Hillary snubs Everest race

A New Zealand and British team's bid to commemorate Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mt Everest by skiing and snowboarding off the peak has earned the disapproval of the man they want to honour.

New Zealanders Toby Garland and Jonny Hughes and Britons Abigail Pickett and Zoe Smalley will try to descend from the mountain's North Col, about 1800m below the 8848m summit, next month.

Their aim is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent by "proving to the world that snowboarders and skiers are equal" and to raise money for charities in the region.

Sir Edmund said he had been unaware of the expedition, which he described as "rather dangerous" and not something he thought appropriate for the anniversary of his ascent.

"I've never done any snowboarding, and although I used to do quite a lot of skiing, it's been quite some years since I did any," he said.

"I wasn't aware there was any competition between skiers and snowboarders. Just to try to prove they are equal by coming down the North Col doesn't particularly appeal to me as a good way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ascent of Everest.

"I think it's probably a rather dangerous proposition. A number of people have died on the slopes of the North Col.

"If that's what they want to do, I guess it's up to them. I would prefer not to be involved in it."

- NZPA