SA snow ski champ excels in US

QUEENSTOWN -- South Africa's snow-skiing hope, Alex Heath, 20, has excelled in gaining 40th place in the Giant Slalom event in the World Alpine Championships in Vail, Colorado -- despite a near-fatal car crash just days before the competition.

Heath's previous best result in an Alpine speed event was 68th in Sierra Nevada, Spain in the 1996 World Championships.

On January 29, while on his way to Boston for his flight to Vail, the driver of Heath's car lost control and the car lan-ded on top of a crash barrier.

Fortunately the barrier was packed with snow, which prevented the vehicle from falling onto the precipice below.

President of the South African Snow-Skiing Association Peter Piz said it was a "wonderful result for snow- skiing in South Africa" and Heath was "improving so fast and it is just experience which separates him from the top racers."

Heath dedicated his achievement to friend and fellow student at the Waterville Valley Ski Academy, Dan Cardillo, who was killed in a skiing accident while training for the Giant Slalom event on January 26. -- DDR