The 16th annual Championships, hosted by Snowsport England and sponsored by Energiapura were run successfully by a force of volunteers who gave up their time to offer support in roles such as organisation, officials, course crew and media. The stunning resort of Bormio with coldest temperatures reaching minus seventeen degrees, gave teams, supporters and coaches an inviting atmosphere to sink hot chocolates and devour Italian pizzas in between extreme descents by the athletes.
Day Six of the Alpine Championships saw the final Children’s Super G Races in the warmest experienced throughout the Championships, at two degrees Celsius.
The girls’ podium was full of English racers who had all seen previous achievements, headed by winner of both runs, Yasmin Cooper ,closely followed by Anna Henderson and Jessica Anderson who earlier in the week had narrowly missed a podium place because of a fall. All podium finishers came from Central England clubs showing those with more access to the pistes how it should be done.
The boys, faced a tight finish which kept the podium places open and the spectators engaged until the end, with English hopes fulfilled with Telford racers Robert Poth bringing home 2nd place and 1st placed English racer, Jordan Fellows (2nd), finishing an exciting Championships to take home to the West Midlands.
Highlights from the week came from Alice MacAulay, Team England, who lying in sixth position on Day One, after her first run in a time of 49.04 seconds; the young racer produced a fast second run of 55.56 seconds to move up the field and claim the second GBR spot in the Slalom event. Darcie Mead, Evolution from Kingston Upon Thames put in an outstanding run on the Super G event on Day Three and was certainly surprised, ‘There’s been a lot of girls that I have been competing against from all different countries. I didn’t expect to win or anything. I was just going to ski because I enjoy it but to win is a bonus. “
An excellent performance was seen from Jessica Anderson, Oundle who inspired many with her fighting talk after suffering a fall on Day Four, tearfully saying, ‘I’m disappointed. Something happened, I can’t remember but I’ve hurt my back. I’m gutted. Next is the Super G and I’ve got to keep going, I want to podium.’ Podium she did on Day Six in the Slalom event, showing how such an excellent attitude can keep an athlete going.
Elsewhere in the Boys Races, Robert Poth from Potters Bar came first in an exhilarating Giant Slalom competition, skiing for Telford and leading the way for other team mates to follow him onto into the results including Jordan Fellows (2nd podium twice) and Matthew Davis coming in the top ten overall and in the top five GBR racers. Ambition athlete Ashley Hill put in the fastest GBR time for the Super G. Admirable athlete Jai Geyer aged twenty from Torquay Alpine Ski Club completed the penultimate day with a fantastic first placed position in the Slalom. Minis Races were full of smiles as the young racers, the youngest of which was seven years old defeated the pistes including Peak Performance and Dragons siblings Grace and Oliver Black.
Tim Fawke, Chief Executive for Snowsport England said, “These Championships have run really well. We have seen some tough racing in this excellent resort which has been great to be a part of and I would like to thank everyone who has supported the event and send our congratulations to all the athletes involved.”
The parents must not be forgotten with many watching their loved ones descend the steep piste, one gate at a time. One such parent was Helen Hinchcliffe with her son Jack who two and a half years ago underwent brain surgery and was back skiing for his first FIS points in these Championships. Helen lives without eighty percent of her eyesight and challenged herself to give skiing on snow a go whilst out in Bormio. We spoke to her before she went,
‘I’m really scared but my instructor has given me confidence and I know I will be safe. We are used to going to Sheffield Ski Village and as there is such a social group of us, it keeps us coming back.’
If you are interested in skiing or snowboarding, you can do it in England with over forty slopes nationwide with many offering six week programmes of activity under the GO SKI GO BOARD umbrella designed to get you accessing lessons or slope time with like minded people.
Photos: Courtesy of www.racer-ready.co.uk
Editors Notes:
The race is returning to Bormio for the fourth year running, an authentic Italian Spa and sporting town located in north Italy that has an excellent reputation for amazing snow and welcoming hospitality. The success of the championships has also attracted several sponsors including Energiapura – provider of professional ski gear, eventgeeks – who provide temporary internet access, phones and wireless networks, Racer Ready – a magazine for those who are interested in skiing as a competitive sport and Ski Racing Supplies – a provider of affordable racing gear across the U.K.
This year’s English Alpine Championships mark an exciting time for Snowsport England, as they have just launched their new national programme Go Ski Go Board. Part of Snowsport England’s bid to get more participating in Snowsport in England, the programme promotes Skiing and Snowboarding as an exciting and accessible sport. Anyone can sign up at their nearest participating club or facility for a chance to take part in a six week course of either lessons or slope time with like-minded people. Beginners, improvers and those that already can, find out how you can GO SKI GO BOARD at www.snowsportengland.org.uk/goskigoboard.
For more information on the Championships or Snowsport England visit the Snowsport England website http://www.snowsportengland.org.uk/
Twitter.com - @AlpineChamp
Facebook.com - English Alpine Champs
Profiles of the competing athletes can be located here:
http://englishalpinechamps.wordpress.com
