Cutting Edge 26-03-08
Time for the Champs!
The 2008 British Land National Championships are fast approaching and all of the British skiing talent will be on show in the French resort of Méribel.
Méribel is positioned at the very heart of the world’s largest connected ski area, Les 3 Vallées, with 375 miles of groomed and marked ski runs and one of the most efficient lift systems in the world. To the east lies the valley of Courchevel, to the west, the valley of Les Belleville with the resorts of Les Menuires and Val Thorens, and in the centre, the valley of Les Allues with Méribel; a skier’s ideal starting point.
HRH the Earl of Wessex, the patron of Snowsport GB, will host the official opening party of the Championships as an added spectacle to the week’s events.
Oliver Jones, the chairman of Snowsport GB commented: "The excitement of the Championships is in anticipating where we will see new talent emerge from and if our current top athletes and reigning champions can defend their titles - always a thoroughly thrilling prospect."
As an added extra to all of the top class races, the Championships will hold two parallel night slaloms, one during the senior and junior week and the other during the Children’s Championships.
The entertainment doesn’t just take place on the slopes, as Land Rover will be giving spectators the chance to experience the off road capabilities of their cars with the help of their ‘Mini Terrapod’ which will be located near the piste on the Chaudanne daily.
The Mini Terrapod is a man made course that will test the cars to the full limit as it includes deep potholes and steep inclines. Willing spectators will be taken around the course by Land Rovers own skilled instructors.
Bring on the Champs!
Best of the Fest on the Piste!
The snow-capped mountains of Meribel, France are set to be filled with revelers as the Altitude Festival is set to take up residence on its slopes. The dust of the British Championships will have hardly had time to settle as comedy talent, international DJ’s and live music acts will descend for two weeks of fun and frolics.
Professional skiers and snowboarders will be showing festival-goers just how it’s done, and there will be loads of snow silliness to get involved in like the three-legged ski races and snowball fights!
This amazing event takes place between 5 - 20 April and promises plenty of good snow amongst the warm spring conditions. Marcus Brigstocke (Have I Got News For You, The Late Edition, The Now Show), Ed Byrne, The Comedy Store Players, We Are Klang and Andre Vincent are among the performers already booked, with more acts to be announced.
The festival has been organised by ‘Taking the Piste’ Comedy which has been running for six years across the Alps in conjunction with Meribel tourist office.
Competition!!!
Altitude Festival have teamed up with Cutting Edge to offer subscribers the opportunity to win one of three fantastic prizes (see below). Also, Cutting Edge readers will have access to a special discounted rate for two shows at the Festival (subject to availability). All you have to do is email info@takingthepiste.com quoting SSGB2208 in the subject bar for tickets to see Jenny Éclair (€10 per ticket) and Lee Mack (€18 per ticket). For more information about the shows go to www.altitudefestival.com.
Altitude Festival organisers have kindly offered three FAB prizes for Cutting Edge subscribers;
· 1st Prize – Dinner for to at Evolution Bar and 2 tickets to any show at the Festival
· 2nd Prize – 4 tickets to any show at the Festival
· 3rd Prize – 2 tickets to any show at the Festival
To enter, simply answer the question on your Cutting Edge newsletter. Winners will be contacted by email. Closing date 4th April 2008.
Welcome to the ‘FIS’ Team
TJ glides up the ranks!
Norfolk boy, TJ Baldwin, has been skiing since he was only six years old and learned his trade at the Norfolk Ski Club dry ski slope before finally moving on to snow at the British Ski Academy in Les Houches, France.
TJ, now 17, was strutting his stuff in full blown races two years later earning him a call up to the British Children's Ski Team. He ended his first season by winning a silver medal for Team GB in Turkey; winning the English Alpine Championships in Slalom and Giant Slalom and coming 3rd in the Super G; TJ went on to become runner up in the British Championships in the Giant Slalom and 4th in the Super G.
Over the next three years of his career, TJ became one of the most successful young skiers in Great Britain, winning a further 22 British, English and Inter- Schools championships.
TJ’s preferred discipline is the Giant Slalom and he states that his skiing aspirations are to win an Olympic medal and to make it on to a World Cup Podium. In the words of his favourite catchphrase - courtesy of Will Ferrell character, Ricky Bobby, in the film Talladega Nights - “If you’re not 1st …you’re last!”
Pete Whelan – White lightning
Since hitting the slopes at the age of eight, the Uxbridge born skier, Pete Whelan, has had a thing for speed. Pete nicknamed ‘White Lightning’, said that if he wasn’t a ski racer he would be racing NASCAR’s to get an equally exciting adrenaline rush.
18 year old Pete competes in the Downhill, Slalom, Super G and Giant Slalom disciplines but doesn’t have a preferred event as he treats every race the same. As with all of the FIS boys, he has his sights firmly set on medals, and his skiing aspirations are to be one day crowned World and Olympic Champion.
After skiing, Pete likes to relax with a Will Ferrell movie and eat his favourite food,Ben and Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie ice cream, a man after the Cutting Edge team own hearts!
Aaron Tipping - On the comeback trail
Aaron Tipping took to the snow again recently - great news for the 17 year old skier from Kent who has been sidelined for over a year after a horrific accident resulted in a broken leg.
Aaron’s doctors wanted to test the dorsiflexion of his ankle which has been limited since his crash in November 2006 and have admitted amazement at the rate of his progress.
Aaron finished the season of his crash ranked No 1 in the UK in his age group for Slalom and No 2 in Giant Slalom.
Apart from skiing, he enjoys many other sports, including golf, swimming and cricket. In addition, Aaron is also kept busy with his regular fitness program, which was designed for him by his father who has a degree in sports science.
The aspirations of this young skier are to compete in the World Cup and the Olympics and preferably bring home medals. We wish him all the best with his recovery.
Let Metro get you to Meribel!
Make sure you pick up a copy of your local metro over the coming weeks as Snowsport GB and Metro have teamed up to bring you the best coverage of the 2008 British Land National Ski Championships. The coverage of the Championships will include a preview of the event and a rising stars profile on the ones to watch throughout the competition.
On the back of her recent win in the Croatian Championships, there will be an interview with Chemmy Alcott on what she hopes to achieve at this year’s Championships.
For those who won’t be able to join the team in France, daily results from the British Land Championships will be reported in Metro, as well as special televised highlights programme from the event on 6 April 2008 on Channel 4.
On Wednesday 26 March, Metro will also be running a fantastic competition to win the prize of:
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Return flights to Geneva from London Gatwick (departing 29th March, returning 5th April), courtesy of Directski.com
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Accommodation (self-catered apartment), courtesy of Directski.com
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Chauffeur driven transfer to and from Geneva airport courtesy of Land Rover
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Meribel ski passes, courtesy of Meribel Ski Resort
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Ladies and Gents Eco-Drive watches, courtesy of Citizen Eco-Drive.
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Ladies watch – Riva Chronograph, 30 dimonds, mother of pearl dial
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Men’s watch – Calibre 2100, Alarm Chronograph
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This is an amazing opportunity for all ski lovers to experience the magic of the Championships so keep your eyes peeled for details!
Results Round-up
French National Championships at Auron, France – 19-27 March
Britain’s top female skier Chemmy Alcott claimed her second national Giant Slalom title in five days when she won the French event for the second year running at Auron on Monday 25 March. The Twickenham skier beat France’s Tessa Worley by just 0.02s over two runs to win the fourth National championship title of her career in giant slalom and it comes ahead of the British Land National championships which begin in Meribel next weekend. Alcott finished fifth to fellow World Cup skier Marie Marchand-Arvier in the Super G event earlier in the weekend, and claimed her best slalom result of the season with eleventh at Isola 2000, finishing less than two seconds behind winner Claire Dautherives, although this is not one of her favoured events.
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Men’s Super G results: |
Dougie Crawford 9th equal |
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Men’s GS results: |
Ed Drake 28th |
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Men’s Slalom results: |
Alain Baxter 16th |
Slovenian National Championships, Kope – 18-27 March
| Men’s Downhill (x2) results: |
Dougie Crawford 8th and 9th |
| Ladies Downhill (2x) results: | Pam Thorburn 9th and 6th |
FIS Slalom atRottach-Egern, Germany- 19 March 2008
Dave Ryding, Slalom - 10th place
Croatian National Championships at Innerkrems, Austria - 18 and 19 March 2008
Chemmy Alcott, Giant Slalom - 1st place and Super G - 5th place
Alain Baxter, Slalom – 21st place
Dave Ryding, Slalom – 24th place
FIS Slalom at Filzmoos, Austria – 13March 2008
Chemmy Alcott, Slalom - 17th place
FIS Super G races at Spital / Semmering, Austria 12 March 2008
Dougie Crawford, Super G - 3rd place
Ed Drake, Super G - 10th place
Jan Kochalski, Super G - 12th place
FIS Slalom races at Toussuire, France 12 March 2008
Dave Ryding, Slalom - 3rd place
FIS races at Bad Hofgastein, Austria 12March 2008
Chemmy Alcott, Giant Slalom - 3rd place
Sophie Readman, Giant Slalom - 63rd place
Watch out for…skiing...26.03.08
British Land National Ski Championships, Meribel, France 30 March-11 April
