New Zealand skiers will be looking to etch their name on the New Zealand Alpine Ski National trophy when racing begins at Coronet Peak, near Queenstown, tomorrow.
Birgmann, who also helps coach the Austrian ski team during their annual visits to New Zealand, said national representatives Mark Bridgewater, Angus Howden and Janelle Miller would not want to be edged by the overseas competitors also lining up for a shot at a national title.
"This is a big event for the Kiwi skiers. They will not want anyone from overseas to win their national champs," he said.
Northern hemisphere skiers based in the South Island during their off-season targeted the New Zealand events as part of their training programme and quest for FIS qualification ranking points, he said.
Treble Cone Racing Academy (TCRA) members, such as Ryan Wilson, of the United States, and David Donaldson, of Canada, would have the leading New Zealand males in their sights.
Fellow TCRA member Simona Candrian, of Switzerland, would challenge New Zealand's top female downhill skier, Miller.
Wanaka-based New Zealand alpine skiers, such as Tim Cafe and Cardrona HPC's Leighton Winsloe, were "strong contenders" for the title, but realistically would be more likely to challenge in future years, Mr Birgmann said.
The 2008 Volkswagen National Ski Championships begins tomorrow with the Super G, followed by the giant slalom on Friday, and the slalom on Saturday.
The three-day event is expected to provide a blueprint for the FIS skiing events at next year's inaugural Winter Games New Zealand, planned for the region.
