SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 26 August 1936, Page 8

SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

EVENTS AT RUAPEHU | FIRST DAY'S ABANDONMENT THE CHATEAU, Aug. 25. i Unfavourable weather and snow' conditions necessitated the abandon-1 ment of the first day's event in the New Zealand ski championships at 1 Ruapehu to-day. It had been intended to hold the men's and women's, downhill races, but through the wea-j ther being too misty it was decided to attempt to hold the shorter slalom. The course was set on the same slope used for the last New Zealand championship held at Ruapehu in 1934 to the west of Scoria Flat. Increasing mistiness resulted in a delay in the start till after mid-day, when opportunity was taken in a temporary clear period to hold the first run in the women's slalom. There were 12 ■ competitors, including six of the vis-1 iting Australian skiers. The course | proved difficult for the majority of the competitors and none made the I descent without a fall. Miss D. Tickle, the present women's! slalom champion of Australia, and [ Miss J. Beale (Stratford Mountain j Club), who won the New Zealand j women's slalom championship at Mt. i Cook last year, however, ran very creditably. After all had made one descent it was decided to abandon the event and the men’s race owing to the j poor visibility during portion of the race and the unsatisfactory condition of the snow, which at the moment is very soft and wet wing to a succession of warm and rainy dajs. Cold weather should restore the course to good condition, however, and the slalom races will be held later in the week. It is proposed to-morrow to hold