'Blatant sensationalism' claims skifield manager

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 255, 20 September 1988, Page 6

'Blatant sensationalism' claims skifield manager

May I express m y disappointment at apparent decreasing standards of journalism displayed in the Waimarino Bulletin. In your last issue, to give a blazing headline to two children w h o failed to be selected in a representative ski team, and carry it as

your lead article is, in my view, an absolute indictment of those standards. To describe these two children as a "ski team" and "rebel" at that, can only be construed as blatant sensationalism and I would think, an embarrassment to the families concerned.

We simply have two children who failed to be selected for the ski team, making their own way to compete in the New Zealand Nationals, against the advice of their coaches. In all activities of life, advice may be given, but advice need not be taken. That is the right of the individual. However, . I would point out the Turoa

Race Academy is a private institution, formed with the objective of teaching young people to race on skis. It is also non-profit making. Like a private school, certain rules and disciplines are imposed and expected to be adhered to. Clearly entry to the, Academy is entircly

voluntary and so is withdrawal there from. Most entrants will become excellent skicrs, a few race winncrs, and hopefully one or two, champions. But, to learn just the technical aspects o f skiing and their interpretation on the slopes, is not enough. Discipline and com-

petitiveness becomes essential components in a sport which is essentially learned and practised in an hostile environment and where results are measured in one hundredths of a second. Selection for a ski team is an essential component of both discipline and competitiveness. With selection also comes honour from achievement.

I note your paper makes no mention of those that made the team. That would have been a nice positive example of journalism, probably not considered in the frenzy of researching the article "Rebel Ski Team at..." A. D. R. Wright Managing Director Turoa Skifields Limited