More than 80 secondary students from Otago and Southland took to the slopes
at Cardrona Alpine Resort today for the Cheapskates Otago Southland
Secondary School Snowboard Championships.
Clearly the strongest teams competing were locals from either Wakatipu High
School or Mt Aspiring College.
Wakatipu High took out the overall boy's title with a hotshot team
including Nick McBride, Demetre Tryfiatis, Yato Yashino and Jacob Koia.
They were followed closely by three Mt Aspiring teams.
Also standing out were the Mt Aspiring girls team, with gun riders Haidee
Mayen, Tania Grieve, Katie King and Rebecca Donnelly, they took out the
overall girls title with a display of strong ability.
Wakatipu High won the mixed team event with a team featuring Kirsty
Lohmann, Andrew Han, Luke Brown, and Christa Woerlee.
In the individual rankings Luke Brown from Wakatipu High School came out on
top following a fierce battle over a tough boardercross course with Felix
Dixon of Kings High School, Tim Jackaways of Mt Aspiring and Eddie Talbot
also of Mt Aspiring being placed second, third and fourth respectively.
For the girls it was Tania Grieves, of Wakatipu, who crossed the line
first just inches in front of Mt Aspiring rival Christa Woerlee. Haidee
Mayen, Mt Aspiring, who originally lead the pack, took a fall in the final
placing her third followed by school mate Julie Donaldson.
In the girls event Mayen took out top ranking, one and a half seconds in
front of Wakatipu rider Kirsty Lohmann. Mayens team mates Tania Grieves
and Rebecca Donnelly come in third and fourth respectively.
The boy's event saw Tatsuya Ischida, of Mt Aspiring cross the line nearly
three seconds faster than second place getter Tim Jackaways also of Mt
Aspiring. Wakatipu High School team mates Demetre Tryfiatis and Nick
McBride placed third and fourth respectively.
Special trophies went to Frances Jackaways for her sportsmanship and to
Yato Yoshino for pulling a great backflip on very little air during the
boardercross event.
The winners all received trophies and product from Cheapskates and Primo.
Boarder Zone Correspondent - Nigel Kerr
