'HT'
How old are you? 19
How long have you been skiing? 12 years
What is your preferred discipline? Telemark
What are your skiing aspirations? To finish in the top 10 at the Telemark World Cup in the future
What would be your advice to upcoming skiers? Watch and learn from the best
Is there anything you do before a race? Hydrate
Who is your sporting hero? Chris Davenport, Seb Mayer
What do you do to relax? Eat and sleep
What is your nickname?
If you were not a ski racer what would you be doing? Climbing in the Alps
Who is your secret crush? Rachel
What’s on your iPod? Trentemoller – Les Djinns
What is your favourite food? Meat
Can you tell us something nobody else knows about you? I like goats
What song is most likely to make you move on the dance floor? ACDC – Back in Black
What can you be heard saying most often (catchphrase/motto)? Happy Days!
#1 by Joe on September 7th, 2009
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Your profile is so inspiring to a young skier like myself, your music is however questionable and the fact you like goats is a little odd however I hope you do really well in the World Cup…
Never met you but already love you, jealous of Rachel
x
#2 by Controller on September 7th, 2009
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Jack…you appear to be getting love notes from a boy!
#3 by Jack on September 14th, 2009
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I think may have been sitting next the boy who kindly wrote this very flattering note… Not what i dictated to him but it will do!!
#4 by Jack on November 25th, 2009
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Hi All,
Got back earlier this week from pre-season training, and i’m now back down in Bristol studying..!
The week went really well and we got a lot covered. In particular I have been working on my racing line and gate technique - both of which I feel have come on a long way since the start of the week.
Back in the gym for the time being, while also revising Critical Path Analysis and Time series analysis work for exams before our next trip.
Thats all for now,
Jack
#5 by Florence on November 26th, 2009
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Jack. Your my hero! um…..basically i want you to show me how to pop 3′s in the park?
Can’t wait for Saturday night, looking forward to meeting Nobby
!!
Love Florence
#6 by Jack on December 12th, 2009
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Just got back from an epic 3 days in Austria! Nobby, Sarah and I along with three journalists, camera man and photographer jumped on a flight to Munich, midday on Monday 7th December. At the other end we were greeted by two shiny Mercedes, ML and GL-Class ready to take us deep into the Austrian alps to a small alpine village called Rauris, where the first British World Cup is due to be held in January.
The following morning we headed through the woods to a remote location where we met Ziggy (our knowledgeable local friend) who sent us in the right direction for our first shoot. With heavy snow falling and flat light it made hard work for the Paddy and Patrick who were taking photos and filming the three of us with the Mercedes vehicles. While we were playing around in the forest getting the photos done I could only imagine the quality of the pure, dry powder sitting high up on the hill – waiting to be shredded!
After enough faffing around in the valley we took the decision to head up and look for something to ski. Because all the lifts were closed we had no other choice but to take a tow from the skidoo up to the top of the hill. Looking down the snow was pristine, not a track in sight just hundreds of metres of fresh powder ready to be torn up. That afternoon we took the opportunity to put our telemark wisdom to the test by teaching all three journalists’ to telemark ski.
With the light fading away we retreated done the mountain to start setting up camp for the night. My responsibility was to build a fire under the careful supervision of Army Commando Nobby Clarke, which was very successful. Once everything was in place we started interviews in front of the camera – this I found quite awkward at first but soon the words were flowing. Afterwards we had the pleasure of eating boil-in-the-bag meals for dinner. I enjoyed a Chicken and pasta first course followed by Treacle pudding for dessert.
The next morning we finished off with a few photos before hopping back on a flight to the UK to return to normality.
Back to training now before a busy next month with my first World Cup race!
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a snowy New Year.
Jack
#7 by Skipper on December 13th, 2009
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Good stuff Jack!
#8 by Sculler on January 3rd, 2010
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Nice Jack, Very nice!!! you should come and do abit of training with us scullers, give you abit of a beating haha!!!! ive taken it to a whole new level!!!!!
Anyway i do wish you all the best with your telemarking!!!
James
#9 by Shona on January 4th, 2010
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Hey Jack - Happy New Year! Hope you’re well. Just wondering where you’re from in U.K. Trying to pitch telemark to local papers. Let me know! Many thanks, Shona
#10 by Jack on January 7th, 2010
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Happy New Year to all!
The last few weeks have been pretty busy with a real mixture of work and play…
Christmas was spent in Chamonix, France with family and friends. Pro freerider Olly Muffin also came over for a session on the Grande Montes. Along with some hard skate training in the woods I indulged in far too much chocolate and vino.
On the 29th December, I headed over to Verbier, Switzerland to join old friends from last season. Due to the poor waether conditions not much skiing actually happened but we made up for the lack of exercise by dancing on the bar in Farinet Apres Ski and drinking considerable quantities of bier. My thanks go to the Brooks family for helping me with this specific training while in Verbier.
Back to the grind stone now… Exams next week, so i’m hard at work for the moment trying to understand cash flow forecasts, income statements and ballance sheets. Any help is greatly appriciated!
Now looking forward to my next trip, details below:
16th Jan - Rauris, Austria
18th Jan - Chamonix, France
1st Feb - Meribel, France
4th Feb - Rjukan, Norway
Stay here for another update to follow soon!!
Peace X
#11 by Jack Harvard Taylor on January 28th, 2010
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Quick up-date!
Have been hard at work for the last 3 weeks with on snow training which has been very beneficial.
The last 3 days have been spent with French team coach Seb, who has transformed my skiing. I’m now taking a much faster racing time which should knock seconds off come my next race in a few days time.
I have changed my plans slightly, heading to Meribel tomorrow for the Inter-Services Champs and staying there for the whole week rather than making the long and difficult journey to Norway.
XxX
#12 by Jack Harvard Taylor on February 14th, 2010
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I have now been back in the UK for just over a week now after a very busy 3 weeks in France, Austria and Switzerland. At the start of February I was invited, by team captain Andrew Clarke, to compete at the Inter-Services Telemark Championships held in Meribel. There I was welcomed by service men and women from all 3 of services: Army, Royal Navy and RAF. The week went very well. On the first day I came 5th in the giant slalom followed by a 3rd place in the sprint and 2nd in the telemark classic. On the final day I took part in a dual slalom which was great fun – I managed to come away with a silver medal.
Now I am back in Bristol at University I have a bit of catching up to do before I’m off again on the 11th March for the penultimate World Cup event in Spain.
With clear targets for the final two World Cups I have increased my training to twelve sessions a week. Whilst continuing to maintain a high level of cardiovascular fitness I aim to build on two specific aspects of my fitness: core strength and power.
As I’m sure most of you are aware, the Vancouver Winter Olympics started on Friday, so I wish the best of luck to Andy Noble, Dave Ryding, Ed Drake, Chemmy Alcott and the rest of Team GB.
#13 by Isabella and James Calder on April 3rd, 2010
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hello jack polly and Lara are here too in switzerland why can’t we have you as a ski instrocter like last year because your the best, well done for getting into the Britsh telemark team
from Isabella and James
#14 by Jack Harvard Taylor on April 8th, 2010
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Hi Isabella and James, thank you for your kind message. I hope your all enjoying the skiing and sun in Switzerland!! Best, Jack
#15 by Jack Harvard Taylor on April 24th, 2010
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Check out my new blog: http://jackharvardtaylor.wordpress.com/