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14th September 2009

Mt Hutt, New Zealand 12 September, 2009   New Zealand Alpine Ski Racers today made an impressive finish to the Australian New Zealand Cup (ANC) Finals and the New Zealand FIS racing season with two podiums in Giant Slalom (GS), including a victory by Whakapapas Sarah Jarvis.

Jarvis, who is the current National Champion in GS won the Womens race in a two-run combined time of 2.29.45, while team-mate Ben Griffin, of Ohakune, placed third in the Mens in 2.25.40.

Sarah Jarvis

Snow Sports New Zealand Alpine Director, James Lazor said it was great to watch Jarvis and Griffin in such great form.

Both Sarah and Griffin are in a great place with their skiing right now, said Lazor. Mentally, physically and technically, Sarah is in really good form. Hopefully she will continue on this path through the northern hemisphere season.

The Womens podium was completed by Tereza Kmochova, of Czech Republic, and Charline Vion, of France, who trailed Jarvis by 0.46 second and 0.76 second respectively.

Women's Podium

Joining Griffin in the Mens top-three, Niklas Rainer, of Sweden, secured the gold medal with a time of 2:23.34, followed by Sebastien Sorrel, of France, in second with 2.23.59.

 Mens Podium.

Its been a really good week for me, said Griffin. The races were run really well and although the snow was difficult the course crew did an amazing job. Racing at Mt Hutt is so much fun. I am really focussed but relaxed at the same time.

Meanwhile, two additional Kiwis cracked the top-10 on the flawless course set by the Mt Hutt events and race crew. Tim Cafe, of Queenstown, came in sixth in the Mens, while Lucie Tait-Jamieson, of Auckland, finished fourth in the Womens.

What a successful week of racing we have been able to enjoy here at Mt Hutt - the capital of speed, said Neil Bell, Chairman of the ANC committee. It certainly makes my task as chairman very easy when we have a great mountain to work with, more good weather than bad and a large field of willing athletes and coaches. The best news for me this year is that we have awarded ANC points to 99 men from 19 countries and 62 women from 18 countries during a series that has had its ups and downs.

Full results can be found on www.fis-ski.com