Two Southern Lakes-based ski racers will be represent New Zealand early next month at world alpine ski championships in Val d' Isère, France.
Ski Racing New Zealand general manager Simon Mills said Tim Cafe, of Queenstown, and Leighton Winsloe, of Wanaka, would join Angus Howden (Wellington) and Sarah Jarvis (Hamilton) in the largest team the country had fielded for several years.
Mills said the four-person team reflected the strong talent pool from which New Zealand ski racing could draw.
"We are delighted to be able to send such a diverse team and equally delighted to have appointed our highest-ranked New Zealand skier, Ben Griffin, as team manager.
"Ben is presently recovering from a serious injury and has only recently begun training again, but his role as manager and mentor to the team will be invaluable."
Cafe (21) is the New Zealand combined champion and will compete with Howden (27), the Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) giant slalom winner, in the super combi, super G, slalom and giant slalom in France.
Winsloe (19), the national slalom champion, and Jarvis (22), New Zealand's No 1 slalom skier, will compete in the slalom.
"The men will have to qualify in the technical events, the giant slalom and the slalom, to get entry into the main event.
"The world championships are a big step up for our skiers but we are confident that they will all perform well on the tough world stage," Mills said.
