Young talent gets benefit of experience

Hamish Carter and Nicky Samuels check out the Air New Zealand flight simulator. Picture / Richard Robinson

Eight talented young athletes were taken to new heights with sporting heroes Sarah Ulmer, Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty to mark the start of a new sports scholarship.

The group celebrated the first day of Air New Zealand's sports scholarship programme with a flight in a Boeing 747 flight simulator and a workshop session.

The potential future Olympians will benefit from the experiences and advice their inspirational mentors can share, and get a return flight to any international competition they choose.

Hamish Carter will mentor Christchurch triathlete Andrea Hewitt and swimmer Cara Baker.

Hewitt said she was excited to have him there to assist her. "It's going to help me a lot because I don't know what I'm getting myself into. All his experience and what he knows is going to be helpful."

Sarah Ulmer will mentor two 18-year-old athletes, cyclist Sam Bewley from Rotorua and Wellington's Jessica Penney, the national under-19 long jump champion.

Ulmer said the scholarship would be incredible for the young athletes.

"I think the programme's just wicked.

"The athletes being able to have access to mentors who have been through what they're going through ... is invaluable. It's awesome."

Bewley said the programme would advance his sporting career. "This scholarship gives me the opportunity to talk to Sarah about the sacrifices she made to not only get to the top but to stay there. Winning this scholarship means medals at these events, not just attendance."

Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said the scholarships would help tomorrow's Olympians.

"As young athletes they're under immense pressure to balance training with study and jobs. Pairing them up with top sportspeople gives them the opportunity to learn from their predecessors and hopefully gain valuable knowledge that will help them pursue and achieve their dreams."

Bevan Docherty will mentor triathlete Nicky Samuels, 22, and middle distance runner Alice Webster, 18, both from Dunedin.

Olympic skier Claudia Riegler will be a mentor for Auckland snowboarder Phillip Dominick and Queenstown-based skier Tim Cafe, who are both 18.

The athletes were chosen from over 130 applicants.