Team Member Gary MacPherson

Today we catch up with another member of the New Zealand Ski Mountaineering Team. As stated in the previous post, the team has been thinned out a little, with Kath and Duncan both having to pull out due to injuries, so it does seem like a good time to find out a bit more about one of the racers that's still fit and ready to go.

Gary MacPherson has the prestige of winning NZ's first ski mountaineering race, the 2006 Temple Basin Rando Rally. He turned in a good effort at the BD Ohau event this winter, for a 3rd place finish (pretty good as he had just recovered from an ankle operation!), but the flu and work got the better of him and he never managed to line up for the other 3 races. He's looking to make up for that in Switzerland.
I managed to squeeze a few details out of the native Scotsman turned kiwi....
SkiMoNZ:How did you get into ski mountaineering racing?
G Mac: Through work managing a field that hosted a ski mo event and love of ski touring.

Why do you race/what's the best part of racing?
It's an extension of back-country skiing combining my love of multisport racing.

What event are you most anticipating at the SMWC? Individual Long Race, it is a 3000 metre vertical event!
Any advice for anyone wanting to get into racing in NZ? Just do it. Get yourself a good touring set up and come along for a fun day out.

What training are you doing currently in preparation? Training for Coast to Coast - a one day challenge crossing from one side of New Zealand to the other. Doing lots of running, cycling and paddling.

Gary, training hard. Avalanche Peak, APNP, spring 2007