Japan Southern Cup FIS Series at Coronet Peak Attracts International Fields

New Zealand team member Adam Barwood, 20, (Queenstown) was first placed Kiwi in both Japan Southern Cup FIS slaloms at Coronet Peak (August 15-18) while Harriet Miller-Brown, 20, (Queenstown) and Taylor Rapley, 21, (Queenstown) took the New Zealand honours respectively in the women’s slaloms.

In the giant slaloms Nick Prebble, 19, (Christchurch) flew the flag for the Kiwis in the first event with Barwood claiming the first place in the second race. Rapley and Miller-Brown were the leading New Zealanders in the women’s giant slaloms.

The drawcard series is held annually and this year attracted athletes from 13 countries including Austria, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia Slovakia, Switzerland and USA.

In the first men’s slalom there was a big attrition rate which decimated the field taking 21 of the 54 competitors out after the first run. Adam Zampa of the Slovakian ski team won in 1.34.07 while Barwood took 8^th place, after starting in bib 22, in 1.38.20 finishing just outside his 34 point ranking.

Zampa was again to the fore in the second slalom clocking 1.24.65 while Barwood, who started in 23^rd place, finished 13^th in 1.29.06. Finlay Neeson, 17, (Oakura), was 18^th in 1.31.67, improving his position by 15 places, while Nick Prebble took out 20^th place in 1.32.35 after starting 38^th.

German national ski team member and world cup skier Felix Neureuther stamped his name on the first men’s giant slalom title winning in 1.42.40. It was a tight tussle amongst the New Zealanders with Nick Prebble 13^th in 1.47.42 followed closely by Barwood in 15^th in 1.47.46 and Jamie Prebble, 21, (Christchurch) in 1.47.83 in 17^th position.

The second giant slalom was won by Thomas Frey of the French Ski Federation in 1.42.53 with Barwood finishing 22^nd as the first Kiwi in 1.46.30.

The first women’s slalom attracted 23 entries and the first three placings were dominated by Austrian representatives with 18-year-old Christine Scheyer the best of the trio recording a combined time of 1.39.80. Miller-Brown placed sixth in 1.45.09 while Melissa Jones, 18, (Queenstown) was second New Zealander in 11^th place skiing below her points to improve her world ranking.

In the second women’s slalom tough conditions saw just 14 finishers in a race won by Canadian Kate Ryley who recorded 1.33.33. Rapley took out 5^th placing in 1.43.54 while Eliza Grigg, 15, (Hororata), who started in bib 18, finished in eighth place in 1.47.22. Victoria Taylor, 17, (Queenstown) achieved 10^th in 1.50.04 to significantly improve her giant slalom ranking.

Japanese ski team member Mizue Hoshi was fastest in the women’s first giant slalom clocking 1.48.75 while Rapley took out 9^th place in 1.56.11.

The second giant slalom went to 17-year-old Austrian Stephanie Resch in 1.47.93 with Miller Brown in 11^th place with a combined time of 1.54.04.  Sophie Corser, 16, (Wanaka) was the second best of the Kiwis taking 16^th place in 1. 57.22 skiing just outside her 92 point ranking.