Visitors to Mt Hutt ski-fields, in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, are catching some spectacular ski action as the ‘capital of speed’ hosts international teams in training for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
World Cup ski teams from New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Australia, and Olympic hosts Canada are among those reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h on the downhill training course at Mt Hutt’s International Race Training Arena.
World’s best alpine ski racers
Mt Hutt race and events manager, Paul Marks, said the arena was in superb condition and onlookers were welcome to watch the world’s best alpine ski racers in action.
“We’re going to see some pretty intense training this year in the build up to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next year,” Marks said.
“It’s a privilege to host these world class teams on our slopes and we’ll be rewarded with some amazing ski racing. The speeds these athletes reach is unbelievable and incredible to watch.”
World Cup teams would be at Mt Hutt until 20 September, he said.
Competitive events
Mt Hutt has a series of competitive events scheduled over the next few weeks.
Top international snow sports athletes will compete in the Australia and New Zealand Cup Finals (ANC) and the National Championship Super G (8 – 11 September), Marks said.
The biggest race competition in Australasia, the ANC was “just one step below the World Cup and a fantastic spectator event with lots going on both on and off the hill,” he said.
Already underway at the high country ski resort, the Lindauer Wombats Village Champs series of team and individual events combines serious and social races. Amateurs and pros can compete in ski, snowboard and telemark categories.
The Lindauer series contributed to “a fantastic vibe on the mountain,” Marks said.
Race events
Other race events at Mt Hutt during the winter season include the Landrover Mt Hutt Masters – an alpine race series that begins tomorrow (28.07.09) and runs until the weekend. The programme involves three days of training and two days of racing in slalom, giant slalom, and super G events
For snowboarders, the Snowboard Series (27 July – 17 August) includes soft and hard boot events for amateurs and pros.
Young skiers will be blazing down Mt Hutt’s slopes as part of the National Youth Series from 22 – 25 August. This is a national alpine ski race including slalom, giant slalom and super G for Zealand Ski Racing registered athletes aged 11 – 14 years old.
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