American skiers pursue different goals

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 3, 5 August 1988, Page 7

American skiers pursue different goals

Eleven American ski racers competing in the BP Europa FIS series next week all have different goals to achieve in coming to New Zealand.

Head Coach George Cabaul says some of the racers will be aiming for first place while others will be treating the trip as a time for training and tuning up. He said some of the younger racers would be going all out to gain points from the series while others, such a s Felix McGrath who can't gain any poiflts from the competition, are here to work on technique and train. "Everyone has a chance to win, they all have different goals," said the coach. The youngest members of the American contingent are Joe Levins, Tommy Moe and Jeremy Nobis. Jeremy Levins is not on the squad but was asked to come because of his performance on the junior development team. "Tommy Moe and Jeremy Nobis are very young but have some top experience," said Coach George Cabaul. Jeremy is the junior world champion in super G, and Tommy is in the top five super G finishers. Both are aged 18. Felix McGrath (25) took third in the slalom at the 1987-88 World Cup and 15 th overall in world skiing. Mr Cabaul said the team are pleased with Turoa considering the limited snow. "I can't believe how hard the Turoa staff work," he said. The groomer staff were very fast at preparing the slopes, he said. "To see this attitude is very good," said the coach. The team are staying at the R u a p e h u Homestead at Rangataua, where they are looked after by Sue Allomes and her staff. "The home cooking is great, it's a home away from home." Dry land training is a big part of the training for the racers and they say it is an advantage to be able to come off the mountain and see green countryside. It means the racers can work on dry land training after skiing or when the mountain is

closed. Mr Cabaul said they knew of the risks with Ruapehu's unpredictable weather when they came to New Zealand. He said they were prepared to miss some skiing days. He said in the Northerri Hemisphere bad weather doesn't have the same effect on a ski field, that it was usually possible to ski somewhere no matter what the conditions. But being off the mountain while not skiing was an advantage, he said. They have benefited from the co-operation of the Army Training Group, Waiouru who have made their physical training facilities available to them, a s have the staff at Ruapehu College. The team travel to Australia after the Turoa races. "If all goes well w e will come back," said Coach George Cabaul.