18th October 2003
Speed skiers achieve fastest speeds recorded in New Zealand for the last 11 years.

Competitors conquered the on-piste backup track at Turoa in this years National Championships due to huge avalanche destroying the Speed Track on the Mangaehuehu Glacier the week before the competition. The reserve track on the Race Line run on Turoa Ski Area is a challenging track due to its inclined run out.

"Ideally speed ski tracks have long flat run outs', it is quite difficult to kill your speed when travelling at these speeds when still travelling down a slope." said Chris Gebbie, National Team member and Speed Skiing New Zealand's president. "TheTuroa Ski Area grooming staff have made a great job of making this course safe though,".

Janine McLroy retained her national title with a personal best speed of 130.624 km/hr only 5 km/hr off the fastest speed reached by a woman in New Zealand set by Virginia Bush at The Remarkables Ski Area in 1987.

Rob McCraken from the United Stated was the fastest man down the course with a top speed of 144.462 km/hr. National Title can only be won by New Zealanders so the New Zealand National Men's Champion for 2003 was Russell Baunton who reached 142.631km/hr just ahead of last year's champion Chris Gebbie at 141.287 km/hr.

Two New Zealand records were broken on the day; Al Joslen reached 119.680 km/hr on a snowboard beating John Malcolm-Smith's 11 yr record set on the Mangaehuehu Glacier and, Josh Baldwin set a new New Zealand junior speed ski record with 109.223 km/hr.

You can view full results here.

Al Joslen 'flying' down Race Line at Turoa Ski Area to set new New Zealand Speed Snowboarding record.