The first Inter-University Ski Tournament was held by Lincoln College at Arthur's Pass (Temple Basin) in 1938. The first tournament after the war was held at Queenstown in 1945. and over since then has been recognised as an annual event in "winter tournament." although points are not added to the winter tournament totals. In 1947. the North Island was represented for the first time by a team from V.U.C, and for the first time N.Z.U. Blues were awarded for skiing. In this year also, the N.Z.U. Ski Council was formed as a sub-committee of the N.Z.U. Students' Association. In addition, an Inter University Championship Trophy, known as the Kirk Trophy, was presented in 1947 by Dr. Kirk, president of the then Otago University Ski Club.

V.U.C. was again represented in 1948 and 1949. It was in the latter your that V.U.C. excelled itself by winning the Ferrier Men's Trophy for the men's combined and downhill events. One of the club's leading skiers at that time. Malcolm Mace, was lost on the yacht "Argo" early in 1951. and it was later decided by the University Ski Council to inaugurate a "Malcolm Mace Memorial Event," C.U.C Ski Club has purchased a trophy, and it will be awarded this year for the best men's slalom team.

C.U.C. HOSTS

C.U.C. will be the host this year. The ski events are to be held at Temple Basin near Arthur's Pass, and teams and officials will be accommodated right on the ski fields. The foot of the ski tow is nearby at 4300 feet, and has 520 feet vertical left. The fully qualified Swiss ski instructor, George Jacomelli, has been booked for the whole week, and will be available for team coaching and course setting.

The racing programme consists of ski practice on Sunday and Monday, slalom, giant slalom and downhill on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday, and ski touring on Friday. The racing team consists of four men and four women, but V.U.C. will be handicapped by having only two in the women's team.

Peter McGill: Is a member of Tararua Tramping Club and Christchurch Ski Club. As a member of the Varsity club he holds the position of club captain. He has had many years of skiing experience, especially in the Canterbury district of the South Island. He is expected to do very well in the downhill and should perform well in the slalom.

Bernte O'Shea: Like the rest of the team, is mainly a North Island skier, but has skied at Queenstown and Temple Basin. He is a member or Aorangi Ski Club and has had five seasons skiing. He is at present chairman of the Varsity club. Slalom racing will be his specialty, and a little more nerve is required in the downhill.

John innes: An Aorangi member and gear custodian for the Varsity club. With a bit more dash he should complete the slalom course in good time.

David Harding: A newcomer to the' Varsity club and a member of Tararua Tramping Club. He has had some skiing experience in the South Island and will be another downhill skier provided he maintains control.

Julie Tangney: Member of Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club and has had skiing experience on Ruapehu. It is hoped that the new grounds and different types of snow will not affect her skiing.

Margaret Taylor: Probably the least experienced in the team, but with more coaching should be able to do controlled parallels by the time the slalom is run. She is treasurer of the Varsity club this year.

As far as the other teams are concerned. Otago is probably the strongest. Otago and Canterbury are the only universities sending a full team, and consequently the first and second places will probably go to them. Lincoln and Massey are sending a men's team only, so no difficulty is expected with them.

Next year V.U.C. will probably be running the ski tournament at Ruapchu. Can we have our hut built by then?