GB Snowsport is celebrating a highly successful weekend with fantastic results across the disciplines including a World Cup win, X-Games medal and the crowning of a new Junior World Champion.
PARK & PIPE
Junior World Championships, Leysin SUI – Sun 27 January
Connie Brogden has announced herself as a star of the future after becoming the ski halfpipe Junior World Champion in Switzerland today. Having finished tenth at the 2018 Junior World Championships in New Zealand, Brogden was hopeful of improving on that result against a field which was predominantly ranked inside the world’s top 50.
The 17-year-old started in the best way possible, scoring 87.8 on her first run to take the lead and force the rest of the skiers to play catch up. Brogden’s most dangerous competitor was Iaroslavna Muntian – who already has a World Cup top 10 finish to her credit – however the Russian could only manage 82.3 on her best run which left her with the silver medal. New Zealand’s Ruby Andrews (71.5) was third.
Brogden has become the second British skier to win the halfpipe Junior World Championship following Molly Summerhayes’ victory in 2015. Summerhayes’ 2018 Olympic teammate Rowan Cheshire claimed a bronze medal in the event in 2013.
X-Games, Aspen USA – Thu 24 to Sun 27 January
James Woods has claimed his fifth-career X-Games medal after finishing third in the ski big air on Saturday in Aspen. It is his third-straight big air medal in Aspen after claiming the title in 2017 and finishing third last year.
Olympic bronze medallist Izzy Atkin picked up slopestyle silver in 2018, and while she sent down two strong runs on Friday, the high quality of competition meant she had to settle for fifth place.
On Sunday, Woods was unable to reproduce his medal-winning form in the slopestyle final, finishing in 10th.
World Cup, Seiser Alm ITA – Thu 24 to Sun 27 January
Snowboarder Matt McCormick recorded the first top 10 of his World Cup career on Saturday in Italy.
Having previously qualified for just one World Cup slopestyle semi-final, McCormick bypassed the semis by finishing second in his heat on Thursday. The 21-year-old’s second run in the final was then good enough to earn him eighth place.
Sam Ward competed in the ski slopestyle heats on Friday and finished 34th.
TELEMARK
World Cups, Pralognan-la-Vanoise FRA & Pra Loup FRA – Fri 25 Jan to Fri 1 Feb
Jasmin Taylor scored her first win of the 2018/19 season on Friday when she took out the sprint in Pralognan-la-Vanoise, then followed that up with fourth place in the classic on Saturday.
Leading the way for the men’s contingent was Sion Bingham who was 21st in the sprint and 22nd in the classic.
The World Cup tour has quickly moved onto Pra Loup with three races over the next four days including the first parallel sprint of the season. The GB Telemark team at the event will consist of Taylor, Louis Hatchwell and Ben Emsley.
The Pra Loup Telemark World Cup can be streamed live at https://livestream.com/TeleHo with coverage beginning tomorrow at 8am GMT.
ALPINE
World Cups, Kitzbuhel AUT & Schladming AUT – Sat 26 & Tue 29 January
Dave Ryding finished 15th at the Kitzbuhel World Cup slalom on Saturday, the same event which delivered him his first podium two years ago.
Racing in difficult conditions, Ryding was 18th after the first run then moved up three places for his sixth top 15 finish of the season.
Laurie Taylor recorded a DNF on his first run.
The pair will be back in action tomorrow night in ‘The Nightrace’ at Schladming, the final World Cup before February’s World Championships.
‘The Nightrace’ will be broadcast live on Eurosport 1 and Eurosport Player on Tuesday (1st run 4:30pm GMT; 2nd run 7:30pm GMT).
CROSS COUNTRY
World Cup, Ulricehamn SWE – Sat 26 January
Andrew Musgrave was the sole British competitor at the Ulricehamn World Cup on Saturday competing in the 15km skate.
Racing for the first time since completing the Tour de Ski in the first week of the year, Musgrave was strong throughout on his way to 10th position. It was Musgrave’s fourth top 10 World Cup result of the year.
The GB Cross Country squad will compete in the Norwegian National Championships this weekend.
PARA ALPINE
World Championships, Sella Nevea ITA – Tue 29 Jan to Fri 1 February
The World Para Alpine Championships continue in Italy tomorrow following last week’s technical events in Slovenia.
Menna Fitzpatrick and guide Jen Kehoe will be looking to add to their slalom silver and giant slalom bronze medals when they take on the downhill on Tuesday, super combined on Thursday and super G on Friday.
They will compete in the visually impaired section alongside Kelly Gallagher and guide Gary Smith, while James Whitley will compete in the men’s standing events.
Tomorrow’s downhill at the World Para Alpine Championships can be streamed live from 10:15am GMT at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjGyQP9xJuY.
SKI CROSS
World Cup, Blue Mountain CAN – Fri 25 to Sat 26 January
Ollie Davies delivered GB’s best-ever World Cup result in men’s ski cross in Canada on Saturday.
After qualifying runs were cancelled due to inclement conditions, an extended knockout phase was scheduled involving all 47 competitors.
Davies finished second in his first two rounds to find himself on the verge of a quarter-final. However the Junior World Champion was knocked out at the third stage to ultimately finish in 16th place.
In the ladies’ event, Emma Peters secured the best World Cup result of her career by finishing in 24th, just ahead of Emily Sarsfield in 26th.
MOGULS
World Cup, Tremblant CAN – Saturday 26 January
Makayla Gerken Schofield scored the best result of the GB Moguls contingent at Mont Tremblant on Saturday, however none of the five-strong squad were able to move through to the finals.
Makayla finished 24th to secure World Cup points for the fifth time this season.
Thomas Gerken Schofield was the best-placed skier in the men’s draw in 31st, while Will Feneley was 48th on his World Cup debut.
Mont Tremblant was the final World Cup prior to the World Championships in Park City, Utah.
