Just days before the official Olympic selection for skiers and snowboarders to Team GB, there have been some outstanding performances from British Ski and Snowboard athletes across the disciplines.
Cross country skier Andrew Musgrave turned heads in Norway as he won the Norwegian National Sprint Title on Friday, telling the local press “your boys took one hell of a beating!” In what was a historic win where he managed to out-sprint three previous World Cup winners, Musgrave is now in what coach Roy Young described as “the form of his life”. And the success didn’t stop there with Musgrave also taking 6th place in the 30km race on Saturday.
Over in Switzerland, there was a great result for Fiona Hughes who took 2nd in the 5km race at the Swiss National Cross Country Championships. Closely behind her was Posy Musgrave in 5th and Annika Taylor in 8th. In the Men’s 15km, also at the Swiss Championships in Leysin, Callum Smith came 7th and Alex Standen 18th. Smith was less than 20 seconds off a podium place.
There was more success in Switzerland with Katie Summerhayes taking second place in the Ski Slopestyle World Cup in Gstaad. Anna Vincenti helped her selection chances by placing 11th, but will have to wait until Wednesday to find out if she has done enough to be selected for Team GB. In the Men’s competition Tyler Harding was ranked 35th overall after missing out on the final.
In Stoneham, Canada, Aimee Fuller came 5th in the Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup, showing that she is up there with the world’s best and boosting her chances of Sochi 2014 selection. Jamie Nicholls was also on flying form, coming 6th in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle final. Katie Ormerod unfortunately missed out on a final place and ranked 23rd overall. Sam Turnbull took on Stoneham’s World Cup Big Air and finished 7th in the finals. Over in the Snowboard Halfpipe, Ben Kilner placed 14th and Dom Harington 16th in the final of the World Cup in Stoneham. Solid results ahead of Sochi.
In Alpine Skiing, there was frustration for Chemmy Alcott whose races were all cancelled due to heavy snow in Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. The races have been rescheduled for later this week. Over in Wengen, Dave Ryding missed out on qualifying for the second run in the World Cup Slalom. Despite making it down the tricky course, Ryding placed 45th, missing out on the final cut. For Dougie Crawford, he finished 35th in the Super Combined and unfortunately did not make it to the 2nd run in the World Cup Downhill after promising training runs. In the Zell am See Men’s Europa Cup Nick Moynihan just missed out on the final of the Slalom and along with team mate Jack Gower, did not qualify for the 2nd run in the Giant Slalom.
In Moguls, Ellie Koyander failed to make the final of the Val St Come World Cup in Canada, ranking 33rd overall. And in Aerials Lloyd Wallace came 26th overall in the Lake Placid World Cup, producing a solid performance and landing a new trick.
For Emily Sarsfield, she ended up ranked 31st overall in the Ski Cross World Cup after weather caused delays and cancellations on Thursday in Val Thorens.
Team GB announcement for Sochi 2014 takes place on Wednesday 22nd January.
For full profiles of all British Ski and Snowboard athletes visit www.teambss.org.uk or the Ski Club of Great Britain website www.skiclub.co.uk/britisheliteathletes.
For all FIS schedules and results visit www.fis-ski.com.