British ski racer Robert Holmes provides a round up of the January racing scene
The January ski racing calendar was extremely busy.
The New Year race scene started off with British children’s races in Austria with Ambition Ski Racing academy run races at Hinterreit and The British Ski Academy Anglo Scottish Championships in Pila, Italy.
PHOTO: New Hall School, Chelmsford.
At the Ambition races the slalom races were dominated by the Carrick-Smith twins Freddy and Zac along with Micheal McIntosh and Adam Orzel.
In the girls Slalom, Emily Turner, Isabella Sullivan and Katie Saunders all performed well and were rewarded with podiums. In the Giant Slalom Katie Saunders 1st Overall joined by Holly Tutt in 2nd.
The boys Giant Slalom race was again dominated by the Carrick Smith boys Freddy and Luca, with Ian Menzies in 3rd place. The second GS race the following day saw Micheal McIntosh take 1st place, George Brown 2nd and Calum Hunter 3rd.
Ed Guigonnet, Aidan Urquhart, FIS Coach Stefan and Rob Holmes from Team Evolution at Rogla Slalom race in January.
In the girls under 10 and 12 years, there were stand out performances from Ana Chan and Esme Whitehead, Lilly Flitton Slyvia Curtis, and Scarlett Mc Laughlin. The boys on the winner’s podium were Jack Curtis, Edward Lloyd, Jasper Daniels and Fred Croft.
A few days after the Ambition races, Team Evolution ski academy held speed races at Reiteralm, Austria. The two super G races and a Slalom races saw George Brown and Katie Saunders win their respective Under 16 sections with Ryan Faber and Amelia Pietrzak taking the under 14 categories.
Good snowfalls in Scotland created great conditions for slalom races were run by Gordon Skiers Racing Team at the Lecht. In the U18 categories Lewis McKey and Chloe McKay emerged as overall winners.
Some winners on the Podium in Hinterreit.
The Welsh Alpine BASS Championships at Champery Switzerland followed later in January. In the Boys GS- Ian Menzies, an U16 racer with the Ambition academy claimed 1st Overall. 2nd place went to Excel’s U16 Adam Orzel and 3rd place to Harris Humphries. In the girls GS race, Holly Tutt took 1st, Daisy Putman 2nd and Scarlett Winter 3rd.
In the Slalom Ian Menzies claimed another victory achieved 1st overall followed by Finlay Ferrand and Adam Orzel.
In the Girls Slalom race, the fastest skier was U16 racer Brooke Baxter, 2nd Holly Tutt (U16) and 3rd Georgia Blaikie (U16).
U12 racer Edward Lloyd from Excel Race Academy achieved a double victory in GS and Slalom and Excel team mate Lottie Williams was the girls mini U12 GS and Slalom champion.
The British Schoolgirls Races, organised by The Ladies Ski Club, returned to Flaine after a three-year absence for its 62nd event (30 & 31 Jan 2023).
See report by CLICKING HERE
Three of the competitors who took part in the British Schoolboys Races in Wengen.
At the end of January, Downhill Only organised the British Schoolboys in Wengen, Switzerland. The overall Team results 1st Reeds School ‘A’ team, 2nd Place Harrow School and 3rd Place New Hall School ‘A’ team.
Individually in Slalom overall winner was Sebastien Anthony followed by Lucas Cross both U14 racers. In GS, Niccolo Smith (Dulwich) took the victory with runner up Alex Lancaster (Eltham College).
A few injuries affecting British athletes meant a slightly smaller team attended the 2023 FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in St. Anton, Austria when some of the world’s best young alpine skiers – aged 16-20 and from around 50 countries – competed between 6 – 25 January.
Giselle Gorringe skied to very commendable 23rd in Super G, Calum Langmuir achieved 17th place in Super G and 32nd in downhill and 48th in Giant Slalom, Dominic Shackleton finished 34th in Downhill, Max Laughland 37th in the Downhill and 56th in Giant Slalom, Louis de Pourtales achieved 65th in Giant Slalom.
In the Slalom race I skied into 25th place one of the first run, however a mistake near the bottom of run two resulted in a DNF.
Racers photoshoot
Overall some promising skiing from upcoming youngsters on the world stage.
The European Winter Youth Olympics is held every two years. The event is for upcoming alpine talent aged 15-18 years old.
A team of three females and two males travelled to Tarvisio, Italy with coaches Emma Carrick-Anderson and Paul Telling.
Alpine athletes selected for Team GB were: Olivia Howeson, Charlotte Holmes, Molly Butler, George Black, Jack Irving, Luca Carrick-Smith. Sadly, Charlotte and Olivia picked up injuries in the lead up to the event consequently were unable to take part. They were substituted by Candice Bomberg and Nicole Wordley.
Candice Bomberg skied really well in the Slalom achieving 24th place. Molly Butler skied into 26th in Giant Slalom and 45th in Super G, and Nicole Wordley, who skis in USA, and travelled over to the event at the last minute had some great individual runs. Luca Carrick Smith achieved 21st in Giant Slalom, and 40th in Super G. George Black was 28th in Giant Slalom, and 62th in Super G.
Meanwhile on the World Cup stage in Austria, Britain’s Dave Ryding skied a magnificent 2nd run to take second place in the Kitzbuhel, Slalom – the same race he achieved history in last season by taking first place. This time the triumph went to Daniel Yule of Switzerland with Lucas Braathen from Norway in third place.
British team-mate Billy Major made his way up the top 30 ranking in the world with a 23rd place. Laurie Taylor id also making superb progress with his world ranking with a 23rd place in Chamonix.
PHOTO: @amarcster.sport
Brother and sister Robert and Charlotte Holmes, who are both members of the British ski racing squad, are providing regular updates on the racing scene to the Skier & Snowboarder magazine.
Robert (robertholmesski.com) is supported by: Hippo Motor Group; Fischer Skis; Shred; Leki; Winter Sports Foundation; Ski Bartlett; Pendle Leisure Trust; Tass; Pendle Ski Club
Charlotte is supported by: Fischer Skis; Shred; Falke; Leki; Winter Sports Foundation; Ladies Ski Club
Categories: Racing