Young skier ready for overseas debut

Queenstown skier Cameron-Leigh Murphy (12) has less than a fortnight before making her overseas debut - a month in California training with New Zealand Olympian Tim Cafe.

She is one of five up-and-coming New Zealand athletes chosen to train and compete at Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, along with fellow Queenstowners Tully Robinson and Sam Shaw.

The youngster, now in her last year at St Joseph's School, is no stranger to the world of competitive skiing, having taken to the snow at the age of 2 and been racing since she was 6.

Despite the bare  mountains around her Lake Hayes Estate home, 12-year-old Queenstown skier...
Despite the bare mountains around her Lake Hayes Estate home, 12-year-old Queenstown skier Cameron-Leigh Murphy is in full training mode ahead of leaving in less than fortnight for a month in Lake Tahoe, California with New Zealand Olympian Tim Cafe....
Her love for the sport has since seen her excel, picking up podium placings in this year's K Cup and Interfield Series and national titles in ski-cross and parallel giant slalom racing two years ago.

Cameron-Leigh is now training hard ahead of her departure on January 16 and is "very excited" about her first foray into overseas international ski racing.

The month will see her and, the other athletes sharing a house with Cafe and "a camp mom" while training and competing against United States rivals in six races.

"I am excited because it's new ski fields with different snow ...but also a little bit nervous for the races while we are over there," an animated Cameron-Leigh said, with a grin.

"It will be interesting to see how I go against the US kids."

Another thing she is looking forward to, in particular, is the bigger scale of Alpine Meadows, which means "longer runs" to improve her skiing, with less time in queues for ski-lifts.

Her father, Grant Murphy said Cameron-Leigh knew the United States athletes had already had "months on the snow" before the Kiwis arrived, but thought the experience would be great for her.

"It's just a great opportunity and it will give her a big advantage when she gets back for the New Zealand season."

She will take part in slalom, giant slalom and super G races, the last of which Mr Murphy described as her favourite, "because she just likes to go fast without having to go through gates".

The final hurdle - trip fundraising - was "almost there" after movie nights, selling playing cards and taking tips at their family cafe, Old Man Rock, where Cameron-Leigh also works.

 

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