The 2005 Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) Series kicks off today, 24th August, at Mt Hotham in Victoria with the first of two Giant Slalom's for Men and Women to be held at Hotham. Thredbo National Team member, Jono Brauer, will be defending his GS and SL titles from 2004, coming back from injury after corrective surgery earlier in the year.

Jono is facing challenges from other National Team members like Brad Wall who won the GS & SL titles at last weeks National Championships in Thredbo , along with Luke Dean and Bryce Stevens. On the women's side, up and coming Victorian athlete and National Champion, Katya Crema, will face strong competition from New Zealand athletes who dominated the Women's ANC Series last year.

The Slalom leg of the ANC Cup starts at Mt Buller next Tuesday 30th August with the first of two ANC SL events. This will be both Mt Hotham and Mt Buller's first Continental Cup races for some years and everyone is expecting great events at this level which is the qualifier for World Cup entry and expenses.

After the Buller events, the ANC Series moves across the Tasman for two Super-G's at Mt Hutt where Brad Wall and Luke Deane will be defending their joint titles followed by another two GS and two Sl events at Whakapapa on the Nth Island. These final events will determine the individual ANC discipline winners and the Overall ANC Champions.

Cliff mason, ANC Committee