But a group of determined Otago-based athletes will be storming the slopes alongside them in an effort to better their prospects for Olympic Games' selection next year or in 2014.
Swedish alpine skier Anja Paerson (28) was confirmed as a starter yesterday and headlines one of the best fields of female alpine skiers ever to race in New Zealand.
The reigning Olympic ladies slalom champion will race alongside her countrywoman Kajsa Kling, the present Swedish national champion in the three alpine disciplines.
Fabienne Suter (24), of Switzerland, ranked third in the world for super G, and four-time Olympian Jenny Owens (31), Australia, are also competing.
The Swedish men's team also provides very stiff competition, bringing the top three ranked giant slalom skiers Markus Larsson (30), Andre Myhrer (26) and Matts Olsson (20) to New Zealand, plus the 2007 French national junior champion, Arnaud Favre.
National coach Nils Coberger was not available for comment yesterday.
New Zealand's best podium prospects are senior men Ben Griffen (22), of Ohakune, and Tim Cafe (22), of Queenstown, who have been in strong form recently.
The bulk of the New Zealand team comes from a development squad of athletes aged between 15 and 18.
For them, the focus is on building form ahead of the 2010 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in France.
The races would be a "fantastic opportunity" for the teenagers to show what they can do, Ski Racing New Zealand development coach Pete Sanford said yesterday.
Taylor Rapley (18), of Queenstown, Harriet Miller-Brown (17), Dunedin, and Alexandra McGlinn (17), Christchurch, join senior woman Sarah Jarvie (23), while Queenstown's Adam Barwood (17) and Harrison Steedman (16), Finlay Neeson (16), of Taranaki, and Christchurch brothers Jamie (18) and Nick (16) Prebble join Griffen and Cafe on the men's team.
They all had a fantastic opportunity to ski alongside the best in the world and lower their FIS points to gain a better international ranking, Sanford saidThe development squad members were all future prospects for the 2014 Olympics, he said.
"We have had plenty of high competition in FIS races in New Zealand before but the Winter Games had turned it into a real race event . . .
"For the two senior men, they are skiing really well and it gives them a real opportunity to see if they are on track for the Olympics in Vancouver."
Other nations competing in the three alpine events include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States.
For the record
Anja Paerson
Born: April 25, 1981
From: Sweden
Achievements: seven world championship gold medals, two world cup titles, multiple Olympic medallist (gold and two bronze in 2006; silver and bronze in 2002)
Winter Games events: giant slalom, slalom and super G, Coronet Peak, August 27-30.
