The Teams

This post is to give little insight to the teams that have entered The Tour-

(Remember if you are looking for a team mate, leave a comment HERE)

Team #1- John Henson and Grant Piper

Both John and Grant are active members of the Canterbury/Westland section of the NZAC, with extensive ski touring experience in the Craigieburns (were The Tour will take place) and the glaciers either side of the main divide.

Team #2- Gavin Lang and Andrew Finnigan

Gavin and Andrew have ski toured at all the major South Island hot spots and both have their Avalanche Stage 1 qualification.

Team #3- Carron Scrimgeour and Julie Sinicali

Carron and Julie are the first mix, as well as the first international entry to The Tour.

Carron has raced at the 2008 ski mountaineering world champs as well as the Pierra Menta as a member of the British National team, while French native Julie has raced in some major European races, such as the Trophee Des Gastlosen.

Team #4- Clive Marsh and Steve Bruerton

Clive and Steve will be some of the more experienced ski tour's at The Tour, both having been touring since the late '80's. Both are Christchurch tramping club members and have competed in multi sport events, with Clive having made some notable mountaineering ascents, including the Matterhorn and Mt Cook.

Team #5- Yolanda Barragan and Violeta Casado

The first all woman's entry to The Tour comes from an experienced Spanish team! Both Yoli and Vio have competed in the Spanish Ski Mountaineering Cup, with Yoli also racing in the 2008 PDG short course.

Team #6- Javier Martin and Lorenzo Holzknecht

Currently here in NZ, as part of a Dynafit trip, attempting to break the 18.5hr record for the "Symphony On Ski's", Javi and Lorenzo normally chase each other around at World Cup events in Europe, for Spain and Italy respectively. Between them there is 11 Pierra Mentas and their latest notable results were 5th (Javi) and 3rd (Lorenzo) at the 2009 European Champs.

Team # 7 Dave Manning and Ed Sai Louie

Dave and Ed, both engineering students at Canterbury, will be one of the younger teams at The Tour, not that that will hold them back. Living the student life- backcountry skiing most days of the week and both with Chill pass, these 2 have been getting after it. Dave has soloed the Caroline face of Mt Cook, but his favorite peak is Foggy Peak.

Team #8- Duncan Sherratt and Kath Conlan

Duncan and Kath are our 2nd mix team to enter The Tour and are some of the more experienced NZ racers.Both placed 2nd in the 2007 and 2008 SkiMoNZ race series, with Duncan winning the 2008 CraigieBurner. Duncan will organise this winters CraigieBurner and was the organiser of the 2008 Ohau race.

"Question is will the mixed team of D&K take down some of the boys?"

Team #9- Tim Ensor & Gary McPherson

Tim and Gary have been regulars at SkiMoNZ race's for a few years now and will be a strong team. Gary won the first Temple Basin Rando Rally in '06 and is now Q'town based, skinning regularly pre work at Coronet.

Tim had his break through race last year at the Porters Dynafit Speed Up, placing 2nd and then when on to finish 3rd over all in the SkiMoNZ race series.

Team # 10- Gena Sibaev and Alexis Poilvert

When they aren't hanging off a cliff with drills in hand this pair are lapping big vertical at Treble Cone.

Gena represented his native Russia at the 2006 World Ski Mountaineering Champs and both have strong and impressive mountaineering resumes. After 2nd (Alexis) and 3rd (Gena) place finishes at this years CraigieBurner, team # 10 goes in to The Tour as race favourites.

Team # 11- Mark Tynan and Dave Poulsen

Another quality team, Mark and Dave are top 3 contenders if things fall into place for them on the day. While their ski mountaineering race experience is limited to just 3 CraigieBurners between them, 2 weeks is a long time is competitive ski mountaineering and expect them to be in the running.