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Source: ONE News -
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The success of the US and Canada at this year's Winter Olympics has given them even more of an appetite for the pre-season training they do in New Zealand.
This year's Winter Olympics were the most successful ever for the Americans who topped the medals table and also for the Canadians who took away the most gold.
They have been training at Coronet Peak for years but after their biggest Olympic medal haul at Vancouver this year, the Americans and Canadians are back in force.
"This is probably the biggest team we've ever had in New Zealand," said Canadian current Super G World Cup champion Erik Guay.
Snowsports New Zealand said there are 240 international ski racers training in ski fields across the South Island.
According to Coronet Peak, 58% of this year's Olympic medal winners are training on the slopes and things are so full, the Austrians have had to be turned away.
The Canadians are raving about how good things are in this part of the world.
"Coronet Peak is for sure the best mountain in the Southern Hemisphere for training especially for technical events," said head Canadian technical coach Dusan Grasic.
These ski racers train with what is known as a water injection system, water is shot down into the snow to make the course hard and icy, unsuitable for recreational skiers and only some mountains allow it.
"We end up with a really, really good surface for training on, world cup conditions," said Coronet Peak Race & Events representative Richard Murphy.
So good in fact the Canadians have requested a race of their own be held at Coronet Peak for the first time.
"I don't think we get any training like this anywhere else in the world," said Guay.
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