Top alpine skiers to do battle at Winter Games

A top field of alpine skiers has been confirmed for the New Zealand Winter Games which begin next week in Central Otago.

An array of international athletes including Olympic medallists, World Cup winners and national champions will contest the super G, giant slalom and slalom events beginning on August 25.

Reigning Olympic women's slalom champion Anja Paerson (Sweden) races alongside Kajsa Kling, the current Swedish national champion in giant slalom, super G and downhill.

They join other top women competitors including Fabienne Suter (Switzerland), ranked third in the world for super G, and four-time Olympian Jenny Owens (Australia).

New Zealand's trio of teenage racers - Taylor Rapley, Harriet Miller-Brown and Alexandra McGlinn - will be looking build form ahead of next year's junior world ski championships in France.

In the men's events, New Zealand's top racers Tim Cafe and Ben Griffin both come off strong showings in the 2009 European winter season and will be looking to push for qualification for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

They face stiff competition from Sweden's top three ranked giant slalom skiers Markus Larsson, Andre Myhrer and Matts Olsson plus 2007 French national junior champion, Arnaud Favre.

The Winter Games take place at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Farm, Naseby and Dunedin from August 21-30. Sports featured include alpine skiing, free skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, curling and ice skating.

- NZPA