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About Pinnacle Assistance We Provide Who Are We Looking For FAQ's News How To Apply Hyundai Pinnacle Athletes Elijah Taylor Andrew Murdoch Andrea Fountain Moss Burmester Kate McIlroy Debbie Tanner Storm Uru Adam Hall Peter Taylor Links |
Andrea takes tenApril 2010Foundation Pinnacle athlete Andrea Fountain has won a record tenth New Zealand Wakeboard championship. One of the first two athletes to enter the Pinnacle programme, with yachtsman Andrew Murdoch in 2006, Andrea retired from a successful international career last year. She joined the business world in hometown Auckland and has not been competing in wakeboarding, but the temptation of another national championship event proved too tempting. “I was pretty rusty and I wondered if I was quite ready for this,” commented Andrea. “Plus I hadn’t been training and keeping as fit as I was on the world circuit, so the next day I was pretty stiff and sore. “But on the day I was stoked, I nailed my tricks perfectly and had an ace run.” The night before heading south to the title event, Andrea joined recent Pinnacle athletes, mentors, Hyundai staff and Advisory Board for the graduation of Peter Taylor, in Auckland. It was an opportunity for Andrea to receive belated official recognition of her 2007 graduation, which went unmarked at the time as she was competing in the northern hemisphere. Andrea won her first World Cup event way back in 2005. Adam Hall gold! Pinnacle athlete Adam Hall has won the gold medal in slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics Games. For the 22-year-old from Outram just outside Dunedin it’s his first Paralympic medal, at his second Games. Not a bad jump, from zero to gold! Adam blitzed the first run on a course hit difficult snow conditions and poor visibility at Whistler Resort. The young Kiwi had more than two-second lead, in an event normally decided by tenths of a second. And he extended that lead at the top of the second run. But then Adam had Kiwi hearts in mouths as he fell, losing precious time. In the end he won by just over half a second from 12-times gold medallist Gerd Schonfelder of Germany, with Australian Cameron Rahles-Rahbula taking bronze. Adam’s combined time was 1min 45.40sec. Adam Hall is the most severely-disabled athlete in the standing category at this Games, but he was right among the favourites of 42 athletes in the slalom – an event in which he is ranked #2 in the world. He targeted nothing less than slalom gold in preparation over the past couple of years: Pinnacle provided a printout pic of the gold medals which Adam pinned on his wall. Adam has three further medal events at the Paralympics, although slalom is his major discipline. This Paralympics is Adam’s Pinnacle event – he graduates from the programme next month. Adam Carries The Flag Pinnacle athlete Adam Hall carried the flag for New Zealand at the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympics Games. The 23-year-old skier, a two-time Paralympian, was honoured to represent our nation at the awe-inspiring event and in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 60,000 at the BC Stadium. “Adam is the epitome of the professional athlete. He lives and breathes high performance and he was the obvious choice to carry the symbol of our nation at the pinnacle of international competitive winter sports,” said Chef de Mission, Jon Turnbull. This Paralympics is Adam’s Pinnacle event – he graduates from the programme next month. Although he’s the most severely-disabled athlete in the standing category at this Games, Adam is one of the favourites in the slalom – an event in which he is ranked #2 in the world. He is contesting three other events as well.
Pinnacle athletesand graduates learn advanced driving skills at Taupo International Raceway in October 2009. Although not normally considered a skill for elite sport, driving is recognised by Pinnacle as a core competency which impacts on the athlete's life experience.
 Graduates of the Pinnacle programme at their award ceremony, April 2009. From left, Debbie Tanner (Auckland, triathlete), Storm Uru (Invercargill, rower), Moss Burmester (Tauranga, swimmer), Andrew Murdoch (Kerikeri, yachtsman), Kate McIlroy (Wellington, formerly distance runner now triathlete). Away at a competition, Andrea Fountain (Auckland, wakeboarder). 9 July 2008 immediate release Paralympic skier Adam Hall joins PinnacleParalympic alpine ski racer Adam Hall is the latest international athlete to join Hyundai's respected Pinnacle mentor programme. The 20-year-old from Dunedin is based at Wanaka and USA as a fulltime sportsperson. Currently ranked number two in the world in Paralympic Slalom, Adam last month was named NZ Snowsports overall Skier of the Year (equal with Jossi Wells) and also NZ Snowsports Disabled Skier of the Year. He joins the Pinnacle programme to work towards a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada. Adam was born with spina bifida. In many cases that means life in a wheelchair but Adam is mobile, able to walk, drive and ski standing. Pinnacle is a nationwide organisation, backed by the Hyundai motor vehicle network, which provides young athletes with a range of professional and personal skills to help them reach world-best status. Building on the athlete's physical conditioning and their technical training in their sport, Pinnacle mentors a range of skills outside the field of competition, which are typically the difference between success and failure at the highest level. The programme is based on 12 Pillars, covering everything from media and sponsors to mental motivation, focus and the price of fame. Pinnacle considers these to be skills essential as athletes take the step to true professionalism, and which conversely have often been the undoing of competitors as off-field issues impact on their performance. "I expect the skills I learn in Pinnacle to help me take the step up to world champion level," commented Adam Hall. "I have read what the other Pinnacle athletes say about their mentoring and I know it will help me become a true sports professional." Adam becomes the seventh Pinnacle athlete, joining triathlete Debbie Tanner and rower Storm Uru as current athletes in the programme. Tanner and Uru are members of the NZ team for the Beijing Olympics, along with Pinnacle graduates Moss Burmester (swimming) and Andrew Murdoch (sailing). Another Pinnacle graduate Kate McIlroy, steeplechase runner from Wellington, was unable to make the Olympic team because of injury. A further graduate Andrea Fountain from Auckland competes on the world wakeboarding circuit. Adam Hall has been a member of the New Zealand Disabled Ski Team since 2005 and was a member of the New Zealand Paralympic Ski Team at the 2006 Torino Paralympics, Italy. He scored seven consecutive gold medals in his World Series 2007/08 and is current NZ and Australian champion. He is studying for an agri-business diploma, by correspondence. ends Pictures available, of Adam Hall and other athletes More info on Adam Hall : www.kiwiskiracer.com More info on Pinnacle: www.pinnacleprogramme.co.nz contact: Ian Miles CEO Pinnacle ph office (03) 379 7907 cell 021 533 253 Tanner and Uru join Pinnacle 17 December 2007 Two of New Zealand's most promising young athletes are the latest to join the ranks of the Pinnacle sports mentor programme. Olympic triathlete Debbie Tanner and world under-23 rowing champion Storm Uru have just been inducted into sought-after Hyundai scheme. Pinnacle is a New Zealand organisation, backed by Hyundai, which provides young athletes with a range of professional and personal skills to help them reach world-best status. Tanner, 25, from Auckland, has already qualified top New Zealand woman for the Olympic Games at Beijing next August. Fourth at the Commonwealth Games last year, she also won the World Cup event at Ishagaki, Japan, and was runner-up in the equivalent event in Hamburg, Germany. Uru, 22, is from Invercargill now based with the national Olympic rowing squad at Cambridge. The lightweight sculler has won the world under-23 title the past two years. He also has been Maori Sportsman of the Year the past two years, at last month's ceremony additionally taking the supreme award as Maori Sportsperson of the Year and a world champions award. Uru has contested five international regattas, achieving a medal every time; two were at elite level and three at under-23. He aims to qualify for next year's Olympics in the lightweight double sculls and is already looking beyond there to London in 2012. As Pinnacle athletes, Tanner and Uru join another Olympic aspirant, Kate McIlroy of Wellington, 3,000-metre steeplechaser. Foundation Pinnacle athlete Andrew Murdoch of Kerikeri, Olympic laser sailor, and Commonwealth gold medal swimmer Moss Burmester of Tauranga both recently graduated from the programme. Another foundation athlete, Andrea Fountain of Auckland, world championship wakeboarder, is approaching the conclusion of her time in Pinnacle. Established in 2005, Pinnacle is recognised by high-performance coaches for its benefits to elite athletes in organisation of their lives and in positive mental preparation; areas crucial for success but not addressed in current sports high performance programmes. Building on the athlete's physical conditioning and their technical training in their sport, Pinnacle mentors a range of skills outside the field of competition, which are often the difference between success and failure at the highest level. The programme is based on 12 Pillars, covering everything from media and sponsors to mental motivation and the price of fame. The Pinnacle programme considers these to be skills essential as athletes take the step to true professionalism, and which conversely have often been the undoing of competitors as off-field issues impact on their performance. Mentoring comes from within Pinnacle and Hyundai and from a range of outside experts. Athletes also receive a new Hyundai vehicle and some financial help. Typically they remain in Pinnacle for 12 to 18 months building to a world championship, Olympic or similar title bid. Although Hyundai is a strong sponsor of sports and sportspeople in this country, Pinnacle is partly a philanthropic undertaking by Hyundai Motors NZ and its 100 percent New Zealand ownership, with the objective of helping New Zealanders succeed on the world stage and creating more positive roles models for the nation. Pinnacle covers all sports; currently many applicants are from individual sports rather than teams but every application is closely considered on its merits. Application forms are available from Hyundai dealers. Information is at www.pinnacleprogramme.co.nz Burmester graduates from Pinnacle 19th July 2007 Olympic swimmer Moss Burmester has become the first graduate of Pinnacle, Hyundai's sports mentor programme. Pinnacle, a national organisation, provides young athletes with a range of professional and personal skills to help them reach world-best status. The programme is free to the athletes. Burmester, 26, finished a close fourth place in his key event, 200m butterfly, at the World Championships in Melbourne two months ago. He has since been training with the world champion Michael Phelps and his squad in USA. He has just been named to captain New Zealand at the World University Games in Bangkok next month. He will also carry the flag at the opening ceremony. Burmester won gold at last year's Commwealth Games in 200m butterfly and bronze in 100m. Originally from Tauranga, he is now based at the Millennium Institute on Auckland's North Shore as he works towards a medal at the Olympics next year. He joined Pinnacle last year. "To become a true internationally elite athlete, you need to be professional and have skills in the areas which are not a direct influence on your sport, but can indirectly affect it," commented Burmester. "The Pinnacle programme recognises this and helps athletes to up-skill and develop these important areas. "I now personally feel a lot more secure and on a level playing field with athletes from around the world, even though most of them have much more financial backing. "The Pinnacle programme has been hugely helpful …… I think it's great that Hyundai and Pinnacle have had the foresight and generosity to help New Zealand athletes like this, especially as it provides little benefit directly to themselves but so much to the athletes," Burmester said. The organisation described Burmester as "the perfect Pinnacle athlete." "Moss already had an appreciation of the importance of outside factors when he joined Pinnacle and we were able to build on those skills," commented the Chief Executive of Pinnacle, Ian Miles. "He has been receptive to everything we suggested and his professional approach to these areas off the water reflects his determination to succeed within his sport. "The world has not yet witnessed the best of Moss Burmester and we are proud to see him on the international stage as a Pinnacle graduate." Three athletes remain in the Pinnacle programme. Kate McIlroy, 26, of Wellington, was NZ Sportswoman of the Year and World Mountain Running Champion in 2005. She has now converted to 3000m steeplechase with an eye on the 2008 Olympics. She remains in Pinnacle until then. Andrew Murdoch, 26, of Kerikeri, Olympic laser sailor working towards Beijing 2008, and Andrea Fountain, 27, of Auckland, world championship wakeboarder, are both in the northern hemisphere working toward their world title bids in the northern autumn, when their Pinnacle programmes will end. Established two years ago, Pinnacle is recognised by high-performance coaches for its benefits to elite athletes in organisation of their lives and in positive mental preparation; areas crucial for success but not addressed in other sports high performance programmes. Building on the athlete's physical conditioning and their technical training in their sport, Pinnacle mentors a range of skills outside the field of competition, which are often the difference between success and failure at the highest level. The programme is based on 12 Pillars, covering everything from media and sponsors to mental motivation and the price of fame. The Pinnacle programme considers these to be essential skills as athletes take the step to true professionalism, and which conversely have often been the undoing of competitors as off-field issues impact on their performance. Athletes also receive a new Hyundai vehicle and financial assistance. Hyundai is a strong sponsor of sports and sportspeople in this country. Pinnacle has the objective of helping New Zealanders succeed on the world stage and creating more positive role models for the nation. Pinnacle covers all sports and the programme has received dozens of applications over the past two years. Application forms are available from Hyundai dealers. 11 July 2007 Murdoch second in world In another great result for a Pinnacle athlete, sailor Andrew Murdoch has clinched the silver medal at the world champs. Murdoch, a Foundation Athlete with Pinnacle, fought back from varied results early in the regatta to take the world title right to the wire at Cascais in Portugal. It's the highest ever result for the 26-year-old from Kerikeri, Northland, and augers well for his Olympic chances next year. The result, which confirms Olympic qualification for Murdoch and New Zealand, followed one of the most exciting medal races ever at the ISAF World Championships. "It was an awesome regatta with extremely competitive racing," commented Murdoch, who sails out of Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore. "I cannot express my thanks enough for the assistance I have had from Yachting New Zealand, SPARC, Hyundai Pinnacle programme and Cathay Pacific Airlines. "I am very happy to have qualified New Zealand for the Olympics next year." Murdoch was one of the first two athletes inducted into Pinnacle and graduates from the programme shortly. 2 November 2006 Burmester and McIlroy join Pinnacle Top-rated athletes Moss Burmester and Kate McIlroy are the latest to join the ranks of the Pinnacle sports mentor programme. Pinnacle is a New Zealand organisation, backed by Hyundai, which provides young athletes with a range of professional and personal skills to help them reach world-best status. McIlroy, 25, of Wellington, was NZ Sportswoman of the Year and World Mountain Running Champion in 2005. She has now converted to 3000m steeplechase with an eye on the 2008 Olympics. Burmester, 25, of Tauranga, won gold at this year's Commwealth Games in 200m butterfly and bronze in 100m. He is based on the North Shore as he works towards the Olympics. As Pinnacle athletes they join Andrew Murdoch of Kerikeri, Olympic laser sailor working towards Beijing 2008, and Andrea Fountain of Auckland, world championship wakeboarder. Established one year ago, Pinnacle is recognised by high-performance coaches for its benefits to elite athletes in organisation of their lives and in positive mental preparation; areas crucial for success but not addressed in current sports high performance programmes. Building on the athlete's physical conditioning and their technical training in their sport, Pinnacle mentors a range of skills outside the field of competition, which are often the difference between success and failure at the highest level. The programme is based on 12 Pillars, covering everything from media and sponsors to mental motivation and the price of fame. The Pinnacle programme considers these to be skills essential as athletes take the step to true professionalism, and which conversely have often been the undoing of competitors as off-field issues impact on their performance. Mentoring comes from within Pinnacle and Hyundai and from a range of outside experts. Athletes also receive a new Hyundai vehicle and some financial help. Typically they remain in Pinnacle for about 18 months building to a world championship or similar title bid. Although Hyundai is a strong sponsor of sports and sportspeople in this country, Pinnacle is partly a philanthropic undertaking by Hyundai Automotive NZ and its owner the Giltrap Group with the objective of helping New Zealanders succeed on the world stage and creating more positive roles models for the nation. An advisory board to select Pinnacle athletes comprises Barbara Kendall, Olympic boardsailor; Simon Peterson, CEO of Sport Auckland and Chairman of Paralympics NZ; Hyundai executives Philip Eustace and Howard Spencer and Pinnacle CEO Ian Miles of Christchurch. Pinnacle covers all sports; currently many applicants are from individual sports rather than teams but every application is closely considered on its merits. Pinnacle has received dozens of applications over the past year. Application forms are available from Hyundai dealers. Information is at www.pinnacleprogramme.co.nz 3 April 2006 First two athletes enter Pinnacle mentor programme Olympic Laser sailor Andrew Murdoch and international wakeboard star Andrea Fountain are the first two athletes inducted into Pinnacle, the world championship mentor programme backed by Hyundai. Murdoch, 23, of Kerikeri, is building towards a world title bid in Portugal in mid-2007 and subsequently the Beijing Olympics 2008. Fountain, 24, from Auckland, will contest the world championships in USA this September and is being mentored towards the 2007 equivalent. She leaves this month for the World Circuit of Wakeboarding, a four-event series across the northern hemisphere in which she is the defending champion. Murdoch, a member of the NZ Olympic yachting squad, also leaves shortly to compete in the northern hemisphere this NZ winter. The only organisation of its kind in New Zealand, Pinnacle works outside the field of competition, preparing young athletes for world-best performance by mentoring a range of professional and personal skills. Each athlete remains in Pinnacle for about 18 months. Andrea Fountain and Andrew Murdoch have already begun the Pinnacle mentoring programme called Twelve Pillars. On return to New Zealand next spring they will work intensively towards their 2007 world title bids. They have also received physical benefits including the use of a Hyundai Tucson vehicle each. “Since we launched Pinnacle six months ago, we have received dozens of applications from some highly talented young sportpeople,” commented the Chief Executive of Pinnacle, Ian Miles. “In Andrea and Andrew we have identified two extraordinary athletes. “In our criteria we make it clear we are seeking the X factor, that additional quality that sets certain young people apart and which helps make Kiwi athletes successful on the world stage. “It’s clear we have found that factor in each of these young competitors and it’s something we will be building on as they are mentored through Pinnacle.” Pinnacle applicants are assessed by an Advisory Board. The programme is backed by Hyundai Automotive NZ, a member of the Giltrap Group and the only NZ-owned and operated mainstream vehicle distributor. “The Pinnacle programme and now these athletes are fortunate to have the backing of an organisation which looks beyond the immediate goals of sponsorship to something which can make a positive, lasting impression within New Zealand sport,” Mr Miles added. Pinnacle applications remain open ongoing and further athletes will be inducted. At any one time as many as half a dozen sportspeople may be in the programme. “Pinnacle mentoring is an intensive, methodical, one-on-one process with a number of experienced sports professionals imparting their knowledge and leading the way,” Mr Miles explained. “The process cannot be rushed and we cannot provide it to more than a few people at one time. “We are talking about ultimate performance at the very highest levels in world sport, where the tiniest margins usually make all the difference. That demands the utmost effort in everything we do. “It’s not easy to get into Pinnacle, then again it demands levels of effort and professionalism which not all young sportspeople are prepared to reach towards.” Athletes can collect an application form from Hyundai dealers nationwide. The website www.pinnacleprogramme.co.nz has further details. “We are delighted with the contribution Hyundai has begun to make to New Zealand sport through Pinnacle,” commented Philip Eustace, Managing Director of Hyundai Automotive NZ and a member of the Pinnacle Advisory Board. “I think it’s now obvious to everyone that this undertaking is partly altruistic, as much as sponsorship; that is consistent with the contribution of the Giltrap Group over decades in New Zealand. “At Hyundai we remain committed to our senior athlete programme and our support for a range of sports and organisations, as part of the spectacular growth Hyundai is enjoying in the New Zealand market. “We continue to enjoy our association with Barbara Kendall, Hamish Carter, Nathan Astle and Scarlett Hagen, and we have relished our involvement with successful groups and events such as this summer’s Hyundai National Surfing Championships and Longboard Championships. “Now in Pinnacle we have the opportunity to make a further contribution to New Zealand sport by helping prepare the international champions of the immediate future. “Worldwide Hyundai is a big supporter of sport at the Olympics, World Football Cup and elsewhere. “There are strong parallels between the development of Hyundai’s strong range of dynamic new vehicles, the fastest-growing mainstream vehicle brand in the country, and the preparation of New Zealand’s finest sportspeople performing on the world stage,” said Mr Eustace. |
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