Sports News

Every winner of a Hahnenkamm World Cup Race in Austria gets a gondola named after them. Now it is the turn of a British ski racer. Step forward The Rocket. UPDATED

In an uncontested election the current President of the International Ski Federation Johan Eliasch was voted back in, but there was no option on the ballot form to vote against him. Some nations, led by Croatia, walked out in protest. Austria, Switzerland Germany and others refused to participate in the vote with 40% of delegates abstaining. UPDATED

The Swiss resort was up against Narvik in Norway, Soldeu in Andorra and the German ski resort of Garmish-Partenkirchen.  The World Championship venues for Nordic, Ski Jumping, Snowboard Freestyle and Freeski have also been announced. UPDATED

The Swedish skier, Jesper Tjäder,  has broken the world-record for the longest rail slide –  154.49 meters. Check out the video.

Decision Day is Wednesday, 25th May. Seven candidates are bidding to host the 2027 FIS World Ski Championships in Alpine skiing, Nordic, Ski Jumping and Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski. UPDATED

Thomas Bach has described Russia’s action as ‘devastating’ and a breach of the Olympic Truce. He made his remarks on the final day of the 139th IOC Session in Switzerland.

The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation is taking in Ukrainian athletes, coaches and family members who have been displaced by the war. Many US ski & snowboard athletes train in Park City and the area has extensive facilities.

This week the organisers have been inspecting the course and making further preparations for the races at the beginning of next season. There are also new races in the USA and changes to alpine ski racing to make it more ‘TV friendly’.

Decision Day is Wednesday, 25th May. Seven candidates are bidding to host the 2027 FIS World Ski Championships in Alpine skiing, Nordic, Ski Jumping and Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski.

The International Ski Federation, FIS, and the International Paralympic Committee, IPC, are in discussions about the issue. NEW

The International Olympic Committee has set up a solidarity fund and pledged an initial $200,000 (£150,000) following the Russian invasion of the country.

The Rocket finished the season in 8th place in the slalom World Cup. It has been heralded as a superb performance, and earlier Dave told PlanetSKI he was highly likely to be in the starting gate for next season.

The iconic Engadin Skimarathon is the largest cross-country skiing event in Switzerland and the second largest in the world. It’s quite a spectacle and PlanetSKI is hooked.

The snowboard cross Crystal Globe was secured with a win in Reiteralm in Austria. It makes up for a disappointing Winter Olympics.

It was a successful weekend for Team GB in Beijing as The Games got underway with further medals on Monday. The Russian team has arrived back in Moscow after being thrown out due to the invasion of Ukraine.

The International Paralympic Committee has reversed its position after threats of mass boycotts from other countries. The decision comes 24 hours after the IPC announced athletes from the two countries could compete as neutrals. Russia has condemned the decision and says it will take legal action. UPDATED

The International Paralympic Committee made the decision at a meeting in Beijing, just two days before the Games are due to begin. The UK government has sharply criticised the decision alongside other sporting organisations. The IPC was considering the position after the International Olympic Committee called on athletes and officials from the two countries to be banned in response to the invasion of Ukraine. NEW & UPDATED

The International Ski Federation has said athletes from Russia and Belarus can not take part in any further events this season. The organisation has been under growing pressure and has been criticised by some for being slow to react to the crisis in Ukraine. NEW & UPDATED

On Friday 4th March the Winter Paralympics are due to get underway in Beijing. In an unprecedented move the International Olympic Committee is calling on sports federations and event organisers to ban all athletes and officials from Russia & Belarus from international sporting events. UPDATED

The Brit has taken his second World Cup podium of the season after his historic win in Kitzbühel in January. He came from 19th after the first run. Tributes are pouring in as PlanetSKI is set to meet & interview him on the slopes on Obergurgl on Monday.

The International Ski Federation has announced that all competitions due to be held in Russia for the rest of the season have been cancelled. It’s a swift about turn for FIS who had earlier indicated that World Cup events planned for this weekend would go ahead. The International Olympic Committee is urging all international sports federations to cancel all events in Russia and Belarus.

ParalympicsGB has confirmed one of the biggest British teams ever to compete at a Paralympic Winter Games with the announcement of the Ski and Snowboard athletes for Beijing 2022.

After a disappointing first run Dave put in a good second run that propelled him to the top of the leaderboard for a while. But he finished outside the top 10, in 13th place.

It’s the 6km Südtirol Gardenissima in Italy and is now in its 24th edition. 680 racers, both amateur and professional, take part.

No medals on snow, but Gus Kenworthy comes 8th in ski half pipe and Andrew Musgrave does himself proud in cross-country. The women curlers take gold, with the men curlers winning silver. Check out the latest. UPDATED

The 2022 Winter Olympics are finally here and the UK’s Gaz Vogan is one of 10 judges whose scores will determine who is crowned Olympic Champion in the freestyle snowboard events. In part two of his exclusive account from Beijing for PlanetSKI he explains how they judge the riders.

This weekend GB’s own Gaz Vogan will begin his work judging the snowboard freestyle events at the 2022 Winter Games.  He is the only Briton selected for the 10-man judging panel. He’s written this account for PlanetSKI about the life and work of a judge. Part One: Being a Judge.

The freestyle skier Izzy Atkin has withdrawn from the Big Air competition at Beijing 2022. She won a bronze medal at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games.

Dave Ryding competed in the Schladming night slalom on Monday night but came down the field in 20th place. However another Brit, Billy Major, made the second run for the first time, won some World Cup points and even beat Dave Ryding. It was the last slalom race before the Olympics.

The visually impaired ski racer and her guide Brett Wild were the top performers on Monday at the World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer. There were also two silver medals, increasing Britain’s medal tally to six. NEW

Great Britain’s Charlie Guest has secured her best ever World Cup result, finishing 13th in the Schladming night slalom.

Victory in the World Cup at Schladming gave the American a record-breaking 47th slalom win. NEW

The GB slalom specialist was due to go in his third World Cup of the season on Wednesday. It was cancelled due to ‘extreme weather’. They tried again on Thursday but it was called off for safety reasons. UPDATED

The US skier has the virus and misses the World Cup races in Lienz, Austria on Tuesday and Wednesday. She is the latest female alpine ski racer to be hit by the virus. UPDATED

Britain is to take an 18-strong squad to Lillehammer for Norway’s biggest Para Snowsport event since 1994 Paralympic Winter Games.

It’s been another successful week for the Brits on the competitive circuit.  The best ever Nordic result for British athletes was recorded in Germany and there were more medals for the para snowsport squad. But there’s bad news for a Winter Olympics medal hope. UPDATED

It has recently become the newest winter Olympic sport and will be in Milan-Cortina 2026. There is increasing interest in Skimo with more people heading uphill for recreation and the competitive sport developing at a pace. NEW

Christmas might be coming but there’s no let up in the snowsports action with alpine, freestyle, cross country and snowboard action this week and next. GB’s latest World Cup winner is back on the slopes on Friday. Charlotte Bankes has topped the qualifying in the snowboard cross. UPDATED

It follows the USA and others in not sending an official government delegation due to China’s alleged record on human rights. All GB athletes will be taking part.

Many of the GB big guns are competing over the next few days. Charlotte Bankes gives us an indication of her Olympic credentials. Also in action are Andrew Musgrave, Charlie Guest, plus para athletes Menna Fitzpatrick & Millie Knight who have done rather well. UPDATED

With 100 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, GB Snowsport and Williams Advanced Engineering have unveiled new sit-ski technology. NEW