Sports News

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

The International Olympic Committee has taken a ‘quiet diplomatic approach’ with increasing concerns over the safety of the tennis player. Its President has now spoken to her in a video call. The Winter Olympics are due to take place in the Chinese capital Beijing in under 3-months.UPDATED

The US President has said he is weighing up the options as the Winter Olympics approaches. It follows accusations of poor records on human rights for China. NEW

GB athletes are in action in alpine skiing, freestyle, cross country, moguls and others. It is the biggest sports programme of the season so far. UPDATED

There’s Freestyle skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland and alpine ski racing in Soelden in Austria.  GB athletes are in action with one rather special result for GB’s Alex Tilley. UPDATED

It is investing £138,000 into seven sports with the Beijing Support Fund prior to the Winter Olympic Games in China. NEW

It was lit on Monday in Ancient Olympia, Greece and is on its way to China where in just over 100 days the Winter Games will begin. The Games has focused attention on China’s Human Rights Record. Team GB is aiming for its highest medal tally.

The IOC has released details of likely rules for spectators, vaccination regulations & Covid-19 measures.  The only spectators will be locals & there will be strict quarantine & testing requirements for the unvaccinated.

The Spanish resort of Baqueira Beret in the Pyrenees kicks off the Freeride World Tour next January. Other familiar venues are there with the winners crowned in Verbier at the end of March.

The International Ski Federation’s women’s Alpine race director Peter Gerdol has said he is optimistic about the upcoming World Cup season.

He led the International Olympic Committee from 2001 to 2013. He was 79. He was a keen supporter of the Winter Olympics and his first Games as President was the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. UPDATED

It sees the largest ever squad with some familiar faces and one big surprise. The 4-time Paralympic cyclist medalist, Jon-Allan Butterworth MBE, is turning his sporting attentions to snowboarding having retired from cycling.

The event was due to start this weekend but has been called off as New Zealand remains in lockdown with ski resorts closed. UPDATED

The President of the International Ski Federation says the road to Beijing ‘will not be easy’ due to Covid-19. The Beijing Co-ordination Committee is planning Covid-19 safety measures as some call for boycotts due to China’s human rights record.

Seefeld in the Tirol has been named as the host resort for the event. It was to have taken place last winter but was cancelled due to Covid-19.

There are fresh faces and returning veterans for the British Telemark squads for 2021/22 season.

They will be competing across six disciplines in the 2021/22 season and include  69 athletes, with 6 newcomers.

Snowsport England is updating its Coaching Scheme to help more people take their first steps into instructing and coaching. NEW

The alpine ski nation has caused one of the biggest upsets in international football after knocking France out of Euro 2020. France are the current World Champions and were many people’s tournament favourite. Switzerland did it in style and celebrations went on long into the night.

The gruelling sport has been accepted for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026 as going uphill on skis grows ever more popular. UPDATED

In a message to the skiing family, Johan Eliasch, promised to build a “bright and growing future” as he laid out his vision for the body that runs snowsport competition.

The Swede won with a comfortable majority in the first round.  He took 65 of the 120 votes available. His nearest rival had 26 votes.  He said he was “humbled to be chosen”.

That’s the view of the Park & Pipe team at the International Ski Federation.  They say programmes are too long and there are too many breaks in the action to keep viewers engaged.

GB Snowsport have named 12 skiers in their line-up for the 2021-2022 season.  It’s headed by Andrew Musgrave, Andrew Young and James Clugnet, who form the men’s Elite Squad.

The International Ski Federation has confirmed it has had four applications to host the Championships in six years’ time. 

With just over a year to go before the successful hosts are named, Andorra has announced that it wants to stage the World Championships in 2027.

The former GB ski racer who was unceremoniously sacked as secretary General of FIS now wants to be elected to the top job. She has put her name forward as a candidate in the June election.

Valentino Guseli from Australia has jumped 7.3 metres from the superpipe in Laax in Switzerland. He breaks the previous record of 7 metres set in 2010 by the American multiple Olympic champion and snowboarding legend, Shaun White.

Most of us may not have set foot on the slopes this winter but skiers and snowboarders representing Great Britain have been doing their country proud. PlanetSKI reviews the season.

The Swedish Olympic Committee President, Mats Årjes, has put his hat in the ring for the top job. His fellow Swede, the billionaire Johan Eliasch, was nominated by GB Snowsport last year. The Swiss Ski President, Urs Lehmann, is also in the contest.

Today is the last day to cast your choice between two potential emblems for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Which do you prefer?

The World Titles are up for grabs and there’s fresh powder snow for the final of the FWT 2021 this week. There’s a Brit in the final and Cody Bramwell has already stood on top of the podium this season. The event is now set for Tuesday 23rd.

There have been some stellar performances from Great Britain’s top skiers and snowboarders, with a host of personal bests and a World Championships medal.

There is a host of world class freestyle action this week with a World Champion and two Olympic medallists representing Britain.  You can follow it all live on the BBC if you are in the UK. UPDATED

The 25-year old US skier was speaking to CNN Sport ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. China has been heavily criticised for its record on human rights.

Ordino-Arcalis in Andorra s hosting back to back FWT contests with the second stop taking place just five days after the opener.  Can British snowboarder Cody Bramwell take another win? NEW