WINTER GAMES NZ. Queenstown New Zealand (August 23 2011) -  Slovakian World Cup exponent Veronika Zuzulova lived up to her reputation as a tough competitor today winning the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games ANC Continental Cup women’s giant slalom at Coronet Peak after an extremely tight tussle amongst the top seeds.

There was just a second separating the first nine finishers in the class international field and world rankings for the top competitors, as well as emerging younger skiers, will drop as a result of the excellent points race.

Forty seven competitors representing Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland started in the 36 gate race which was held on the Hurdle and finished in Eighth Basin.

Zuzulova, who is ranked 49th in the world in giant slalom was second seed in the start line up  First seed Margret Altacher of Austria did not complete the first run, which was won by Norwegian Chloe Margrethe Fausa in 49.92 secs, the only competitor to go sub-50 seconds.

Zuzulova clocked 50 secs on the first run putting her in second position. Her final run of 51.25 was enough to give her the title in a combined time of 1.41.25 ahead of Switzerland’s 18-year-old Annie Winquist in 1.41.35. Winquist who is currently ranked 215 in the world put in a fast second run, after placing fifth in the first.

She just out skied Swiss World Cup skier Celina Hangl, who came home in 1.41.36 after clocking the fastest second run time of 50.59 to win the bronze medal.

Bernadette Schild of Germany was fourth in 1.41.42, Wendy Holdener of Switzerland fifth in 1.41.45 and Stefanie Moser of Austria sixth in 1.41.72
Zuzulova who is ranked world number three in slalom, and will start as a favourite to win the Winter Games slalom tomorrow, says she worked hard in the second run to pull off the win.

“The last run was was more difficult but I really love this hill. In Europe you are struggling to find a slope as good as this.”

Fausa was disappointed with her performance in the second run which put her out of medal contention and in seventh place in 1.41.81.

“The snow was a bit softer but the conditions were great and I just made some mistakes.”

The first New Zealander was Harriet Miller-Brown of Queenstown who claimed first start position in the second run after finishing 30th in the first. She placed 26th overall in in 1.45.17 significantly reducing her world ranking.

“It was much harder in the first run because I ran a lot later starting in bib 36. Starting number one in the second run was fantastic.”

New Zealand junior champion Taylor Rapley also of Queenstown fell in the second run and did not finish the course.

Vice chairman of the ANC Cup Committee David Howden was impressed with the standard of the race and the giant slalom course.

“It was quite a young field but there were some outstanding athletes. There were a few issues in the first run for some competitors but it was an excellent race and the course was in great condition.”

The 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games men’s and women’s slaloms will be held tomorrow (Wednesday 24 August) at Coronet Peak.

www.wintergamesnz.com
Tue, August 23, 2011 8:21 am

Australians dominate action in adaptive giant slalom

Queenstown New Zealand (August 23 2011) -  Australian adaptive skiers flew the flag for their country today winning two gold medals and a bronze in the 100% Pure Winter Games International Paralympic Committee (IPC) giant slalom on the internationally rated course on the Hurdle at Coronet Peak today.
The race attracted 19 athletes from Australia, Great Britain, Korea, New Zealand and USA.

The giant slalom was the first event in the Winter Games NZ adaptive series and Technical Delegate Simon Wi Rutene says while it was a small field of 19 skiers the standard was high. The opportunity was also created for less experienced skiers to compete.

“The course on the Hurdle, finishing on the Eighth Basin, was quite challenging particularly over the rolls and there was some spectacular spills as well as some spectacular recoveries. These athletes are quite inspirational when you see what they are up against and the power they have. It’s quite incredible and it is great to have the adaptive events included in the Winter Games.”

Current Australian Paralympian of the Year Cameron Rahles-Rahbula won the men’s standing category starting as the top seed. He finished in a combined time of 1.31.58 ahead of Ralph Green of the USA who won the silver in 1.39.51 and bronze medallist Patrick Parnell, also of USA who completed the course in 1.48.51.

Rahles-Rabula was pleased with his win after a break from competition. “It was a bit of a shock to the system to be back in the suit. The course was great and it’s good to be part of the Winter Games.”

His Aussie team mate 2010 Paralympian Melissa Perrine clocked the fastest time in the women’s visually impaired category, with her guide Andrew Bor, winning in 1.51.29.

“It was my first race at Coronet Peak and the hill is great and the course set was awesome. I loved it.”

Perrine pipped defending Winter Games title holder, Great Britain’s Kelly Gallagher, and her guide Charlotte Evans who had to be content with the silver medal after crossing the finish in 1.53.56.

Third place and bronze medal went to Jae Rim Yang with her guide Ko Woon Ching in 2.10.32.

New Zealander Mary Fisher, better known as a paralympic swimmer, made her debut in the visually impaired race with her guide Ross James from the Remarkables Ski Area.

She competed after just five days on snow participating in a talent identification camp at Queenstown which is part of the Winter Games NZ legacy in conjunction with SPARC and Snow Sports NZ.

“I loved it even though it was quite steep at the top. I was better in the second run and am quite keen to do more skiing events.”

The men’s sitting category created some exciting action with the gold medal going to Jong Seouk Park of Korea who competed at the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver. He clocked 1.42.51 almost two seconds ahead of US Paralympic development team member Stephen Lawler who finished in 1.44.76. Third place was taken out by Australian Mark Soyer, who races on the IPC NorAm circuit in the USA, in 1.46.08.

New Zealand’s Quentin Smith (Wanaka) who is in his second season racing claimed fourth place in 1.57.52. He was pleased with his performance, only the second IPC race he has competed in.

“I really enjoyed the competition and it is nice to have a race like this in New Zealand.”

The Winter Games IPC adaptive slalom will be at Coronet Peak on August 25 and the adaptive Super G will be held at Mt Hutt on August 27.

www.wintergamesnz.com
Tue, August 23, 2011 8:21 am