Turoa optimistic about races

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 31, 19 January 1988, Page 1

Turoa optimistic about races

Turoa Ski Academy Director John Ball is currently attending World Cup ski racing events in the Northern Hemisphere to observe their organisation and to lobby for Turoa's inclusion in the 1989 World Cup series. He attended a World Cup congress meeting in Europe in October last year to establish the chances of holding an event here and also to establish the requirements for hosting the races. New Zealand Ski Fields Managing Director Tony Wright said last week the' prospects looked promising for the application.

"We wouldn't be wasting our time barking up the wrong tree if we weren't reasonably optimistic," said Mr Wright. He said a world cup event is a massive project involving sponsorship of up to one million dollars. Sponsors would have to be found before the formal application from the New Zealand Ski Association was made at the May meeting of the World Cup Congress in Istanbul. "New Zealand Ski Fields Limited is not to be exposed to losses," said M r Wright. "We're optimistic we can get sponsors." If successful the Turoa World Cup event would be held in August at the start of the 1989-1990 series

and, as is usual with series events, would involve one discipline, either slalom or giant slalom. Australia is applying to hold one of the 35 World Cup events at Thredbo. Mr Wright said this would enhance Turoa's application as it was more likely racers would travel to the Southern Hemisphere for two events that to just one. Mr Wright said the organisation of the event would be in parinership with the New Zealand Ski Association, that the present race administration would be involved and that he had had discussions with the Army about their possible involvement. Whakapapa have indicated they will offer support

chiefly in providing training facilities in the lead-up to the races, he said. "The World -Cup Series is the third most prestigious ski racing event after the World Champiortships, held every two years, and the Olympics," said Mr Wright, "But before an application can be considered we have to run a successful F.I.S. meeting." While the World Cup races would be a one day event the F.I.S. would be a series of races, both GS and Slalom. Mr Wright said it is possible a major South Island ski field would hold the women's races. The F.I.S. races will be held in August of the 1988 ski season if the application is successful.