BSS Slopestyle skiers faced tricky conditions in Breckenridge yesterday as they tried to qualify for the finals of the FIS Freestyle World Cup.
In extremely poor visibility they fought hard but unfortunately could not do enough to make it to the finals. 17 year old Tyler Harding and 18 year old Anna Vincenti both had strong runs despite not making it into the finals. Katie Summerhayes, returning from a knee injury, had some bad luck after losing a ski in run one and falling on run two. James Woods and Zach Pham missed out on the finals as they battled with the elements.
Today sees Rowan Cheshire, Emma Lonsdale, Murray Buchan and James Machon in qualification for the World Cup Ski Halfpipe in Breckenridge. The finals take place this Sunday.
Also in Breckenridge, the Halfpipe and Slopestyle snowboarders take part in the World Snowboard Tour Grand Prix this Friday and Saturday. Billy Morgan will compete for the first time since his keen injury on Friday alongside team mate and Sochi hopeful Jamie Nicholls in the Snowboard Slopestyle. Aimee Fuller represents the ladies in Friday’s Snowboard Slopestyle. Ben Kilner and Dom Harington then ride on Saturday in the Snowboard Halfpipe.
The next Snowboard Cross World Cup takes place this Friday and Saturday in Vallnord-Arcalis in Andorra. Sochi hopeful Zoe Gillings will try and prove her form in qualification on Friday and aim to proceed to the finals on Saturday. Competing for the men is Thomas Bankes who goes in qualification on Friday as well.
Mogul skier Ellie Koyander also needs to prove her form to be in with a chance ofgetting to Sochi. She competes in the Moguls World Cup in Deer Valley, USA today with the finals taking place on Saturday. Harry Gillam and Lloyd Wallace ski on Friday in the Aerials World Cup, also in Deer Valley.
In Alpine Skiing, after his recent Europa Cup successes, Slalom skier Dave Ryding will compete in the Adelbolden Men’s World Cup on Sunday. Before then, Dougie Crawford, TJ Baldwin and Jack Gower will contest the Europa Cup Downhill in Wengen on Friday and Saturday, with Baldwin and Crawford needing strong results to put them in contention to reach Olympic Qualifying Standard.
Adam McLeish competes Snowboard Parallel Slalom in Bad Gastein, Austria., one on Friday in place of cancelled Jauerling and second held Sunday McLeish needs significant results this weekend to put himself in with a chance of meeting Olympic Qualification Standard.
Watch the new online video series ‘One Team to Sochi’ featuring the GB Park and Pipe Team. All videos are featured on the British Ski and Snowboard Facebook page.
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.