N.Z. Needs Continual International Competition

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 14

N.Z. Needs Continual International Competition

The decision by the New Zealand Ski Council not to send a team to the world ski championships at Portillo, Chile, later this year must have been a hard one to make and contains the danger that young skiers who hope someday to represent New Zealand could be discouraged from their efforts to lift the standard of the sport in New Zealand.

It was good for the image of ski-ing in New Zealand that the two skiers selected to represent New Zealand, P. P. Goldstern (Wellington) and R. W. Palmer (Auckland), agreed that it was not worth while attending the championships.

Two major considerations influenced this decision; the matter of cost and a doubt that any benefit to New Zealand ski-ing would accrue from sending a team.

Cost is always likely to be a drawback to New Zealand’s entry of a team, but the matter of benefits can be seen on two levels.

As far as New Zealand is concerned, there are two levels of international competition and it must be the aim of the New Zealand Ski Council to progress from one level to the one above it

For many years skiers have come to the fore in this country, won national titles, and ventured to Europe with a strong determination to train like mad and break into the higher echelons of world skiing. But, without exception, they have failed to do so.

It seems that the improvement in a nation's ski-ing must come from an increase of prowess from within and is not something which can be grafted onto. The fate of New Zealand’s leading skiers overseas has been too consistent for the reason to be overlooked. But this is not to say that New Zealanders should not have international competition. Indeed, without the stimulus of representing New Zealand, it is doubtful if skiers are prepared to get really sharp for racing. After all, ski-ing can be enjoyed without racing. It is just that New Zealand should not try to do too much too soon.

Competition has had a very beneficent influence on New Zealand ski-ing, as the contests with Australia show. However, the appearance of some top French racers last season was a failure because they were far too strong for local competition. However, not every overseas European skier ranks as highly as Lacroix or Goits-

chell and it would benefit New Zealand ski-ing greatly if tours by second ranked skiers could be arranged. The council could also consider sending racers to compete at the lower levels of European competition. In this way the standard of racing, and general ski ing, could be built up—-and it seems the most feasible way of doing it Several facts of New Zealand’s ski history support this idea.

The standard of ski-ing at Coronet Peak at the nationals last year was far higher than that shown at Mount Ruapehu in 1964 and there is one obvious explanation for this. Last year the racers were competing for the chance of representing their country against Australia whereas in 1964 they were not. This is proof, if ever it were needed,

that New Zealanders thrive on international competition. Further, too many skiers have left our shores and come back discouraged, prepared to give away the sport. P. Quinn (Taranaki) is perhaps the most obvious recent case of this. Goldstern is probably the best skier New Zealand has produced,- yet his efforts to crash into the top class of European ski-ing last winter ended in failure. No wonder

he was prepared to forgo the trip to Portillo. Perhaps the cheapest way for the ski council to organise international competition is to arrange reciprocal visits with Australia for each year and to send a team to the Winter Olympic Games every four years to measure the progress that has been made. Anyone wishing to spend a season In Europe, if considered good enough, be partially subsidised. Arrangements could perhaps be made with the tourist departments of France, Germany or Austria to have teams tour New Zealand, as long as they were not' the best skiers of those countries. In such a manner, an improvement in New Zealand ski-ing relative to the standard of other countries could be expected. Canterbury’s racers did particularly well last year under the stimulus of international representation, and the following table Is an effort to show where its skiers ranked in New Zealand. Only the North and South Island and New Zealand championships have been taken into consideration. Men.—P. P. Goldstern (Wellington), R. W. Palmer (Auckland), P. Willis (Canterbury), P. Hubrich (Otago), G. Nevell

(Canterbury), M. Dennis (Canterbury), J. Willis (Canterbury), M. Gardner (Canterbury), G. A. Chance (Otago), O. Clearkin (Auckland), R. Womersley (Canterbury), A. Buist (Taranaki), R. S. A. Chaffey (Canterbury),

A. Dunlop (Otago). W. Hunt; (Waikato), C. Womersley 1 (Canterbury), H. Clearkin (Auckland).

Women.—K. Guy (Canterbury), A. Reid (Otago), R. Arndt (Canterbury), E. Keane (Waiteto), P. Shiel (Canter-

i bury). J. Shiel (Otago). C. Mason (Auckland), S. Ryan (Otago), J. Matthews (Canterbury), B. Findlay (Otago). C. Lowry (Canterbury), S. John (Taranaki). J. Flower (Canterbury), J. Mitchell (Auckland). V. Christie (Canterbury).