Sports News

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The freestyle skier Izzy Atkin has withdrawn from the Big Air competition at Beijing 2022.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

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.