The British Telemark Team has been announced by British Ski and Snowboard for the 2017/18 season. After a hugely successful season in 2016/17, which saw Jasmin Taylor (pictured above) take six FIS Telemark World Cup podiums as well as securing a bronze medal at the 2017 FIS World Championships, the team go into this winter full of confidence.
The team is split into three groups of athletes, with the top group competing at World Cup level, and featuring Jasmin Taylor accompanied by four male team mates – Louis Hatchwell, Sion Bingham, Jasper Taylor and Alistair Cruz Mermy. Hatchwell, Bingham and Taylor all put in some solid World Cup appearances last season, with Cruz Mermy stepping up to the top level of racing for this season.
The next group of athletes will try and challenge for World Cup spots, whilst competing at National Championships and FIS races. The team consists of James French, Fred Thomas, Ben Emsley, Alec Dixon, Colin Dixon, Ollie Wotton, Nick Henderson, Robbie Houstoun, Naila Cardwell and Tara Parks who is coming back from injury.
(Members of the British Team at the World championships in La Plagne earlier this year)
Two junior athletes, Sissi Compton and Magnus McIntosh make up the final group, and they will both be looking to develop further their racing skills this season in order to mix it up with the more experienced athletes.
The opening FIS Telemark World Cup of the 2017/18 season begins this December in Hintertux, Austria from 1st to 3rd December. Following on from Hintertux the British Telemark Team will compete at the next World Cup in Pralgnon-la-Vanoise, France running on 12th and 13th January 2018, which will be followed by the British Telemark Championships in the same resort.. Following four more World Cups, the season concludes with World Cup Finals and the World Junior Championships in Murren, Switzerland from 19th – 25th March 2018.
British Telemark Team Selector Chris Wotton said: “Following a successful 2016/17 season the team is looking forward to another busy season with World Cup races across Europe, Scandinavia and North America. We also have some really exciting new talent coming up through the ranks who will be looking to gain more invaluable experience and FIS points competing on the French Cup circuit and at the British Championships in January”.
The 2017/18 Telemark World Cup will be live-streamed via the FIS Telemark Facebook page throughout the season.
British Telemark Team 2017/18:
Group A
Louis Hatchwell
Jasmin Taylor
Sion Bingham
Jasper Taylor
Alistair Cruz Mermy
Group B
James French
Fred Thomas
Ben Emsley
Naila Cardwell
Alec Dixon
Colin Dixon
Tara Parks
Ollie Wotton
Nick Henderson
Robbie Houstoun
Group C
Sissi Compton
Magnus McIntosh
