SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23129, 30 August 1938, Page 14

SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEETING AT MOUNT COOK LONG DISTANCE EVENT HELD [BY TELEGRAPH —Pll ESS ASSOCIATION] THE HERMITAGE, Monday The New Zealand ski championships commenced to-day at Mount Cook, ibis is the first time for three years that the Dominion titles have been decided here, and, with a large gathering or some of the country's most prominent skiers at the Ball Hut, some interesting events are promised. Following & week of brilliant sunshine, the weather broke on Saturday, when a north-westerly wind sprang up and rain commenced to fall in the evening. There was rain during the whole of the week-end, with intermittent showers to-day. The snow is now very wet and icy in parts. The event to be run off to-day was the New Zealand long-distance ski championship, which took place on a course about 10 miles in length on the Hochstetter section of the Tasman Glacier, beginning at the moraine opposite the Ball Hut. The course wound through a series of hummocks as far as the Hochstetter icefall, then back to the starting point. Two laps of the course made up the required distance. The seven competitors started at half-minute intervals. J. Swan/ the first man away, led the field throughout the .race. Roy Sole, starting last, quickly overhauled the rest of the men with the exception of Swan, who was well ahead of them before the race was half finished. D. Mackenzie, a junior skier in his first season of competition in the open class, showed exceptional form to obtain third place. The result was:—J. Swan (Otago Ski Club), 65m 23 1-os, 1; Roy Sole, 66m 33 2-ss, 2; D. Mackenzie (Tasman Ski Club), 73m 41s, 3.