NEW ZEALAND SKIING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1934, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND SKIING

VISITING EXPERT'S VIEW

GREAT IMPROVEMENT MADE

High praise of the improvement made in Now Zealand skiing during the past two years and of tho facilities and skiing fields at the disposal of New Zcalandcrs, was given by the noted Australian skier Mr. T. W. Mitchell after competing in the New Zealand amateur ski championships at Mount Ruapehu, states the 'New Zealand Herald." Mr. Mitchell, who won the New Zealand ski championship title, said tho progress niiide in the sport sinco his last visit had been remarkable.

Mr. Mitchell praised especially the improvement made by ninny young New Zealand skiers, such as Brian McMillan and B. E. Murphy, in the North Island, and H. Wigley and A. Wigley, in the South Island, who had learnt all their skiing in this country and .yet had reached the highest class. That this was possible spoke well, not only for the facilities at their disposal, but also for the system and the work done by officials organising the sport.

Now Zealnnders had shown in tho last two years that they could learn to ski and it was evident from .the work being done'by Mr. C. Taylor, a guide at the Chateau, and a member of the Ruapelm Ski Club, that they could teach skiing also. For the further development of the sport in New Zealand he advocated the method being adopted in Australia of sending local skiera overseas for tuition and engaging them to teach skiing on their return. This had proved more satisfactory than engaging foreign instructors to teach beginners, and tlio Government or ski clubs would find tho expense well worth while.

Mr. Mitchell paid a high tribute to the skiing facilities of tiro Dominion, which were far superior to those available in Australia. New Zealand skiers were fortunate in the co-operation given by the Government. Tho enlargements to Salt Hut and tho new road being made to Scoria Flat were great improvements at National Park and the completion of the road and the prevision of a telephone to Salt Hut would still further increase the popularity of the Chateau.

If skiers could travel by car right to tho skiing grounds they would be able to go for their races higher up the mountain, where there were courses as exacting as any in the Southern Hemisphere. In view of tho great advance made in the last two years, Mr. Mitchell expressed himself as confident that skiing would shortly become one of New Zealand's chief winter sports.

For the further advancement of the sport it remained to inaugurate competition between Australia and New Zealand. Such a movo would be a great benefit to both countries and he hoped a New Zealand team, or at least a representative, would visit Victoria for the Centenary meeting next August, to strengthen the spirit of cooperation that already existed between skiers in the two Dominions If a team were to-visit Australia it would be assured of a. cordial welcome. It was expectod that several prominent Australian skiing officials would bo visiting Now Zealand next year.