Cutting Edge 27-02-08
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Gala Dinner supports Snowsport Athletes Quest for Glory Europa Cup Team…on the road to success The Hills are alive with the sound of… the World Junior Championships! |
Gala Dinner supports Snowsport Athletes Quest for Glory
London’s Dorchester Hotel played host to the Snowsport GB Gala Dinner on 12 February, where 300 guests attended the prestigious event. The charity ball was organised to raise funds for the British Alpine Ski and Snowboard teams to assist in their quest for glory at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. The event also benefited the British Adaptive Ski Team through the charity Disability Snowsport UK.
The evening began with a drinks reception, followed by an address from HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the patron of Snowsport GB. After dinner, the Master of Ceremonies, Jonny Gould, put four of Great Britain’s snowsport athletes under the spotlight, discussing their hopes for the forthcoming Winter Olympics. Britain’s number one Alpine skier, Chemmy Alcott expressed her desire for a podium position this season, while Andy Noble is aiming for a top ten placing next season having been hampered by injury for the majority of this season. Scottish brothers Noel and Alain Baxter where also grilled with Noel hoping for a medal at the next Winter Olympics and Alain with high hopes as a serious contender.
Following on from ‘An Audience with The British Alpine Ski Team’ the Grand Auction was held, offering guests the opportunity to bid for a variety of exciting prizes. Prizes included coaching from World Cup Skier Andy Noble, an evening with Chemmy Alcott and a round of golf with Alain Baxter at Loch Lomond. After entertainment from comedian Marcus Brigstocke, the gala goers were entertained by Rick Parfitt Jnr and the RPJ Rock Band with everyone putting on their dancing shoes to top off the glamorous black tie event.
Europa Cup Team…on the road to success
The Snowsport GB Europa Cup Team has been having a storming season on the slopes. Pam Thorburn, Dougie Crawford, Jan Kochalski, Ed Drake and Dave Ryding, our future hopeful World Cup and Olympic winners, have been bring in some the best results of their careers. Last edition we featured Dave Ryding and this edition we hear from Dougie Crawford, Ed Drake and Jan Kochalski.
Dougie Crawford – Go Speed Racer Go!
After recently scoring one of his best slalom results of his career to date, Dougie Crawford is hungry for more success. The 21 year old Glasgow ski racer is working on lowering his world ranking this season with the aim of competing on the World Cup circuit and, one day, winning World Cup and Olympic medals.
Dougie has been skiing since he was two years old and began racing from the age of seven. He attended Bearsden Ski Club and made his competitive debut on snow at 13. His favourite disciplines are the speed events (Downhill and Super G).
Dougie's inspiration for becoming a ski racer was Britain’s very own Alain Baxter, as well as the Norwegian Skiing Legend Kjetil Andre Aamodt - who has won 21 World Championship medals and also became the youngest and oldest person to win Olympic Gold.
When not competing or training, Dougie likes to take time to enjoy a round of golf or go water skiing. He also likes to holiday in the vast steep terrain of Breckenridge, Colorado when he gets the chance.
Offering his advice to up and coming skiers, Dougie believes it is important not to specialise too early. He also feels it essential to always be open to different aspects of the sport and not go into anything half-hearted.
Ed Drake – On top of the World
Another star of the British Alpine Europa Cup team, Ed Drake scored one of the best results of his career when he won the FIS (International Ski Federation) Slalom race in Jenner, Germany (see round-up).
The 22 year old has gone from strength to strength after a hip injury kept him on the sidelines for most of the 2005/2006 season, and now his sights are set on the remainder of this season with the aim to do well on the Europa Cup circuit and significantly lower his FIS points.
When he gets the chances Ed likes nothing better than to spend time in his favourite holiday resort of Morzine, which spans across the border of France and Switzerland.
We're sure to be seeing a lot more of Ed this season and for many more to come.
The proof is in the name - Jan Michael Kochalski
With the name Kochalski, Jan Michael was always going to be a great skier. Taking to the slopes in Norway at the age of three for the first time, there has been no looking back. Jan then began his competitive skiing career in the North-east of Scotland where he trained with Gordon Skiers at Alford Dry Ski Slope and at the Lecht Ski Centre. 
His start to this season was hindered slightly due to injury early on but he is now fully fit, back in action and starting to get the right results. His ambitions for the season are to compete in as many Europa Cup competitions as possible and to bring down his world ranking.
He's very much looking forward to the British Championships Meribel at the end of March and is planning to compete in the Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom and Super combined against fellow top British skiers including Alain Baxter and Finlay Mickel, as well as top European competitors.
As a youngster he was inspired by Alberto Tomba and finds it invaluable training with British Men's World Cup Team. When time allows his favorite ski holiday destination is Chamonix.
Oil and gas specialists Pöyry Energy (Aberdeen) Ltd have recently announced its support for the talented skier’s bid to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games and have provided new equipment and a two-year funding support package. There is no doubt Jan has a bright future ahead of him as a world class Alpine skier.
Dougie, Jan and Ed will be giving it their all in the remainder of the season and we're sure to see more success to come for these talented young skiers!
The Hills are alive with the sound of… the World Junior Championships!
The mountains of the Pyrenees will come alive this month as the ski resort of Formigal, Spain plays host to the 2008 Alpine World Junior Ski Championships. The competition will start on Saturday 23February with the Womens’ Super G and will continue on Tuesday 26 February with the Men’s Downhill.
Around 300 junior skiers aged between 15 and 20 years old will be showing their skills and speed on the Collado slopes which are to host the 220 metre Slalom course and the 350 metre Giant Slalom.
The Tres Hombre slope will host the Super G, which will see the fearless juniors descend the 800 metre course from an altitude of 2,276 metres trying to reach the fastest speeds possible in order to be crowned champion.
Britain will be well represented at the Championships as eight of our athletes have made the qualification criteria.
On the men’s side, Peter Whelan and Thomas (TJ) Baldwin will compete in the Speed and Technical events, whilst Nick Robinson and Sam Wyer will compete in the Technical.
The ladies are represented by Sega Fairweather, Louise Thomas and Jayme Baggio who are competing in the Technical and Speed events, and Jenny Mashiter in the Technical disciplines.
Snowsport GB would like to congratulate the athletes and wish them every success at the World Junior Championships.
(pictured right TJ Baldwin at the 2007 British Championships)
2010…the road to the Olympics
Last week saw the Alpine World Cup move to Whistler, Canada, one of the host resort for the 2010 Winter Olympics, where preparations for the Games are going well. Team GB have decided that Calgary is their preferred choice of preparation camp going into the Games, a city which itself is no stranger to hosting the Winter Olympics.
Calgary hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1988 and again acted as Team GB’s preparation camp prior to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games held in Salt Lake City, and therefore boasts a legacy of world class facilities.
There will be two Olympic villages in 2010, one in Vancouver and one in Whistler. Vancouver is set to host athletes and officials from curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, short track speed skating, snowboard and speed skating while Whistler will host teams from alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross country, luge, Nordic combined, skeleton and ski jumping.
Last weeks racing will be the only chance the alpine athletes have to race on the Olympic piste before the Games. To see how the British athletes faired have a look in the results round up section.
Results Round-Up
European Cup Garmisch, Germany (17th February)
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Alain Baxter, Slalom - 14th Place
German National Junior Championships,Jenner (17th – 19th February)
The spotlight shone on the younger skiers this weekend as the Brits took them by storm.
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Ed Drake, FISSlalom - 1st and 4th places
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Dougie Crawford, FISSlalom - 11th and 7th places
Annaberg, Austria(21-22nd February)
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Dave Ryding, Slalom - 5th and 6th places
FIS World Cup, Whistler, Vancouver (19th – 24th February)
Despite recovering from a gastric bug, which stopped her eating for two days, Chemmy Alcott achieved two top 30 finishes in Whistler. Finlay Mickel is still fighting to re-gain the form he has shown the past two seasons after breaking his ankle in November.
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Chemmy Alcott, WC Super Combined - 22nd place
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Chemmy Alcott, WC Downhill - 29th place
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Finlay Mickel, WC Super G – 53rd place
Top results for the Telemark Team
The Telemark competitive season is drawing to a close with the last scheduled event being the World Cup Finals in the US at Sugarbush, Vermont in March. The British team has toured across Europe and Scandinavia and was proud to boast eight competing athletes on the tour, one of the largest team. 
The European Cup in Valdezcaray, Spain last week saw British Team Captain Andrew Clarke recorded his best individual result of the season. Clarke raised his game and scored an impressive 10th position against a strong European field, gaining vital FIS points that will secure a higher starting position in the US. Other good results came from Mark Murray and Andy Salter who both staked their claim with impressive top 15 results.
As the team is self-funding and due to issues with time off work, Andrew Clarke will be Britain's sole representative in Vermont, hoping to improve his World Cup standings with some top 15 finishes. For more information on the GB Telemark team visit www.gbtelemark.co.uk.
Watch out for..skiing...
World Cup
27th Feb – 2nd Mar Kvitfjell, Norway, Downhill and Super G (men)
1-2 Mar Arber, Germany, Slalom and GS (ladies)
5-9 Mar Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Downhill and Super Combined (ladies)
Europa Cup
3-7 Mar Hause im Ennstal, Austria, Downhill, Super G and Super Combined (men and ladies)
5-8 Mar Bansko, Bulgaria, Downhill (men)
