The British hosted FIS Telemark World Cup drew to a close yesterday following the prize giving at the Hotel Grimming in Rauris. The British organising committee paid tribute to the terrific help and assistance of the local Rauris community in putting together a brilliant few days of World Cup racing, particularly the Tourismusverband and the Hochalmbahnen who were played vital roles during the precedings. The event was a huge success and proved that it is possible to host a World Cup level event in a foreign country.
Teams started to arrive in Rauris a couple of days before the races to familiarise themsleves with the terrain – Rauris is a very small resort with only a handful of runs and is perfect for an FIS World Cup race. The resort boasts an homologated World Cup GS course and has previously hosted a Women’s FIS World Cup race.
The conditions were near perfect and the racers gave spectators their fair share of thrills with huge jumps and some spills. Both Giant Slalom and Sprint courses were technically difficult, the terrain on the Kreutzboden piste is particularly challenging with a shallow start giving way to a icy and fast track about half way down that lasts to the finish. The jump which was perched rather precariously on the edge of the transition meant racers were exposed to a fast landing with the next gate situated only a few metres from touchdown. The aggregate speed from the upper part of the course combined with the unfettered momentum of free flight had racers in all sorts of trouble trying to negotiate the tight left hander after the jump on both the GS and Sprint courses. Unfortunately some, to their dismay, realised that going ‘big’ on the jump was not the best tactical move and ended up tangled in the strategically placed safety netting. The rappelokke (360 banked turn) was well placed and provided a onlookers the perfect place to see top class world athletes in action. There were no events worthy of note here but it was interesting to see the technical nature of this discipline being put into practice – no sooner had the athletes left the 360 they were now pumping their arms and legs at a frighteningly rapid frequency to get themselves around the cross-country part of the course and to the finish.
12 nations arrived in Rauris to participate in the first ever British hosted Telemark World Cup and also the first Telemark World Cup of the 2010 season. There were 9 Brits from the team able to compete, sadly Rachel Morgan was unable to attend due to work committments and David Cardwell and Carl Simmons are plagued with injury.
There were some surprises and it seems that the French have been working hard in the closed season with Chris Lau taking first place in the Giant Slalom on day one beating Eirik Rykhus (NOR) by almost a full second, on the other hand Bastien Dayer (SUI) was way off the pace trailling the leading pair by almost 4 seconds. Chris Stewart (GBR) recorded his best finish in 29th position. 49 racers started. In the women’s event Amelie Reymond (SUI) showed that she was still top class and romped home with a performance that left Katinka Knudsen (NOR) who was struggling to find top form in her wake. Melodie David-Metral (FRA) came in with a respectable 4th place just behind Sandrine Meyer (SUI) who converted to telemark 2 seasons ago and has been one to watch ever since. Sarah Hannibal (GBR) gave a sterling perfomance in her first ever WC appearance coming 14th and recording some good WC points.
It was not long before the Norwegians exerted authority over the event in the Sprint with Rykhus crossing the finish just over a second in front of Philippe Lau (FRA) who followed almost 2 seconds later by Daniel Forrer (SUI) who was always in the top 5 mix last season. Meanwhile the women’s race was once again dominated by Reymond who was on superb form. On the British front there were some strong efforts Stewart and Andrew Clarke were close after the first run with less than 2 seconds separating them. All was to play for and Clarke took an icy patch incorrectly and slipped below a gate having to climb to continue. Stewart smashed the jump and recorded his first ever nil penalty there – only 9 other racers achieved this, he finished a credible 26th. With racers leaving the course at several points, not always under control, the Brits through gritted teeth muscled on to record 4 top 30 finishes (Chris Wotton (28th), Philip Maddox (29th) and Huan Davies (30th)). Hannibal fell, popped her shoulder but continued to ski to record an 18th place finish. Other finishers were Clarke (31), Matt Turner (32) and Richard Parrot (34).
Knut Haugland
Knut Haugland, the Norwegian commando and explorer who died on Christmas Day aged 92, took part in two of the most adventurous and celebrated exploits of the last century – a daring raid on a suspected Nazi atomic weapons plant in war, and Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition in peace.
Go anywhere skiers in go anywhere cars!
Mercedes Benz UK is sponsoring the British Telemark Team. This morning the team took delivery of four vehicles which will be used to transport the team all over Europe to the World Cup; the team are ecstatic about the deal. The British Team Captain, Major Andrew Clarke said earlier today ‘Mercedes are not only superlative brand vehicles they are safe and reliable and exactly what the team needs ensuring that we all arrive in good order for the next World Cup race’. The arrangement sees the team travelling in Mercedes’ 4Matic range of vehicles; a GL350 CDI, two ML350 CDI Sports and a long wheel-base R Class Grand Edition enabling the team to travel together to training and competition venues until next December. The sponsorship is an essential ingredient towards the chances of British successes on the World Cup, ‘British Telemark hopes that this is the start of an enduring relationship that will grow over the years. Mercedes is absoulutely the right brand to be associated with telemark, an exciting and arduous endurance sport which is mimicked by the vehicles we are now driving. We are go-anywhere skiers and these are go-anywhere vehicles’ said Andrew.
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Olympic Alpine ski gold medallist Hermann Maier announces retirement – Austrian Alpine skiing champion and former Olympic gold medallist Hermann Maier has announced his retirement from the sport after seriously injuring his knee in March.
British Disabled Ski Team head for the Olympics
Neil English for the Daily Mail writes ‘Just watching them gave me a tremendous buzz. Through gates, especially during the faster giant slalom and super-G events, these athletes display all the grace, fluidity, dynamism and flair that make for a thrilling show.’
‘It was the same tingling feeling I had when I first witnessed really top class Telemark skiers perform their graceful art at speed, seemingly taming the difficulty of the terrain with their immense skill.’
GBR World Cup
Oct 25
Esporta Sponsors the Great Britain Telemark Skiing Team
The UK’s leading premium health and leisure provider, Esporta, today announced a sponsorship deal with the Great Britain Telemark Skiing Team, which is currently preparing to compete in the Telemark World Cup, which begins in December in Norway. The team, which comprises 10 men and two women, will be able to use the world class facilities at their local Esporta clubs as they prepare for what will be an extremely competitive season ahead.
Great Britain Telemark Skiing Team, Captain, Andrew Clarke, said: “To have backing from Esporta gives us a tremendous boost as it really improves the team’s chances of performing at its very best. Our training for the 2009/10 Telemark World Cup has already started and we have a number of team building activities scheduled before the winter begins, all geared to improving team fitness and esprit de corps. To be able to use our local Esporta’s clubs and take advantage of their tremendous facilities will help us to maintain peak fitness throughout the World Cup.”
Esporta, Chief Operating Officer, David Leatherbarrow said: “We are absolutely delighted to support the Great Britain Telemark Skiing Team. To represent your country at a World Cup has to be the pinnacle of any sport and takes extraordinary hard work, commitment and talent – the same values that are central to Esporta. We are dedicated to helping people achieve their goals, whether that’s competing at the highest level in sport, improving their health, losing weight, or just getting fitter.”
The Telemark World Cup begins on 12 December in Norway and comprises a series of races in Austria, Slovenia, Norway, USA, Spain, before the climax of the competition in France on 17 March.
By Invitation Only the British Telemark Team Proudly Presents….
For more information on how you can obtain tickets for this prestigious event email thewinterball@gbtelemark.co.uk
Listen to the Team Captain on British Radio 2 with Jonny Saunders.
About 1 Hr 49 mins from the start.
