SKI-ING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21113, 12 August 1938, Page 14

SKI-ING

NORTH v. SOUTH 1934 CHAMPIONSHIPS (By Ski Heil) In every respect the 1934 championships were an unqualified success, and they were by far the most representative meeting yet held. The gathering included practically every skier of note from all corners of the country. Thirty members of South Island clubs were present, and, with a full muster of North Island Clubs, the capacity of the Chateau and annexes was taxed to its utmost. Special mention should be made of the third visit of T. W. Mitchell (3.C.V.) to the New Zealand snows and of the enterprise of H. H. Elworthy and H. and A. Wigley who, piloted by Captain Mercer, flew from the Mount Cook meeting in time to be present for the championship races. There was again demonstrated a decided improvement in the standard of New Zealand ski-ing. Although Mitchell was outstanding in the Downhill and Slalom events, in which his brilliant performances were a lesson and an inspiration to all, competition for the remaining places was exceedingly keen and the margins narrow. There were those who predicted that within a year or two we would have a number of competitors from both North and South Islands who would make a race of it with Mitchell, whom we hope to welcome to New Zealand many times yet. s Apart from the main activities on the mountain, the 1934 meeting was the first real gathering of both North and South Island enthusiasts, and united inter-island interests as no other medium could have done. Amid the stress and storm of the largest championship meeting yet held in New Zealand, with frenzied endeavours to mark off courses, run races, advise competitors and spectators, work out results, hold committee meetings and general meetings, and find and prepare ou(j own equipment, we still found time to appreciate the willing assistance and good humour of the competitors and spectators alike. The Men’s Downhill Championship was run on the Whakapapa glacier, Mt. Ruapehu and the snow conditions were heavy spring snow, smooth, windswept j and very fast. This race had been ' planned to start at least another i I.oooft up the mountain, but above the | 7,000 ft level the frozen crust was too icy to continue higher at that time, i There is ample room anywhere from I this point to the top of the mountain for a simultaneous start, but, as .the final gully (under the poor snow conditions) showed too many rocks for safety, we decided in favour of a one minute interval start. From the start the course follows down “The Terraces” for over a mile of fast open running, down undulating slopes, until a pair of control flags at the “Cornice” keep the field from nose-driving on to the “Flats” below. Those who can keep their equilibrium here should have no complaints about their speed, for the “Flats” are windswept, firm snow with ample room until they end in the “Hoop”—a steep schuss of rough, windswept snow leading down into the “Gut.” An exciting final run of half a mile down a winding gully brings one to this year’s finish at 5.000 ft. The snow in normal years would allow one to carry on still further. H. Wigley was unlucky in drawing first place and was almost caught by Elworthy, who started a minute later. Brian McMillan, A. Wigley and Myhre ran with great dash, but the undulating drift snow gave trouble to many—particularly towards the end of the open descent ' ! and down the gully. T. Mitchell made amazing speed and took everything in his flight, as may be seen from the times. His performance’was not approached by any other competitor. The placings weer as follows:—T. W. Mitchell (Victoria), 1. H. H. Elworthy (T.S.C.) 2, B. W. McMillan (S.M.C.) 3, B. E. Murphy (E.A.C.) 4. A. Wigley (T.S.C.) 5. H. H. Elworthy won the day for the South Island and with six South Islanders in the first nine to finish, the contention of Mitchell in a previous year, that ski-ing was of a i higher standard in the North Island | whs somewhat upset. | Mrs A. B. Evi ward s (C.S.C.) brought additional honours to the South Island iby winning the downhill, Slalom and j Combined Women’s Championship, I finishing ahead of the redoubtable j North Island trio Misses J. Beale, P. and J. Murphy. The Men’s Slalom Championship was easily won by Mitchell and Brian McMillan was the best New Zealander, with South Islanders filling the next four places. The results were: T. W. Mitchell (S.C.V.) 1, Brian McMillan (S.M.C.) 2, A Wigley (T.S.C.) 3, H. H. Elworthy (T.S.C.) 1, W. B. Myhre | (C.S.C.) 5, and H. Bigley (T.S.C.) 6. There were twenty-five competitors. The Long Distance Championship, I was run from the Salt Hut across the Flats to turn up Snow Valley, ending in a steep ascent back to the Scoria Flat and eventually back to the Salt Hut. This race was a triumph for the North Islanders who filled the first eight places. To some extent skiers like

Murphy and McMillan proved themselves the most versatile in the country. And so by 1934 ski-ing as an organised competitive sport was now definitely established and the leading New Zealanders were to occupy the centre of the stage for several years to come. Ski Wax Research If it is too soon to expect* any independent research into snow conditions in this country there are smaller fields of mor 3 immediate interest to our skiers in which much good woik can be done. Chief among these is the examination of the innumerable skiwaxes, to find which are the best suited to our conditions. There appears to have been very little done in this direction yet. Most of us are con ten’, to rely on a general utility downhill wax, with paraffin for wet snow and sealskins for lengthy, climbs. But both racing and touring already demand a better and winter range than this. Cannot anyone be induced to devote a little time to this most interesting subject and then let us have -he benefits of his experiments? Learning to Ski In the Timaru Public Library will be found some excellent works on the art of ski-ing and a cursory glance through thesv books will prove invaluable. Beginners, for instance, will be interested to know th A there are even correct ways of falling apart from the usual stock methods employed by most of us. Pronunciation of “Ski” We have read several articles and letters by Englishmen, Norwegians, Germans and Americans on the question of th 3 pronunciation of “ski,” having thoroughly studied these articles we are convinced that the correct thing to say is “ski” and/or slice; weight is added to this opinion by the clarity of a skier’s answer when asked by the waitress would he have tea or coffee? The answer was “tea or coffee thanks.” Tasman Ski Club Meeting With the prospects not particularly bright the Tasman Ski Club will hold a ski sports meeting during the weekend somewhere in the Mackenzie. Members of the clul will spend part of Saturday looking for a suitable place. The programme will include Slalom races for inei and women, a race /or non-members also a novelty race, and a ribbon race. New Zealand Championships The race committee in control of the 1938 meeting at Mount Cook is meeting each week in Timaru, and all preliminary arrangements are well in hand. A large number of control flags has been generously given by the Kodac Company, and these will prove most useful. It is reported that the special stop watches which belong to the Tourist Department are not available as they have been given for a minor North Island meeting. Ski-ing cn Two Thumb Range Now that the snow has departed for the greater part of the Mackenzie Country the members of the Tasman Ski Club will enjoy the facilities provided by the hut on Mt. Fox. This hut is stocked with skis, ample food . rd has accommodation for more than 20 persons. High country touring should be popular and good ski touring would be found along the top of the Nimrod range. Ski touring has not found much popularity as yet, probably because of the difficult access to suitable terrain. A succession of winters such as the present one would develop a new school of more eneigetic skiers.