Sarah Jarvis

My thing is Alpine Ski Racer NZs #1 Female

My status as NZ’s first female Maori Alpine World Cup & Olympic Ski Racer is the catalyst to inspire other NZ youths to achieve against all the odds.

The nature of my goal

I am often isolated, have scrimped and scraped by many times and know exactly what it means to my family and I to meet the enormous challenges of being an international competitor in a minority sport.
But I feel certain my elite sporting career and ultimate dream and long-term goal to offer my extraordinary experiences back to the younger generation of New Zealanders, many of who are troubled Maori youths, will eventually be of mutual benefit, pride and inspiration.

In the meantime, I must continue to pursue, explore and exhaust my chances at achieving with the best in the world.

My personal pathway has been fraught with difficulties including European, American and Canadian World Cup Ski Racers having an extreme advantage over New Zealanders because Ski Racing is to their countries what Rugby is to New Zealand.
However, such factors drive my determination to achieve even more. And despite being without funding or coaching support from the NZ Ski Federation since 2007 when the NZ Women’s Team was dissolved due to lack of funds, I have persevered alone, climbing the ladder in North America and culminating in 3 podium finishes in a very strong International women’s field in Canada, December 2009.

To ensure my continued success, and to remain focused on working toward gaining world ranking places against the best skiers in the world, there are many things I need but most importantly, the resources to support a World class coach, and to train on World class terrain. (246 words)