2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Ben Griffin (Ohakune) and Tim Cafe (Queenstown) will fly the flag for New Zealand in the alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.

Their selections to the New Zealand team were announced today by the New Zealand Olympic Committee following their nomination by Snow Sports New Zealand.

Griffin (23), whose ski racing career began in Ohakune, is the current New Zealand Super G and Giant Slalom champion and the 2009 Australia New Zealand Cup overall champion. He has qualified for Olympic selection in both giant slalom and Super G, being ranked 204th and 247th in the world, respectively.

Photo: Ben Griffin Credit: Getty Images

Griffin’s selection to the team is a milestone for him after he broke his neck in 2008 following a trampolining accident. His commitment to recovering and regaining his previous form is reflected in his 2009 results and throughout both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere season his focus has been on selection to New Zealand’s Winter Olympic team.

“To get to Vancouver has been my main goal and it will be the highlight of my skiing career.”

Tim Cafe (22) who has been Griffin’s training partner and was recently named on the New Zealand National Team, met the Olympic qualification criteria in Super G, being currently ranked 238th in the world.

Photo: Tim Cafe Credit: Getty Images

Cafe was brought up in Queenstown training with the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team and was the 2008 New Zealand combined champion and Australia New Zealand Cup overall series winner. In 2009 he was runner-up to both the national Super G and giant slalom titles.

His focus throughout 2009 has also been Olympic oriented and he and Griffin say it is an honour to represent New Zealand, which has been a dream for them both since they began competitive skiing as youngsters on the national circuit.

“This means more to me than anything else I have achieved in my career,” says
Cafe. “I feel confident that the experience I have gained competing at a World Championships and two World Junior Championships will stand me in good stead at the Olympics.”