The New Zealand team awoke to a bitterly
cold windy morning in Waterville Valley on
the day of the Eastern Disabled nationals
Super-G.Most of the US Disabled ski team
were there along with the Winter Park
Disabled ski team who had a compliment of 18
there were also 15 local independents. With
a total field of 40 men and 15 women there
was a good turn out for the event.
The snow conditions were firm but not icy
for the super-G. The course was set over
rolling terrain with two good steep pitches
in the middle of the course and two nasty
rolls within five gates of the finish.
The last roll on the course claimed a
third of the women's field including New
Zealand's own Sue Walker and guide Dave
Gardiner. Racheal Battersby skied the course
strongly and hung on over the roll to end up
in third place in the stand up class bring
home New Zealand's first and by no mean the
last medal for the week.
It was no less merciless on the men
causing 5 men to crash, 13 men to be pulled
from the start and 2 injuries resulting in a
trip to hospital. New Zealand's Matt Butson
and Steve Bayley were among the first on
course to succumb to the roll resulting in a
DNF for both skiers. They were both lucky to
get away with only minor scrapes and
bruises.
It was still very cold on the morning on
the GS but the wind had dissipated to
nothing which made the inspections bearable.
The rolls had also been shaved to ensure a
safer course for every one. The courses were
well set again and on firm snow conditions.
Everyone fared a little better today and all
the New Zealanders finished strongly in
their respective classes.
Racheal Battersby skied strongly and
finished third again to complete the double
. Sue Walker and guide Dave Gardiner also
skied well to clinch first place in the
visually impaired class.
The New Zealand men also finished well
with Steve Bayley narrowly edging out US
team member Sage Betty in the second run for
the silver medal in the Stand up Class. Matt
Butson skied tentatively due to injuries
from the previous day but skied well to
finish 5th in the Stand up class. Kevin
O’Sullivan skied solidly for his first race
of the season and finished 9th in the Stand
up class.
The morning of the slalom dawned clear
and calm but with 6 to 8 inches of fresh
powder on the course which had to be slipped
away through to the icy hard base. This
combination of conditions left big ruts and
soft berms to deal with on a low line and
bullet proof ice to deal with on the high
line so any mistakes in the skiers line was
not forgiven by the course. This was
especially felt by the mono skiers on the US
team.
Racheal Battersby skied very strongly
with two excellent runs to clinch third and
the hat trick. Three for three a personal
best for Miss Battersby who was well
rewarded for her strong skiing during the
week. Sue Walker and guide Dave Gardiner had
another excellent day and were well pleased
with a gold medal in the visually impaired
class for the second day in a row. The
New Zealand men had another good day with
mat Butson having two blistering runs to
come home with the silver medal in the stand
up class and third over all. Kevin
O’Sullivan skied solidly again and came 9th
in the stand up class. Steve Bayley had
problems on both runs, loosing his pole on
the first run and blowing out of the second
run resulting in a DNF.
All in all a good week with valuable
lessons learned and experience gained.
