Snowsports NZ News

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (Friday July 3, 2009) Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) will honour New Zealand’s top snow sports athletes, coaches, ski areas and instructors at the annual 2009 Snow Sports Awards in Wanaka Saturday evening.
Thirty-seven athletes have been nominated as finalists in nine awards categories, including alpine, cross country, adaptive, snowboarding, Freeskiing, coaching, volunteer of the year and emerging talent of the year.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Snow Sports Athlete of the Year. Winners in each sport’s athlete of the year category make up the finalists for the overall snow sports athlete of the year.
The awards cover the 2008 Southern Hemisphere season through the 2008-09 Northern Hemisphere season.
“It’s an opportunity to celebrate the on-snow successes of the past year, and to give recognition to the athletes, coaches, volunteers and other individuals who have performed with distinction,” said Snow Sports New Zealand CEO Ross Palmer. “All of the finalists deserve to be recognised.”
Motivational speaker Mark Inglis, the first double amputee to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, will be the official guest speaker.
Other awards to be handed out on the evening include the Snow.co.nz 2008 Ski Area of the Year; NZ Snow Sports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) 2008 Instructor of the Year and 2008 Ski Racing Masters Champions.
The awards will take place at ‘The Venue’, Lake Wanaka on Saturday, 4th July 2009 from 6pm. Tickets have sold out.
Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing all snow sports in New Zealand. www.snowsports.co.nz
Snow Sports NZ Award Finalists:
NZ Snowboard Union’s Snowboarder of the Year 08/09:
Finalists: Will Jackways (Wanaka), Shelly Gotlieb (Queenstown), Jake Koia (Queenstown), Juliane Bray (Wanaka), James Hamilton (Auckland)
Freeski Association of New Zealand’s Freeskier of the Year 08/09:
Finalists: Byron Wells (Wanaka), Fraser McDougall (Wanaka), Janina Kuzma (Wanaka), Jossi Wells (Wanaka), Mitchey Greig (Queenstown)

Ski Racing New Zealand’s Alpine Ski Racer of the Year 08/09:
Finalists: Taylor Rapley (Queenstown), Nick Prebble (Christchurch), Tim Cafe (Queenstown),Ben Griffin (Ohakune), Leighton Winsloe (Wanaka)

NZ Cross Country Ski Association’s Cross Country Skier of the Year 2008/09:
Finalists: Andrew Pohl (Dunedin), Nat Anglem (Christchurch) Katie Calder (Tauranga)

Adaptive Snow Sports New Zealand’s Adaptive Snow Sports Athlete of the Year 08/09:
Finalists: Jason Donovan (Kapiti), Adam Hall (Wanaka)
Snow Sports New Zealand’s Athlete of the Year 08/09:
(finalists = winner of each above-mentioned category)
SSNZ Coaching NZ’s Coach of the Year 08/09:
Finalists: Michael Bell (Snowboarding) Wanaka, Marty Jillings (Freeskiing) Dunedin, Adi Bernasconi (Alpine Ski Racing) Wanaka, Hiro Taniguchi (Adaptive Skiing) Based in Wanaka.
SSNZ Volunteer of the Year Award 08/09:
Finalists: Dick Schultz (Snowboard) Based in Wanaka, Antony Hansen (Freeski) Hawea Flat, David Howden (SSNZ) Wellington, Stew Hewett (Adaptive) Oamaru.
SSNZ Emerging Talent of the Year 08/09:
Finalists: Joram Makuru (Snowboarding) Wanaka, Fraser McDougall (Freeskiing) Wanaka, Nick Prebble (Alpine Ski Racing) Christchurch, Carl Murphy (Adaptive Snowboarding) New Plymouth.
The qualifying period is from May 2008 to May 2009. Each member sport of Snow sports New Zealand nominates a coach, volunteer and emerging talent of the year, and announces the finalists and winner for its sport.
Snow Sports New Zealand judges the overall snow sports person, volunteer, coach and emerging talent of the year.
Additional Awards Presented
NZ Snow Sports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) Instructor of the Year 2008
Snow.co.nz Ski Area Service Awards 2008

Ski Racing Masters Champions 2008 (Men and Women)

SSNZ and SSNZ Coaching would like to thank Nike ACG for their support. Staff and coaches are proud to support and wear Nike ACG this year.

12/05/2009 9:48:07 a.m.

WANAKA,New Zealand (May 12, 2009) – Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) today announced the appointment of James Lazor as Alpine Director. In the newly created role, Lazor will oversee the development of alpine ski racing in New Zealand, from grass roots to elite.

The appointment was made in consultation with the Ski Racing New Zealand Board as part of the ongoing integration of Snow Sports New Zealand member sports into Snow Sports New Zealand, the recognised National Sporting Organisation for snow sports.

James Lazor

Lazor will oversee the development, direction and coordination of alpine ski racing in New Zealand, taking a whole-of-sport approach. Working directly with the Ski Racing New Zealand Board and Snow Sports New Zealand CEO Ross Palmer, Lazor will set the strategic direction for the sport of ski racing, engaging members, providers and other stakeholders to grow the sport at all levels, including establishing the programmes and resources that will see New Zealand ski racers excel on the international stage.

“Alpine ski racing is a cornerstone among snow sports, and New Zealand has a proud history in the sport,” said Palmer. “By engaging with training providers and other key stakeholders, I’m confident that James will deliver effective, coordinated ski racing programmes that will grow the sport at every level.”

Lazor, who will work from the Snow Sports New Zealand offices in Wanaka, has an impressive background in business and sports management. He served as Director of Operations for the US Grand Prix, overseeing the staging a Formula 1 event in Phoenix, Arizona. He was also President of ACATS, Inc., a full service aviation company in Alexandria, Virginia.

Lazor grew up as a ski racer in the United States, once winning his local club championship before moving on to USSA racing in Western New York state. He later competed in high school-level state championships, and went on to become a ski instructor at Mt. Mansfield (Stowe) Vermont.

Lazor, who has lived in New Zealand since 2006, has also been a longtime financal contributor to the sport of ski racing in the U.S. and New Zealand, and brings with him numerous high-level contacts in the industry.

“This role is an opportunity for me to combine my passion for the sport of ski racing with my experience as a successful leader and businessman,” said Lazor, who holds a Masters degree in Business Administration. “I’m looking forward to working alongside the many talented and knowledgeable individuals in the New Zealand ski racing community to help take the sport forward. I believe my experience in sports management, combined with the established contacts I have in the international ski racing community will be an enormous asset to me and to ski racing in New Zealand.”

Ski Racing New Zealand Board Chair Tony Oxnevad said Lazor’s appointment marks an important step for the sport of ski racing in the process of integrating all snow sports into the national body.

“Our goal has been, and remains, the effective delivery of ski racing programmes at all levels,” said Oxnevad. “Having James and the rest of our organisation working more closely with Snow Sports New Zealand will provide immediate benefits to our athletes and our programmes. We’re fortunate to have someone of James’s calibre to help take the sport of ski racing in New Zealand to new levels.”

Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing all snow sports in New Zealand. Ski Racing New Zealand is a member of Snow Sports New Zealand.