WINTER GAMES NZ. METHVEN, New Zealand (August 27 2011) – Swedish and New Zealand skiers dominated the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games Super G race at Mt Hutt today.

Sweden’s Daniel Ericsson narrowly beat compatriots Calle Lindh and Doglas Hedin in the Men’s Super G by a margin of less than two tenths of a second with a time of 58.3 seconds. Lindh came second clocking 58.48 seconds and Hedin third in 58.52 seconds. New Zealand’s Tim Café was first home for the Kiwis securing fifth place with 59.08 seconds, closely following Japan’s Ryo Sugai who managed 58.65 seconds. The men’s race saw competitors from Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, Switzerland and Korea taking on the single run in perfect wind-less conditions at Mt Hutt.

In the Women’s Super G, New Zealand’s Taylor Rapley set the pace first-up with an impressive 1.02.77 followed by team-mate Lucie Tait-Jamieson clocking 1.02.95. While Norway’s Rikke Gasmann-Brott came close with 1.03.08, the remaining 16 competitors were unable to match these times. The race attracted 19 competitors, including 11 New Zealanders. Other competitors came from Ireland, Norway, Australia, Great Britain, the USA and Korea.

Winter Games Alpine ski manager Wayne Cafe says it was particularly pleasing to see New Zealanders take the podium with Rapley’s gold medal and Tait Jamieson’s silver. “It was also good to see our Kiwi men finish high up.”

Queenstown-born Rapley, a New Zealand team member, says she was excited to win after poor performances earlier in the season.

Ericsson says he skied “ok”. “It was not bad. I was feeling from my skiing that I could have gone better.” But he had nothing but praise for Mt Hutt and the Super G organisation. “It is marvellous here. With the sun and good snow, it is near perfect conditions.”

Team-mate Lindh says while he was disappointed to come second, it was still good to be placed next to Ericsson.

“I didn’t know what to expect from the race but I’m very happy. There was just one tenth of a second between Daniel and I, but it is fun to be on the podium.”

www.wintergamesnz.com
Sat, August 27, 2011 7:31 am

Cross country skiers triumphant in Winter Triathlon Championships

WINTER GAMES NZ. SNOW FARM, New Zealand (August 27, 2011) – International triathletes, multisporters and world champion cross country skiers went head to head for the New Zealand and Oceania Winter Triathlon Championships at the Snow Farm today.

A fresh dusting of snow overnight and clear skies provided the ideal conditions for the race featuring a 6.9km run, 12km bike and a 9.5km cross country ski, all on hard packed and groomed snow with the women athletes far out numbering the male competitors.

The strong field of male athlete’s created an exciting race as they jostled for the lead position throughout. One of New Zealand’s top cross country skiers Andrew Pohl was first off the run and on to the bike leg with experienced triathlete Axel Reiser (NZL) a few seconds behind.

Renowned local multisporter Gavin Mason (NZL) worked hard on the bike leg climbing up the field during the six-lap course. On the final lap Mason overtook Pohl to lead out of transition on to the ski leg. It was always going to be a tough lead to maintain with the skill and power of Pohl on his skis just behind him. Pohl made easy work of the 9.5km ski leg and completed the race in 01:39:29, Mason crossed the line just under six minutes behind. Reiser took third place in 01:47:05.

Andrew Pohl was thrilled with his win in the tough sport of winter triathlon, “I have had a big week of training and was pushed hard in this race. If knew that if I held on behind Gavin during the bike I could confidently complete the ski leg and get back in the lead. I am now looking forward to my rest week before heading off overseas for the northern hemisphere season,” Pohl said.

World number one female cross country skier, Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) blitzed the women’s, and men’s, field in her first ever winter triathlon. She was the first female in from the run and despite a broken bike and racing with no cleats completed the bike section well ahead of the other females. Her world class form on the skis pushed her through the bulk of the men’s field to finish second overall behind Pohl. She crossed the line in 01:45:23, local athlete Joanna Williams (IRL) was second in 02:01:48 with Jess Simpson (NZL), also from Wanaka, in third.

Kowalczyk said today’s race was testing, “It is a very demanding sport, I put my focus on the ski leg and over taking the men’s field. It was good fun and perhaps I will try the sport again. I have had a fantastic time here at the Snow Farm during the Winter Games, good conditions and good training,” she said.
100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games concludes tomorrow (August 28) with the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Halfpipe at Cardrona, the curling finals at Maniototo Curling International in Naseby and speed skating in Dunedin.

www.wintergamesnz.com
Sat, August 27, 2011 7:31 am

Super G Adaptive race thrills spectactors

WINTER GAMES NZ. METHVEN, New Zealand (August 27 2011) – Today’s Adaptive Super G at Mt Hutt thrilled spectators with the high level of competition. Both winners of the men’s events were more than two seconds faster than their nearest competition.

Australian adaptive athlete Cameron Rahles–Rahbula took out the Men’s Super G Standing Race at Mt Hutt with an exceptional time of 1.04.09. In the Men’s Super G Sitting Race, the USA’s Heath Calhoun blew his competition away in 1.04.30. Unfortunately New Zealand paralympian Adam Hall failed to finish but fellow Kiwi Quinton Smith came sixth in the Men’s Super G Sitting Race with a time of 1.19.48. Out of 15 competitors who entered the race, three failed to finish and one didn’t start.

In the Women’s Super G Visually Impaired Race, Australia’s Melissa Perrine narrowly beat Great Britain’s Kelly Gallagher to win with 1.15.15. Gallagher’s time was 1.15.51. Korea’s Jae Rim Yang came third with 1.29.65.

Perrine says “the Super G was a good course which had been cleaned up pretty well. I’m relatively happy with how I went.”

Gallagher says being able to compete on the same race against able-bodied athletes had been a huge attraction for her. “We are really excited to be here at Mt Hutt. It’s a nice way to end the Winter Games competition.”

Calhoun says the race was well set out and he was very happy with snow conditions. “It made a nice run, it wasn’t horribly difficult. ”

www.wintergamesnz.com
Sat, August 27, 2011 7:31 am