After their success in Sochi, the British Ski and Snowboarding team is looking to carry on and build on the momentum and perform well at the big events this winter. Some have already been in action in autumn World cup events in Europe.
The highlights of this season’s competitive skiing and snowboarding calendar include the Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg Austria (15-25 January 2015), the Alpine World Championships in Vail – Beaver Creek (2-15 February 2015), the Telemark World Championships in Steamboat Springs (23-27 February) and the Speed Ski World Championships (28th Feb to 3rd March 2015) in Grandvalira.
All eyes will particularly be on the GB Park and Pipe Team after their Sochi success, and with them having the lion’s share of available team funding. ‘Old guard’ Sochi bronze medalist Jenny Jones and team mates Aimee Fuller and Jamie Nicholls will be joined by promising, young teammates including snowboarders Lewis Courtier-Jones, Rowan Coultas and Matt McCormick.
With Chemmy Alcott retired, Dave Ryding, who finished 17th in the Slalom at Sochi 2014, is our biggest hope in Alpine Skiing with Charlie Guest, Alex Tilley, Cara Brown, Rachelle Rogers and Darcie Mead all looking to represent Britain on the World Cup or Europa Cup circuit this season.
In Ski Cross, Emily Sarsfield and Liz Stevenson are both coming back from injury, and hope to be back training in this month with other team members Ed Drake and Pam Thorburn. British Snowboard Cross athletes include Stephanie Gehrig , Zoe Gillings, Coco Merz, Jennifer Osborne, Kyle Wise and Danny Chambers.