Queenstown, New Zealand (Sunday, July 7, 2002) - Some of the world's best women downhill endurance racers will compete for the Pieter Small-Smith trophy at the HP 50K of Coronet and for the American team, the battle will have special significance.

The U.S. women will compete against teams from Australia and Canada setting up 'a race within a race' at the Coronet Peak event on July 29-30.

Event Director Fraser Skinner says the women's competition was created this year, following the death of 24-year-old Pieter Small-Smith in tragic circumstances in Fiji, shortly after last year's 50K of Coronet.

"Pieter was very involved with the race and he and his family hosted the American women's team during the event. They became good friends and the team was devastated to learn of his death."

Skinner says the US women's team wanted to return this year because of the special relationship they established with Pieter and this inspired his family to donate a trophy in his name.

Team USA Women's three members all competed in Queenstown last year taking second place to the Australians. Captain Noel Lyons-McMenamy (39) is a veteran of endurance racing, competing in the 24 Hours of Aspen five times. She has been on the US Ski team and competed on the World Cup circuit.

Twenty-eight-year-old Andi Bither says the 50K of Coronet last year was a life changing event influencing her to compete in the 24 Hours of Aspen. She is ranked top 16 in the United States in combined downhill/slalom.

The third team member Nicole Pelletier (29) is addicted to speed and competition and is a former member of the U.S. Ski Team Development Squad and a Europa Cup competitor.

Team Australia's captain Alice Jones (25) led her team to victory last year and she returns this year to retain the women's title and race competitively against the men. She has been on the Australian Ski Team for the last eight years and has handpicked fellow national ski team members Rowena Bright (21) and Jeanette Korten ( 26) to help mount the challenge.

New to the HP 50K Team Canada is an experienced side with two of its team being past winners of the 24 Hours of Aspen women's competition. Anik Demers (30) has been on Canada's national ski team while Aleisha Cline (31) is a skier-cross world champion. Edith Rozsa (29) who is a seven-year veteran of the Canadian national team and a four times Canadian National Champion completes the team.