QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (August 30, 2009) - World Cup skiers competing in the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games slalom at Coronet Peak today thrilled the large crowd gathered at the Rocky Gully arena, as they encountered gruelling conditions on the internationally rated course, with final honours going to Felix Neureuther of Germany and Florine de Leymarie of France.

The high calibre fields competing in the ANC Continental Cup slalom were a "who's who" of international skiing with some of the best ranked World Cup skiers from USA, Sweden, Canada, Monaco, France, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, the Ukraine, the Netherlands, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Korea, Estonia, Australia and New Zealand competing.

The race saw a high attrition rate with 31 men of the 90 starters finishing and 21 of the 63 women. Conditions were changeable throughout the race and the women's second run held in driving sleet.

Neureuther, who won the silver medal in the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games Super G, was a clear winner in both runs (46.23 and 51.36) for a combined time of 1.37.59. He is ranked 12th in slalom and finished almost two seconds ahead of world number seven Mattias Hargin of Sweden, Hargin clocked 1.39.07 (47.10 and 51.97) and 20-year-old Nolan Kasper of the USA, who is ranked 126, finished third in 1.39.49 (47.99 and 51.50).

Neureuther said it was one of the toughest slaloms he had ever competed in. "This was definitely a World Cup course with some very difficult steeps. It was certainly tough for the younger skiers. The best thing to do was to try and ski smart."

Florine de Leymarie stamped her mark on the race after completing a fast first run in 53.12. She is ranked 128 in slalom and out skied some of the more experienced competitors, clocking 54.46 in the second run, to take the title in 1.47.58. Marie Michelle Gagnon of Canada, who won the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games giant slalom, took out the silver medal in 1.49.02 (54.61 and 54.41) and Japan's Hiromi Yumoto, a World Cup and Europa Cup exponent, was placed third in 1.49.65 (54.49 and 55.16).

Top women's seed Anja Paerson, who was forced to hike on the first run and did not start in the second, said the conditions were difficult but it was a good race, made possible only through the hard work of the Coronet Peak race department and the volunteer course workers.

"They have been incredible and all the athletes want to thank them."

The first New Zealanders were 22-year-old Sarah Jarvis of Hamilton who finished eighth in the class field in 1.54.13 and 17-year-old Adam Barwood of Queenstown who was 23rd in 1.51.25.

FIS Secretary-General Sarah Lewis (Switzerland) who attended today's slalom was impressed with the professional standard of the race and the organisation of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

"The athletes have benefited from the professionalism of the Winter Games which have provided an excellent opportunity for racers from all over the world to improve their FIS points and for many to improve their rankings for Olympic qualification. New Zealand has certainly signalled with this event that it is the skiing capital of the Southern Hemisphere."

WinterGamesNZ.com
Monday, August 31st, 2009