Four top New Zealand ski racers are the recipients of more than $6000 total in scholarships over the next year.

New Zealand’s top male and female ski racers in full time competition Jamie Prebble and Taylor Rapley have received main scholarships, with additional scholarships given to Adam Barwood and Emily Wright, the country’s top under-20 skiers. The scholarships were awarded on the basis of results from this winter season in New Zealand.

Taylor Rapley seemed ecstatic at the news: “It has been a tough year for everyone, and finding funds to continue competing full time is tougher than ever. This will help my campaign this Northern Hemisphere, and push me closer to my goal of competing in Sochi, Russia in the 2014 Olympics.”

Snowvision Chief Executive Fiona Stevens said the scholarship was becoming well established; being in its third year now. “It is fantastic that Formthotics have continued to support young ski racing talent through these scholarships. They are a global New Zealand success story and their product is used by many New Zealand athletes, so it is a natural fit.”

Check out what Formthotics are all about

Seven junior athletes are the recipients of the Snowvision McKenzie Scholarships.

This year’s scholarships were awarded to 11-14 year old ski racers at junior race series. Fiona Stevens, CEO of Snowvision and New Zealand Olympian was joined by current National Ski Team member and fellow Olympian Tim Cafe, top coach Chris Knight and New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance representative Fiona Boyer to scout talent at a series of junior races throughout the season. All those involved were impressed by the level of junior talent seen at the races this season. Those chosen were:

• Ben Richards, HPC Cardrona
• Jackson Rich, QAST
• Alex Hull, QAST
• Toby Eady, HPC Cardrona
• Phoebe Young, HPC Cardrona
• Sam Bushell, Team Hutt
• McKenzie Frost, Ohau

The scholarships total over $3000 and will be paid directly to regional training programmes to help cover the cost of training for the athletes during the 2012 winter. It is important to keep talented junior racers in the sport, and financial support is pivotal in achieving this.

The McKenzie Scholarships were launched in 2006 through the generosity of their namesake Sir Roy McKenzie (ONZ KBE 1922-2007). Sir Roy was part of New Zealand's first Winter Olympic Team that competed in Oslo in 1952. In those days, the journey itself to the 1952 Winter Olympics was a major challenge for the team. Whilst at the Olympics, Sir Roy captured athletes on film and brought the footage back to New Zealand. It was from this endeavour that the vision to create an opportunity for others to develop their skills in the alpine and winter activities was born.

Snowvision hopes the scholarships will continue into the future, and help achieve more New Zealanders winning on snow.

29th of August 2008

On the 29th of August 2008 the who's who of New Zealand's Skiing Community converged on The Hills Clubhouse for the highly anticipated Powerplate Blackontrack Party. Hosted by Richard Mehrtens, Chairman of Snowvision, the event raised $30,000 through a silent and live auction for the New Zealand National Ski Team programme.

The Powerplate Blackontrack party sold out and boasted a guest list of locals and out of towners alike, who enjoyed the architecturally acclaimed Hills Clubhouse,with both New Zealand and International past and present skiing greats. Headlining the auction items and sparking some enthusiastic bidding was a round of golf and dinner with the Swedish National Ski Team.

The successful event was organised by Snowvision CEO, Fiona Stevens, and her team: Wayne and Carrie Cafe, Fraser Skinner, Jenny Mcleod and Deborah Botica and was supported by numerous other donors and sponsors.

30th October, 2008

The 2008 Formthotics blackonwhite ski camps have been the most successful ever, with a record number of recreational skiers of all abilities attending and contributing to the fundraising efforts.

Four Formthotics blackonwhite ski camps were held throughout the 2008 winter season. The first one was kicked off at Mt Hutt in July followed by camps in Coronet Peak and Treble Cone, then finished up at Coronet Peak in mid-August where everyone skied in beautiful sunny conditions.

Former elite ski racers including reigning Olympic downhill champion Antoine Denriaz, World Cup slalom champion Claudia Riegler and ex-New Zealand Olympic skiers Fiona Stevens and Erika McLeod took to the slopes with the biggest numbers ever participating. Many of the skiers attending a ski camp for their second or third time.

These unique, high value four day camps are ideal for recreational skiers who are looking to increase their confidence, take their skiing to a new level in a fun environment as well as experience skiing with former champions.

20th March, 2008

New Zealand's top alpine ski racers will now benefit from the use of the successful 'blackonwhite' brand, following the agreement to a 3 year deal between blackonwhite and Ski Racing New Zealand.

The addition of blackonwhite to the ski team will not only directly aid the program, but act also as a profile boost through increased exposure.

This addition follows on from the successful relationship formed between blackonwhite and the New Zealand National Development Team in 2007.