Skiing: Big names in action on Coronet Peak slopes

Swiss cross-country skier Bettina Gruber (right) leads Australian Esther Bottomley during a...
Swiss cross-country skier Bettina Gruber (right) leads Australian Esther Bottomley during a sprint race of the FIS Continental Cup series at the Snow Farm on Sunday. Photo by Garrick Cameron.
Some of the biggest names in ski racing will be in action on the slopes of Coronet Peak this week during the Japanese FIS races at the Rocky Gully Race Arena.

The United States men's and women's national ski teams, the Japanese national team and the Swedish men's and women's teams are all training at the ski area.

The Canadian women's team has just left after three weeks and the Swiss women are due to arrive next month.

Coronet Peak Ski Area manager Hamish McCrostie said the line-up for the Japanese races today, tomorrow and Thursday includes Olympic gold medallist Ted Ligerty and his team-mates and fellow Olympians Erich Schlopy and Jimmy Cochran.

McCrostie said the races offered visitors to the mountain an excellent chance to see the athletes in action.

"It's a rare treat to see these people in action. The racing at Coronet Peak over the next couple of weeks gives spectators the chance to feel the excitement of international ski racing."

After the Japanese FIS races, the National Championships will take place at Coronet Peak from August 29 to 31.

"The presence of the international teams also provides a fantastic opportunity for the New Zealand team which is also based at Coronet Peak.

"The presence of some of the top skiers in the world gives the New Zealanders a measure for their own performances and the opportunity to improve their FIS ratings."

United States men's coach Sasha Rearick said the team was thrilled with the facilities at Coronet Peak.

"The improvements to snowmaking, particularly in the race arena, have been fantastic," Rearick said.

"The quality of the snow and the surface were able to train on is absolutely world class."

International competitors outshone New Zealand's top Nordic skiers during the FIS Continental Cup racing series at the Snow Farm on the Pisa Range over the weekend.

Christchurch-based sports doctor Nat Anglem was the best New Zealand male skier, finishing 10th in on Sunday the freestyle 10km race won by Canadian national champion Robin McKeever.

McKeever's time of 26min 58.36sec pipped Masaaki Kozu, of Japan, by .07sec while Australian Ben Sim was third.

In the women's freestyle 5km race, New Zealander Katherine Calder was third behind winner and Winter Olympic bronze medallist Milaine Theriault, of Canada, and Sumiko Ishigaki, of Japan.

Saturday's sprint titles were dominated by international competitors in races so close they were decided by a photo finish.

In a three-way finish, Shohei Honda, of Japan, edged Geoffroy Pais, of France, and Masaki Kozu, of Japan, in the 1km sprint race.

In the women's event, Bettina Gruber, of Switzerland, qualified 5sec ahead and went on to win ahead of Australian Esther Bottomley and Sandra Gredig, of Switzerland.

 

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