Tauhara College sees high ski results
Tauhara College have ended their ski season on a high at the North Island Secondary Schools Ski Champs in Turoa last Tuesday.
There were 126 teams from 60 schools and over 600 students competing. Tauhara College’s two teams walked away with the 4th and 15th placings.
Hugo Cameron [18], competed in three competitions in the North and South Islands placing second and fourth at Mount Olympus and second at Mount Turoa in the Free Ride Tour.
He has since qualified for the world championship taking in January next year, but is unsure where it will take him.
This is the second time Cameron will be participating in the world championships. Last year he competed in Europe.
‘‘I’m stoked. I knew I had to go well,’’ he said, and his hard work has payed off.
Fynn Powell [15] walked away with first place in the slalom under 16, an event where anyone can participate, and twin brother Lachlan Powell came sixth in the secondary school Slalom as part of a team of 5. Their team came fourth over all.
The Powell brothers have since been invited to the Whistler Freeride in Canada, and will head over in December for three months. This is also the second year the boys have been invited.
The boys said the hardest thing about taking part in the competition was the travelling and weather conditions. Especially on Mt Ruapehu.
Cameron said ‘‘Juggling school and skiing at the same time,’’ was also a challenge as he had to keep up with his work.
Assistant Principal Andrea Mertens said she has the greatest respect for these students, as they come to school with no excuses of being tired and get on with the day.
She said every opportunity counts when it comes to school and training and every day off adds up.
For the rest of the Tauhara ski competitors Mertens said ‘‘Coming 4th and 15th out of 126 teams is a brilliant result.’’
She said the ski team fundraised for a racing programme and training by making breakfasts for the CACTUS programme for eight weeks and providing all of the food and support for the longest day.
Parents and caregivers also played a huge role in the students achievements.