SKI CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 17

SKI CONTESTS

NEW ZEALAND TITLES

SLALOM EVENTS DECIDED H. WIGLEY OUTSTANDING [BY TKLECKAPH —PHKSS ASSOCIATION'] THE HERMITAGE, Tuesday The New Zealand ski championships were continued at Mount Cook to-day, when the men's and women's slalom championships were decided. The course was set on a steep snow face 011 tin 3 southern slopes of the Ball Ridge overlooking the Tasman Glacier.

Starting at the top of the ridge, 400 ft. above the finishing post, the course dropped into a steep gully, with a long traverse to the left, and finished through three controls. There was a strong north-west wind blowing, with driving snow, which affected the visibility. Wet snow conditions made turning difficult for most of the competitors.

H. Wiglev, who was the outstanding runner, gave a magnificent exhibition. He showed he had profited by his contact with the American skiers and his participation in the interDominion contests in Australia.

B. Wigley, who is still at school, shows promise of developing into a first-class skier. Iji spite of his youth he displayed a good knowledge of skiing, his steady running being a lesson to some of the older competitors. Schwieters made a good first run, but broke his ski early in the second. He continued and was only beaten out of second place by a fifth of a second.

In the women's slalom race Miss J. Beale showed a return to her 19.35 form to regain the Dominion title. She also is showing considerable improvement since her trip to Australia last year as a member of the New Zealand team. Mrs. H. Ely gained a place by steady running through the controls. Miss P. Wigley skied with great dash, but was unfortunate in losing a ski in the first run. Her ski-ing was a little erratic. .Results were:—

Men's Slalom Championship. —H. Wigley (Tasman Ski Club), total of two runs, 2m 13 3-ss, 1; R. Wigley (Aorangi Ski Club), 3m 13 3-ss, 2; P. Scliwieters (Stratford Mountain Club), 3m 13 4-ss, 3. Next in order were:—R. D. Cole, C. L. Mahan, J. Swan, G. W. Day, R. McKenzie, D. McKenzie, C. Straubel and H. Carter. W omen's Slalom Championship.—Miss J. Beale (Stratford Mountain Club), total for two runs, 3m 26 4-os, 1; Mrs. H. Ely (Sydney), 3m 45 l-os, 2; Miss P. Wigley (Tasman Ski Club), 4m 19 4-ss, 3. RESULTS AT CHATEAU AUSTRALIAN CLUB'S RACES [by TELEGRAPH OWN CORHESPONnENTj THE CHATEAU, Tuesday In spite of windy conditions and poor visibility there was an enthusiastic crowd at the ski-ing grounds to-day to witness races under the auspices of the Sydney Ski Club. The early morning was humid, but the weather later became colder, and by mid-day snow was falling on the mountain. Results were as follows:

Downhill. —Hatchman, 1m 595, J. The Australians finished in the following order: —Purcell, 2m 35Js, 1; Michaelis. 2m 40s, 2; Sheldon, 3m 245. 3. Slalom Race.—Hatchman, 375, 1. The Australians finished as follows: — Michaelis 48Js, 1; Purcell, lm 5Js, 2; Sheldon, lm 7s, 3.