Four skiers will now have the chance to represent Tonga at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, after the Kingdom was admitted as a member of the International Ski Federation (FIS) in June.
According to Matangi Tonga, this follows on from the historical admission of Tonga in the last Winter Olympic Games in 2014 in Sochi with Bruno Banani competing in the Luge.
Leafa Mataele Wawryk, Secretary General/CEO of Royal Tonga Ski Federation, said that Tonga is one of FIS’s fastest growing small nations from the Pacific to develop and participate in international ski competitions.
“The future goal of the Royal Tonga Ski Federation is to bring more South Pacific islands to winter sports and to help build the Oceania Team in the Southern Hemisphere together with New Zealand and Australia,” she said.
Four athletes comprising of two seniors and two young skiers are currently preparing to compete in the upcoming winter season competition with the ultimate goal to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
“Winter Olympic Games and winter sports are the most expensive sports out there and for us to exist we are fortunate enough to find Tongans overseas but our number one goal has always been to bring athletes from Tonga and our future is looking very promising,” said Leafa.
The athletes are Makeleta Piukala, Kasete Naufahu Skeen, Reinhard Langer and Dyan Wackerbauer. All grew up in Tonga but now reside overseas.
Makeleta Piukala is from Vava’u and lives in Germany. She was chosen for her athletic capabilities although she had never skied before and was the first Tongan athlete to compete in the FIS World Championship in Falun last June. She is a cross-country skier.
Kasete Naufahu Skeen was born in London and is the son of Lucky Owen Skeen, from Kolonga, Tongatapu, Tonga. He was raised in Nuku’alofa and his dream to represent Tonga in winter sports is now a reality. He aims to compete in the alpine skiing diciplines of Giant Slalom and Super G.
Reinhard Ngatuvai Langer was born in Germany to a Tongan mother and German father. He also grew up in Tonga. He competed last year for the first time at the International Junior Race Pinocchio 2015 and will turn 18 years old before the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. He is an alpine skier.
Dyan Tupa Wackerbauer was born in New Zealand to a Tongan mother and German father. She grew up in Tonga and she loves skiing since she first took to the slopes at a young age. Dyan aims to represent Tonga in alpine skiing.
Royal Tonga Ski Federation's Leafa Mataele Wawryk and Steve Grundmann were the driving force behind Tonga's acceptance to the FIS at a recent Congress held in Cancun, Mexico, in June.
Photo: Facebook/Royal Tonga Ski Federation - Hermann Aigner and Kasete Naufahu Skeen