Wi Rutene top for ten!

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 602, 5 September 1995, Page 3 (Supplement)

Wi Rutene top for ten!

Mt Ruapehu skier Simon Wi Rutene is still at the top of the New Zealand skiing pyramid after 10 years, following his win at the Nationals at Mt Hutt recently. No other skier has taken his combined-title crown since his first national win at Coronet Peak in 1986. At the Mount Hutt races on Thursday 17 August, he came from fifth place to second in the slalom after a storming second run. As he crossed the finish line he let out huge joy whoops, continuing for several minutes to leave Mt Hutt folk in no doubt he was ecstatic about his 10th national title win. Simon has been a Whakapapa skier since he was "around five or six", said ex-fellow racer Chris Mosaed, now race coach at Whakapapa. He said Whakapapa was still one of Simon' s favourite ski fields. The Wi Rutene family, members of the Rotorua Ski Club, took regular family holidays to the field, leading to

Simon' s love of the sport. Simon still represents the northern region, based on Whakapapa, in races. Chris said despite what a lot of people believed Simon works very hard for his success. "He definitely has always had the talent but he has always worked extremely hard both physically and on his skiing," said Chris. "I did well in my racing because of Simon because he taught me that if you don't work hard you're not going to get there."

Chris and Simon skied together from a very early age. Whakapapa gave Simon varied terrain and snow conditions which set him up well for racing conditions around the world, said Chris. Wi Rutene is in Australia at present racing in the Continental Cup-A-Soup Cup FIS series which concludes at Whakapapa later in the season. A win in the series gives a skier "fully funded" entry into the World Cup — a sought-after prize.