5th May 2003
New Zealand Speed Skier takes on World's Best and joins 200K Club

Chris Gebbie completed a successful northern hemisphere winter season and achieved a new personal best of 204.800 and an overall World Cup standing of 22nd. This speed ranks him 3rd in the overall New Zealand rankings behind Lisa Powell and Hugh Greirson.

Chris started his season at the end of February at the Velocity Challenge World Cup race at Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia. He survived the rollovers to place 19th out of 23 with a speed of 154.36Km/hr. "...the field was small in the WC, still they were all seasoned racers and some of the best."

He then traveled to Europe for the rest of the World Cup circuit. The first race was in Italy on the 16th of March where he placed a respectable 22nd (153.390Km/hr) at the World Cup in Breuil Cervinia.

Next he traveled north to Scandinavia where he first competed in the Swedish Nationals finishing 12th and then 27th at the World Cup race at Salla in Finland with a speed of 161.610Km/hr.

Chris completed his season at Les Arc where he spent most of April training and competing in the Pro Mondial race. He placed 30th with a speed of 204.200Km/hr. Chris hoped to top this speed at the Swiss National Champs to be held on the same course the following week but the race was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.