National Youth Seires Update please read

27/07/10

Turoa National Youth Series change
 
A proposal has been made from South Island clubs and programmes that the National Youth Series scheduled at Turoa 20 – 22 August is cancelled, and the Youth Nationals be counted at one or both of the National Youth Series races at Mt Hutt or Cardrona.
 
The proposal was driven in part due to our non attendance at the South Island events, but a very significant factor was also current economic conditions.  These economic conditions are also a factor in our teams not traveling south.  This is a downside to having a three part series that forces travel for those who want to collect series points and protect their standings.  If we were to run an event the attendance would be very low, if not at all being that our athletes would not be points holders.  
 
A decision has been made not to host the National Youth Series in 2010 after consultation with several parties; other clubs and programmes, Ruapehu Snow Sports and SSNZ.  We will however run GS races on the same weekend as part of our regional North Island series.  Further plans are also being considered to adding another race in the first week of the school holidays when the Cardrona National Youth Series would be running.
 
It is also understood that this is a one year decision and the plan from all parties is to resume with the North Island being part of the series in 2011. It is also understood that the decisions have no bearing on snow conditions.
 
This plan to regionalize our competitions is in reaction to the current economic climate and objectives of North Island athletes.
 
Snow Sports New Zealand will be releasing information on this decision and their plans for the series and National Championships.

From Snow Sports NZ

Change to 2010 NZ Youth Series races

Snow Sports NZ - Alpine advises that for various reasons this year, principally cost to athletes and parents, the 2010 NZ Youth Series race scheduled at Mount Ruapehu will not be held at Ruapehu.  The SL and GS events will now be run as a paper race at the South Island Champs at Mt Hutt and the Super G will be run as an extra race at Cardona on the same day as the Cardrona Super G event.

“A general consensus has been reached that this is the best move for this year” said Alpine Manager James Lazor “This is a one off and next year the NZ Youth Series race will be held in the North Island and possible a fourth event will be added in the Southern region as well”.

In summary the NZ Youth Series will now be as follows and count as the rescheduled Ruapehu race:

·      The SL and GS will be paper races of the South Island Champs at Mt Hutt on 18/19 September

·      At the Cardona event on the following week an extra Super G will be held on the same day as the Cardrona Super G.

·      As a result the same number of events will be held.

It is to be noted that Ruapehu will run a regional race called the "North Island Series" on the dates that the Ruapehu NZ Youth race was originally to be held.