The Northland region has the strongest contingent of junior skiers in the country ... They are really hoping to take out the New Zealand junior titles in Auckland over EasterAaron Larkins, New Zealand champion and slalom World Cup holder
According to regional ski president Glen Williams, Northland skiing is in the
enviable position of being able to boast a very strong junior team and is set to strongly contest the New Zealand championships at Easter.
Last week some of these junior skiers benefited from a week's coaching with New Zealand champion and slalom World Cup holder, Aaron Larkins.
During the lead-up to the three-day, three-event annual Kai Iwi tournament the juniors received professional advice from the man who has five times won the New Zealand title.
Mr Larkins, who last November won the World Cup title in Doha Qatar, is rated first in the Southern Hemisphere and sixth in the world in his specialist field.
He said he too was impressed with the up and coming Northland juniors, saying he believed the Northland region has the strongest contingent of junior skiers in the country.
"They are really hoping to take out the New Zealand junior titles in Auckland over Easter," he said.
The 31-year-old - who has been skiing since the age of 8 - has set his sights on the prestigious United States Masters to be held in Georgia in May.
Before that he will contest the Moombar Masters in Melbourne in March.
Both will be lead-ups to the World Championships in Calgary, Canada in August.
Northland uses the Kai Iwi Club on Lake Waikere as the home base club for the region.
The annual Anniversary Weekend tournament is a popular event and has attracted around 50 competitors.
This year will see the return of the head-to-head slalom, an event not run for a number of years and one which is sure to be a highlight.
The club has been running the event for about 40 years.
The other two events making up the tournament are tricks and jumps.
Caption: TOP TIPS: Current New Zealand Champion and World Cup holder in slalom skiing Aaron Larkins gives Curtis William and other junior skiers at the Kai Iwi Ski Club some professional training tips.
