but without the customary confident grin. He may have an operation on the foot this Saturday.